Hey friends! It’s Friday and a long weekend awaits most of you. Hooray! Unfortunately, I’ll be working both of my jobs tomorrow. Oh well – gotta bring in the dough! Alas, I’m currently sitting at Whole Foods and the Beatles are playing. So, basically, I couldn’t be a happier camper.
Today was a welcomed rest day and began at 5:30 a.m. I woke up and completed the Long & Lean stretching routine from the Tone It Up Beach Babe DVD and followed it up with this quick morning yoga routine from the lovely Tara Stiles. My rest days always start off which 15-20 minutes of stretching to awaken my body and calm my mind. I love it! After my stretching sequences, I got ready for work, which lasted through the afternoon.
Lunch
My shift ended later than I had anticipated and, when I got out of work, I was ravenous. A ravenous Heather = a cranky Heather. I knew there was a Whole Foods about 25 minutes away so, rather than waiting until I got home, I decided a good ol’ salad bar creation would do the trick! Today, I worked at a clinic about 1 hour from my house so waiting that long was completely out of the question. Diva much? 
I piled my container with kale-avocado slaw, tahini-sesame greens, beets, and grilled squash/eggplant/onions. The Japanese yam-chickpea cake in the bottom right-hand corner was super bland! When I saw the name of the pattie, I was so excited to give it a try because it contained two of my very favorite foods. Although the ingredient list was nice and short, it definitely could have benefitted from a few more – specifically, garlic, pepper, and a savory spice. Despite that, I still gobbled it up. Girl’s gotta eat!
Perfect Fuel Frozen Chocolate-Banana Bites
You might have seen a new product pop up in your local Whole Foods’ chocolate stash. Perfect Fuel Chocolate was created by Nicolas Warren, an avid triathloner. Warren wanted to create a healthy snack that provided all the necessary benefits to people participating in more intense sports an sporting events. So, he created Perfect Fuel: a delicious snack made from raw cacao and ginseng, to provide athletes with a dose of energy in the most delicious of ways!
I really love the bittersweet (no pun intended!) taste of dark chocolate but I don’t normally purchase it because I don’t crave it or feel it’s necessary for me to consume. That being said, when Perfect Fuel asked me to sample their product and create my own recipe, I was more-than up for the challenge. I mean who wants to turn down high-quality raw food … especially when it’s chocolate?! Not me, friends.
At first, I tried making a mole sauce but it came out awful. I kid you not when I say that I wanted to vomit. This deterred me from continuing with that idea. Maybe I’ll revisit that in a couple months. I switched gears and set out to create a different recipe airing on the side of dessert. Eureka! What I came up with is pretty darn delicious. The hint of ginseng makes this chocolate so special. All of the complex flavors from the chocolate marry so well with the muted sweetness from the banana. I hope you pick up some Perfect Fuel and give this tasty recipe a try!
Perfect Fuel Frozen Chocolate-Banana Bites
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients (Serves 1)
- 1 banana, frozen and sliced
- 1 pack of Perfect Fuel chocolate
- 1 tsp. coconut oil
- 2 Tbsp. unsweetened almond milk
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
- 2 tsp. organic shredded coconut
- 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Two hours before serving time, peel and slice a banana and place it in the freezer.
- Two hours later, combine all ingredients in a small saucepan over low heat.
- Stir the mixture well, until all ingredients are well combined.
- Allow the sauce to simmer on low heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- After 10 minutes, turn off the burner and remove saucepan from heat.
- Take your banana out of the freezer and dip the slices in to the chocolate.
- Place chocolate-covered banana slices into the freezer for 1 to 2 hours.
- Devour!
The rest of the evening is looking pretty low key because I’m up at 5:30 a.m. again tomorrow. I have a walk planned with my best friend Raquel and then will probably settle in for the night. See ya back here tomorrow!
Stay lovely,
Heather
I feel you I’m working all weekend. No fun, but at least I’ll have the Monday off!
I love spending my rest days in a nice meditation for a few minutes to get my mind started off with that positive intention that exercise usually gives me, especially now that I’ve been resting more:)
Oh man, those banana bites look so my style! I can only eat bananas that are frozen or baked because I’m odd and don’t like them naturally. It was so good to chat yesterday!!
xox
I’m going to be thinking about you all weekend, girl! <3 So pumped to hear that you’re meditating more. So amazing and clarifying. You’re not odd – I’ve been the same way with bananas for the past few months. It’s frozen or nothing.
You’re the best. I’m so excited for our weekly chats!!!
I totally understand about hungry = cranky! I’m getting hungry right now just looking at those banana bites:)
have a happy working weekend!
You should totally try them, Kelsey! They’re so easy and so delicious.
Happy weekend to you, love!
Chocolate and banana are one of my favourite flavour combinations!
Kudos for even trying a mole recipe…it’s one of my absolute favourites but it’s way to complicated for me to even attempt.
Haha, thanks Sam! It was pretty disastrous.
I feel you on the hungry = cranky! I’m bored hungry right now, and it’s not making me very happy. Haha, and that delicious photo of food doesn’t help!! Sorry that you have to work this weekend. Do you at least get Labor Day off?
When I’m bored hungry, I always go for a walk or play some music. It always does the trick! As for Labor Day, I thankfully have it off! Thank goodness too because it’s Matty’s birthday!
Today was a rest day for me as well and I chose yoga too!! I did one of Sadi Nardini routine and loved it
I envy every time you post about going to Whole Foods because we don’t have any where I live. BUT I tried tofu for the first time and used Trader Joe’s Soyaki sauce. It was to die for. I simply tossed it with some organic snap peas and broccoli. I’m glad I gave it a shot.
I hope you get a Whole Foods nearby soon, girl! So happy you love the soyaki sauce too.
Chocolate and banana is an awesome combo! So funny that I just saw these chocolate bites while I was checking out at whole foods last night! I was definitely curious that they were for energy too! Have a great long weekend!
I would absolutely recommend trying them. They’re so different (in a good way) and, while there isn’t any scientific evidence behind the ginseng-energy effect, I definitely felt GOOD after eating it because of its raw deliciousness.
You come up with the best recipes!! Love the addition of coconut oil!!
Aww, thanks Linz!!! You’re the sweetest ever.
Ugh, your food always looks SO good!!! Can you be my chef?
I would be so honored, my dear!
Whole Foods & The Beatles? Um, you’re my soul sister. haha. Seriously. That sounds perfect!
I’ve never heard of the Perfect Fuel chocolates but I really like the idea behind them. The recipe you created sounds so yummy!
Even though you’ll be working, I hope you have a fabulous weekend. With your spirit and positivity, I know you’ll find a way to make it fun! <3
WHYYY do we live on opposite sides of the country? Rude.
Hello, hello Emily – I’m one of the co-founders of Perfect Fuel Chocolate. Currently we are just in New England and Wyoming. All the Whole Foods in MA carry the product. We are trying to make our way west, but in the mean time please support our indiegogo and vote on our next fuels: http://www.indiegogo.com/perfectfuelchocolate
Thanks
Haha I love it when I can find the perfect excuse to hit up Whole Foods for lunch instead of eating at home! I’m actually considering going there today, even though I have a fridge packed full of food.
And those banana bites look so good! Chocolate + coconut + banana is seriously the best flavour combination.
Have a good weekend girl!
I highly encourage your Whole Foods idea.
Happy weekend, beauty!
Wow – thank you Heather. The banana bite creation looks amazing. I will be spreading the word.
Thanks so much, Miles! So glad to hear that you’re happy with the end result.
Nice recipe lady!!!!!!!!! Nicer salad though
HA! I spy roasted onions. DROOL.
What a great snack idea! I love having a banana at night sometimes chopped up with chocolate syrup drizzled on top. But if it was DARK choc I’d be in even more of a banana/chocolate heaven!
And um I totally would’ve done what you did by going to Whole Foods for lunch. An hour? No thanks!
I’ll bring these packets up to CT this weekend so we can make them together!!!