Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! If you are looking for a super simple, decadent and sinful paleo dessert to bring to your friend or relatives house this is the recipe for you. I was inspired by my favorite chef Laura Vitale when making this. It is a tasteful combination of sweet, salty and chocolatey. OMG-deelish!

I hope you all have a wonderful day with your families. If you have young children enjoy every moment with them when opening their gifts. Take a moment to enjoy everyone around you today. Life is a gift. We are all truly blessed.

Ingredients:
2 cups of Enjoy life Mini Chips
Dried Cranberries
Shredded Toasted Unsweetened Coconut
Toasted Chopped Pistachios(unsalted)
pinch of sea salt

Steps:

1) Melt the chocolate chips either in the microwave or over a double boiler.

2)  To toast coconut and pistachios, spread coconut and pistachios on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and bake in oven for 10 minutes at 350 degrees.

3) After the chocolate is melted stir in 1/4 cup of the toasted pistachios, 1/4 cup cranberries, 1/4 cup of the toasted coconut and the pinch of salt. Mix well.

4) Spread the melted chocolate onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet into a thin layer (about 1/4” thick) and immediately sprinkle over the cranberries, coconut and pistachios. There is no set amount to use. Approximately 1/4 cup of each on top of the chocolate. Allow it to set for a few hours in the fridge or 1 hour in freezer and then break apart into large chunks or chop it using a large sharp knife. 

The products I used for this recipe...

Bob's Red Mill Unsweetened Shredded Coconut, Unsalted Pistachio Meats and Enjoy life Chocolate Mini Chips

Primal, nut free

My kids love pancakes! Fridays I don't have to be at the gym/work until 8:00 am so I get the kids ready for school. Mark does it every other day...yup! I like to make them something different on Fridays since I am not rushing out. Normally the kids eat bacon, eggs and strawberries for breakfast and occasionally Chloe will have steel cut oatmeal.  I experimented a bit last week and came up with this light and fluffy pancake with a delicious chocolate and banana flavor. My recipe only has 4 ingredients...chocolate protein powder, eggs, bananas and arrowroot powder(optional). Check out the difference in ingredients between a box pancake mix and my pancake mix...

Ingredients in Pancake Mix from a Box:

Enriched Bleached Flour (Bleached Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Sugar, Leavening, (Sodium Bicarbonate, Sodium Aluminum Phosphate, Monocalcium Phosphate), Salt, Calcium Carbonate (a source of Calcium).

Caitlin's Double Chocolate Banana Pancakes

Ingredients

• 2 bananas, mashed
• 2 eggs whisked
• ½ cup Chocolate Protein Powder
• Enjoy Life Chocolate Chips or Cacao Nibs(optional)
• 1 tablespoon grass fed butter or coconut oil to grease pan
• 1/4 cup arrowroot powder to thicken pancakes (optional)
• **you can also use 1/2 cup vanilla protein powder instead of chocolate protein powder.

Instructions

1. Mix together bananas, eggs, arrowroot powder and protein powder until well combined.
2. Place a pan over medium heat. Grease the pan.  Once the pan is hot, add a large spoonful of the pancake mixture to the pan, about 3-5 inches wide.
3. Sprinkle chocolate chips on top of the pancakes or sliced bananas.
4. Once the pancakes begin to bubble, flip them. Cook for about 1-2 minutes per side.
5. Make sure you add more butter to pan each time you cook pancakes.
6. Drizzle all natural maple syrup on top or sprinkle stevia. The protein powder has stevia in it so I don't think you need anything on top(: Yum.

It’s December 1, 2015, the holiday fun has just begun…Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s Eve are right in front of us and everyone knows what that means…WEIGHT GAIN! It doesn’t have to be that way. An expression my sister Trish often says is, “You are in the driver’s seat.” She is right. Each one of us controls what goes in our mouths and therefore what goes into our bodies. Be strong folks! 

When I was a teenager my cousin and I would not eat one thing all Christmas Day and then gorge ourselves on the ice cream pie that my Aunt made. How gross and out of control is that? Where were our parents? That’s another story. Lol 

For many people gaining 5-10 lbs from now until right after New Year’s is extremely common. It’s normal. Don’t let it be, don’t be like the average person. In Mid-December 1993, 23 years old I was ready to get in shape and start focusing on my health and wellness. I had just spent 8 months taking care of my Mom that had lung Cancer. After she passed away I was in a deep depression. I didn't care what I ate. I was just trying to get through each day. With my sister's suggestion (Thank God for Trish) I hired a personal trainer. He changed my life!  My trainer would say to me, “Don’t be average.” It made sense to me. I wanted to be different, feel great and take care of my body so I did. I made it through that December without gaining any weight, I stayed on track with food and exercise and after the New Year I felt amazing and was so incredibly proud of my accomplishments. You can be too.

Here are a 10 simple tips that help me keep weight off during the holiday Season:

1. Plan your food EVERY week, everyday, bring it to work! Eat regular meals, do not skip meals. It is too tempting when you go into your office lunch room(and your STARVING) and see a plate of home-made chocolate chip cookies. Don’t eat it. Eat the food you brought. PREVENTION is key.

2. Know in your mind for the next 31days you are maintaining your weight and fitness. Be realistic don’t try to lose weight right now, win a competition, win a road race, lose 5% body fat etc. That can wait till Jan 1, 2016! You CAN focus on eating cleaner at parties.

3. Increase your exercise, get your workouts in. This is crucial. Get up earlier, workout at lunch…whatever it takes! No excuses. You must move your body and sweat.

4. Eat a healthy snack before a holiday dinner so you do not eat too much once you get there.

5. Research healthy recipes. Bring a healthy chicken dish to a party, a paleo dessert. People will LOVE it. Trust me when I say, people will be envious of you and want to do what you are doing.

6. Sleep well. Every adult needs no less than 7 hours per night. If your schedule allows it take a 20- minute nap before the kids come home. I do it 3x a week at least! I LOVE my sleep.

7. Drink water. If you drink water before a meal, you will feel less hungry.

8. Don’t deprive yourself. Portions..portions..portions! Listen to your stomach..STOP eating when you are satisfied, in ten minutes you will be full.

9. If you get off track one day, get right back on the next day. Do not beat yourself up.

10. Surround yourself with like minded people..family and friends that support your healthy lifestyle.

YOU CAN DO IT!! I KNOW YOU CAN.

NEED A LITTLE EXTRA SUPPORT AND ACCOUNTABILITY?

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Happy Holidays!