Why exactly have we been saying this phrase, “I deserve a treat”? We’ve heard it millions of times throughout our lives, in good times and bad.

“Hey, you’ve had a rough day, let’s get some ice cream, it’ll cheer you up.”

“You worked so hard today! You totally deserve that slice of cake/beer/insert guilty pleasure.”

And here we all are going, “Why am I such an emotional eater?”.

Sugary Donuts — Sugary donuts, sadly, do not help our bods or brains handle stress any better

The great escape

Name: Fluffy Banana Pancakes with Chocolate Mousse
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 2 bananas (ripe); 2 eggs (ecological); 2 tsp cinnamon; 1 tsp all natural vanilla extract; 1/2 cup almond flour; 3-5 tbsp coconut flour; dash salt (pink himalayan); 1 tbsp coconut oil or ghee (for frying); 1 can coconut cream (85% Fat); 1/3 cup Dutch (24% fat) cocoa (start with 1/4 cup & add to taste); 1/2 tsp vanilla; dash salt (pink himalayan); 1/4 tsp espresso (optional); 1 tbsp honey (optional)

Ending the day with a tub of Ben & Jerry’s Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough ice cream on the couch kind of says something about our collective frame of mind.

In the end, we all know that whatever junk we’re eating is a temporary high and distraction and in no way solves our problems but only exacerbates them. As in, “Eugh, why did I eat all that? I feel so lethargic and gross. My stomach is so bloated. Why can’t I ever stick to a diet? My belly is rounder than a basketball… And how did cellulite end up on my arms?!”. The vicious self-hatred cycle spirals away.

mr.fat kitty isn't enjoying his energy levels — Are you like mr.fat kitty? Desperately needing some coffee for energy?

How to change

Simpy put, when it comes to food, “I deserve this treat!” has to be eliminated from our vocabulary. Guilty treats are called so because they come with a whole lot of guilt. Since when has guilt ever felt good?

Above all, you deserve the best. Always. You deserve to feel your best, act your best, look your best. This starts with how you feel. If you’re feeling bloated and gross, chances are you’re not bringing your best self out there to the world. So why not treat yourself well? Besides, feeling great spreads positivity and success into every area of your life.

There are tons of healthy treats that satisfy, the world is changing its views on food, creative spins on old favourites are everywhere. Like these amazingly rich Sugar Free Fudgy Brownies with Frosting

Is this really worth it?

When you want an unhealthy ‘treat’ at least have a damn good one, and only when you’re in a good frame of mind. It takes away the guilt because you’re not eating something unhealthy as an excuse to escape whatever emotion you’re not wanting to experience right now. Instead, you’re offering yourself something pleasurable to indulge in, to be ‘in-joy’.

Peach Crisp with the easiest Homemade Nice Cream – damn worth it!

Think about it; mediocre food is everywhere and it’s never worth it. Always ask yourself… is this really worth it? Unhealthy food we love, once in a while, when we’re eating great the majority of the time, isn’t a downward spiral – it’s a moment of being in-joy that we know is temporary and something to be appreciated; not an escape. It just is something special to be appreciated with a smile.

Noticing the change

Almond Butter Fat Bombs – completely & totally worth it!

Above all, the really wonderful thing is that once you start going sugar-free you find a million new recipes to enjoy and delicious substitutions to your favourites. You find satisfaction in food so much richer than you ever ate before. Not only that, but also as you start eating less sugar, the cravings decrease too.

Plus, when Sunday morning breakfast is fluffy banana pancakes topped with rich chocolate mousse, chopped fresh cherries and pistachios… you wonder why you didn’t go sugar-free sooner.

Eat what you love, because there’s always a way to make it sugar-free.

Recipe below…and many more to come!

Fluffy Banana Pancakes with Chocolate Mousse

Rich and moist pancakes with natural sweetness from bananas, topped with homemade chocolate mousse (made the day before) freshly chopped cherries and pistachios.

Paleo, Gluten, Grain, & Sugar-free. Vegan option available.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

Fluffy Banana Pancakes

2 bananas ripe
2 eggs ecological
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp all natural vanilla extract
1/2 cup almond flour
3-5 tbsp coconut flour
dash salt pink himalayan
1 tbsp coconut oil or ghee for frying

Chocolate Mousse

1 can coconut cream 85% Fat
1/3 cup Dutch (24% fat) cocoa start with 1/4 cup & add to taste
1/2 tsp vanilla
dash salt pink himalayan
1/4 tsp espresso optional
1 tbsp honey optional

Instructions

Fluffy Banana Pancakes

Mash bananas. Add in eggs and whisk until blended.
Add in 2 tsp cinnamon and 1 tsp vanilla (more cinnamon if you like!)
Add in ½ cup almond flour, 2+ tbsp coconut flour, and salt. If it’s not very thick, add in more coconut flour.
Heat the pan with coconut oil and/or ghee, add the pancakes over medium heat, flip after 5 minutes or so.
Enjoy! Top with chocolate mousse and fresh fruit.

Chocolate Mousse

Make the day before.
Blend all the ingredients on high speed for 2 minutes. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
Perfect on its own for dessert or as a topping.

Check out my Pinterest for many more guilt-free recipes. A favourite of mine is Apple Crisp with homemade ice cream… ohmygoodness yum! Sugar-free amazingly delicious apple pie people!