Love Your Heart

I want to start with my Chocolate Pudding WIN... in case you want a healthier dessert option for Valentine's Day or any day.

This is the pudding I made.
Creamy! Not lumpy like the
chia seed pudding :)

It's Raw Avocado Cacao Mousse and it's from www.onegreenplanet.org. I changed the ingredients a little, based on what I had, and it produced a beautiful, yummy mousse. My husband was out of town, and my son ate one small bowl every evening until they were gone.

This recipe makes six servings. Though the ingredients are healthier than most, this still packs quite a few calories. 

• 3/4 cup almond milk (I used coconut milk)
• 3 avocados, stone removed and flesh scooped out of the skin
• just over a cup of cacao nibs or powder (make sure it's unsweetened)
• 1/4 cup agave nectar, or maple syrup (or 2 tsp powdered stevia for sugar-free option) (I used maple syrup)

While perusing www.onegreenplanet.org, I found this article which is worth sharing, 

5 Heart-Boosting Plant-Based Foods to Love Your Own Heart this Valentine’s Day

As Hippocrates once said, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” His words still ring true some 2,500 years ago. With a varied, balanced diet of whole foods, including fruits and vegetables, you can maintain optimal heart health. Being mindful of what’s on your plate and getting regular exercise may help prevent a future centered around prescription medication for all your ailments. It might also help reduce some medications already filling your bathroom cabinet.

This Valentine’s Day, while you shower your loved ones with affection, don’t forget about yourself or your heart. Your ticker deserves some loving, heart-boosting foods for the hard work it does every day!

Remember, though, not one food can miraculously promote heart health. It is the combination of many heart-healthy foods that can change your life. So, in honor of “the day of love” and the CDC’s American Heart Month, here are five plant-based foods to help you love your heart this Valentine’s Day:

Nuts

Oats

Beans

Tomatoes

Apples

Read the entire article, the link is below, it offers lots of good information and recipes for each of those foods. 

Action Item: Be good to your heart today! Eat right and/or get some exercise today.

For Further Reading: Same article I mentioned above, 5 Heart-Boosting Plant-Based Foods to Love Your Own Heart this Valentine’s Day