Who says eating for your fertility has to be boring? Not us! Your everyday meals should focus on nutrient-dense whole foods, but you can still enjoy healthy indulgences from time to time. During the holiday season, there are so many tasty temptations to choose from!
We understand the challenge of wanting to eat a sweet treat, but also sticking to the principles of a Fertility Diet. To that end, we have played around with a few holiday recipes to make them fertility-friendly without sacrificing flavor. Here are a few we’ve tried, really enjoyed and want to share with you.
No Bake Almond Butter Chocolate Nests
This is a hearty treat to enjoy after a light lunch. It’s sweet, but also a good source of protein, antioxidants and essential fats. Adapted from Foodies of South Africa.
Makes 12
Prep and chill time: about 3 hours
Ingredients:
- 2.5 cups low sugar granola
- 1 cup chopped walnuts
- 1 cup plus 2 Tbsp almond butter
- 2-3 Tbsp honey
- 2 Tbsp whey protein powder
- 2 cups dark chocolate chips
Directions: Mix the granola with 2 Tbsp. almond butter, chopped walnuts and combine with honey until you reach a sticky consistency. Add a spoonful of this blend to each cup of a greased muffin tin. Use a spoon to create an indent in each cup. This is the “nest”. Allow to chill for 1 hour.
Mix 1 cup almond butter with protein powder. Gently melt in a saucepan over low heat. Then, spoon the blend into the granola nests. Chill again for 1 hour. Melt dark chocolate chips in a double boiler. After melted, allow to cool slightly. Then, spoon on top of the nests. Chill again for another hour or until the chocolate is firm. Serve and enjoy.
Baked Pears
This recipe works great as a dessert for a holiday dinner or just for a sweet treat on a cold day; A good source of fiber, Vitamin C and essential fats. Roquefort adds a savory twist. Adapted from Live Simply.
Makes 4 servings
Prep + cook time: 30 minutes
Ingredients:
- 2 ripe organic pears, halved, spoon out seeds (any type will work. I used green D’anjou pears.)
- Just pinches of nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, cloves
- 1 Tbsp organic, unfiltered honey (or maple syrup)
- ¼ cup pecans, cashews or walnuts (or a mixture of all three) finely chopped
- 1-2 Tbsp vegan butter (cubed cold) or organic butter (cubed cold)
- optional: a dollop of roquefort cheese before baking (as in the photograph)
Directions: Prepare the pears for baking. Drop a dollop of butter into the pear cavity. Add nuts and spices. Drizzle a little honey on top. Bake uncovered in a roasting pan at 350℉ for 20-25 minutes (or until soft). Serve by itself or with coconut ice cream, whipped coconut cream or a Greek yogurt. Enjoy!
Fertility Chocolate Truffles
Our Senior Herbalist, Elizabeth Willett, adapted this delicious recipe from Parade magazine.
Makes 36
Prep + chill time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Ingredients:
Truffles:
- 8 oz bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
- 8 oz dark chocolate, finely chopped
- ¾ cup organic heavy cream
- 1 Tbsp Fertilica Maca powder
- 1 Tbsp butter, cut into pieces
- ¼ tsp vanilla extract
Toppings:
- ¼ cup ground freeze-dried raspberries
- ¼ cup unsweetened cacao powder
- ¼ cup chopped nut or seed of choice
- ¼ cup coconut flakes
Directions: Combine chocolate and cream in a heatproof bowl over 1 inch of water in a medium saucepan. Bring water to a simmer. Stir chocolate occasionally until melted and smooth. Stir in the butter and vanilla until butter melts and the mixture is smooth and shiny. Refrigerate 30 minutes or until mixture is set but pliable.
Using a soup spoon, Tablespoon measuring spoon, or melon baller, roll mixture into 36 balls, placing them on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate 30 minutes.
Divide toppings among shallow bowls. Working with a few truffles at a time, roll each in a different topping, pressing gently so topping sticks. Refrigerate truffles in a parchment-lined airtight container up to 2 days. I promise they won’t last that long!
No Bake Nut Butter Balls
This is an easy one to enjoy as a sweet treat instead of cookies, pies or other desserts; good source of protein and essential fats.
Makes 12-18 pieces
Prep + chill time: 1 hour
Ingredients:
- 1 cup organic cashew or almond butter
- 1 cup finely chopped cashews or almonds
- 1/4 cup coconut sugar
- Optional: 1 Tbsp Maca powder
- Cocoa powder, to taste
- Unsweetened, coconut flakes, to taste
Directions: Blend ball ingredients till smooth. Place on waxed paper and chill for 1 hour. Once cooled, roll the balls in cocoa powder and coconut flakes. Enjoy!
Experiment with Recipes for Yourself!
I hope you enjoy these sweet-treat recipes as much as we do. Please feel free to share your favorite healthy recipes and recipe adaptations in the comments below. We’d love to hear what recipes you’re enjoying and experimenting with while working on your fertility!
- “Technique: How I Replace White Sugar.” (2018). Retrieved from: https://www.organicspark.com/portfolio/technique-how-i-replace-white-sugar/
- Ashton, A. (2017, Dec.). Easy DIY Chocolate Truffles. Retrieved from: https://parade.com/614217/alison-ashton/easy-diy-chocolate-truffles/
- “No-Bake Peanut Choc Cups.” (2018). Retrieved from: https://www.foodiesofsa.com/no-bake-peanut-choc-cups
- Barr, K. (2018). Honey Cinnamon Baked Pears. Retrieved from: https://livesimply.me/2016/10/04/honey-cinnamon-baked-pears/#wprm-recipe-container-25091
