In an effort to shake off that winter heaviness I’d been feeling, I’ve been eliminating added sugars and processed foods from my diet for the past two months. While it was really challenging at first, and still is at times (like when your best friend offers you a homemade cookie baked with love!), it has ultimately been such a gift. I have much more sustained energy throughout the day, less brain fog and anxiety, and I sleep more soundly at night. Who really needs a cookie when a fresh strawberry, a juicy apple, a handful of nuts with a few raisins, or even a ripe avocado can satisfy my desire for a sweet treat? Plus, the more I eliminate sugar, the less I crave it, and the healthier and more motivated I feel.  It’s an upward spiral.

In my quest for satisfying blood sugar balancing snacks that have protein, fiber, fat and natural sweetness, I created what I like to call “Apple Pie Palooza.”  It works for breakfast on-the-go, for an afternoon pick-me-up, or an after dinner alternative to ice cream and cake. (It’s even kid approved!)

Its seriously so delicious, I feel rewarded and satisfied so I don’t crave an unhealthy alternative that shoots my blood sugar through the roof which leaves me craving more sugar an hour later.

The balance of the protein and fat in the almond butter, with the spice of the cinnamon which warms your digestion and moves qi, along with the fiber in the apple and chia seeds really fills you up. Add in a TINY bit of sweetness and crunch from the granola, and snacking on this feels like eating apple pie. For real.

Here’s what it looks like:

Here’s what’s in it: 1 pink lady or fuji apple sliced thin (I like these varieties the best but any apple will do!) A few heavy shakes of cinnamon (to taste) 1-2 Tablespoons crunchy almond butter drizzled over the top 1 Tablespoon chia seeds, sprinkled on 1 Tablespoon granola (ideally gluten free and lower sugar, but the amount you will use is so small it’s OK either way!

Making diet or lifestyle changes can be challenging because we often feel deprived while we eliminate things that we enjoy even though they aren’t healthy. I like to take a self-compassionate approach that allows me to honor what my body truly craves. In order to do that and not end up sabotaging my own desire for wellness, I’ve needed to introduce MORE things into my life that are really satisfying and delicious, but also leave me feeling good about myself and good in my body. It’s much easier to make changes when we’re ADDING new things we like rather than just eliminating our familiar pleasures.

If you want to shake off some winter sluggishness and spring forward this season with renewed energy to meet your life goals, and want some compassionate support along the way, I’d love to see you come in for some balancing acupuncture or schedule a coaching session today! We can work together on creating ways for you to add more healthful things you’ll love into your life so you don’t feel deprived, and get you on the empowering upward spiral towards greater balance and wellbeing.

I love hearing from you– What healthy sweet treats have you added to your life that I might want to include in my quest for a sugar-less yet satisfying diet? Leave a comment below.

Sending love,

Kelsey