We all know by now that chocolate is the best invention ever. We must also acknowledge that if we start eating it as much as we would really like to, we are going to have to wear stretchy pants full time. This is when healthy substitutes to the traditional high calorie (and often unhealthy) chocolate treats are a welcome alternative. Enter these vegan chocolate-covered banana nut butter bites (the original recipe uses peanut butter but I just replace it with almond butter).
They remind me of the vegan chocolate cake balls I love so much but they are even healthier (hello potassium rich banana and protein packed almond butter!). I first made these as a snack for my dad who has daily sugar cravings (but also has diabetes so needs to watch his glucose levels).
Instead of indulging in a Coffee Crisp filled with nasty ingredients, I suggested that he try these instead. One bite and he was sold (the Coffee Crisp is still gathering dust in the cupboard).
Did you know that when you eat sugar or fast carbs alone (like a banana), your body absorbs the glucose quickly, which can cause a sharp blood sugar spike.
If you pair it with healthy fats or protein (for example, banana + nut butter), digestion slows down. Because the food moves through your system more slowly, glucose enters the bloodstream more gradually, which reduces the spike in blood sugar.
The Glucose Goddess explains this + why you should care (hit: less glucose spikes = less sugar cravings) in this video.
Want more options for your next chocolate fix? Head over here!