Chocolate Covered Almond Smoothie (Dairy Free, Paleo)

Chocolate Covered Almond Smoothie (Dairy Free, Paleo)

Chocolate Covered Almond Smoothie is rich & creamy–and bursting with rich chocolate and almond flavour! This smoothie is the perfect meal in a cup. It’ll leave you feeling energized, nourished and satisfied.

Do you want to create chocolate flavoured smoothies, like this one, but only have vanilla or unflavoured protein powder?

Here’s a quick tip to help you achieve a rich chocolate flavour from your smoothies when using a vanilla or unflavoured protein powder!

Just add 1-2 teaspoons of cacao powder into your blender along with the other smoothie ingredients. Blend & enjoy! That’s it!! Told ya it was a quick tip.

Cacao is the purest form of chocolate which is why I recommend it. It’s an easy find since most grocery stores carry it nowadays. You can also find cacao powder online.

Now, whether your protein powder is vanilla, chocolate or unflavoured, give this addicting smoothie creation a try. I promise, it’ll be love at first sip!

If you’re looking for more gut friendly smoothie recipes, get my FREE Quick-Start Guide To Smoothies or grab my smoothie e-book which has over 30 dessert-inspired smoothie recipes for IBS & weight loss!

What you need for Chocolate Covered Almond Smoothie:

Want more delicious smoothie recipes? You’re going to love these …

chocolate covered almond smoothie

Chocolate Covered Almond Smoothie

Chocolate Covered Almond Smoothie is rich & creamy--and bursting with rich chocolate and almond flavour! This smoothie is the perfect meal in a cup. It'll leave you feeling energized, nourished and satisfied. Dairy Free & Paleo.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Course: Breakfast, Lunch, Smoothie
Cuisine: Low-Carb, Paleo
Servings: 1

Ingredients
 

  • 1 cup frozen greens, spinach, kale, and/or broccoli
  • 2-3 soft dates
  • 1 tbsp dry-roasted almond butter
  • 1-2 tsp cacao powder, see notes
  • 1 scoop PurePaleo Protein (chocolate or vanilla), or other high-quality protein powder
  • 1 cup water , or unsweetened nut milk

Instructions
 

  • Blend all ingredients using a high-powered blender.
  • Pour into your favourite smoothie cup and enjoy!

Notes

  • If you're using vanilla or unflavoured protein powder, add 2 tsp of cacao powder. If you're using chocolate flavoured protein powder, add 1 tsp.
  • Get PurePaleo Protein powder here.
Keyword almond butter, almonds, dairy free, gluten free, grain free, healthy breakfast, protein powder
Mango & Avocado Salsa Halibut (AIP, Paleo)

Mango & Avocado Salsa Halibut (AIP, Paleo)

Halibut with Mango & Avocado Salsa is a fresh and delicious fish dish! Perfect for the warmer months when you’re craving something light and fresh on the palate. Feel free to use any fish (or chicken) with this flavourful mango & avocado salsa. AIP friendly, paleo & low-carb.

DID YOU KNOW? Avocados are rich in fiber — half an avocado (roughly 100g) packs 7 grams of fiber, which is 27% of the RDA. Fiber has been shown to have important benefits for weight loss, metabolic health and gut health.

Roughly 25% of the fiber in avocado is soluble, which is known for feeding the friendly gut bacteria in your intestine. The number and type of bacteria is very important for optimal gut health and overall health.

So, if you’re dealing with IBS or weight loss resistance, I recommend replacing grain-based foods with high-fiber whole foods like avocados, vegetables and other fruits.

Here are a few way to incorporate avocados in your diet:

wild halibut with avocado and mango salsa

What you need for Halibut with Mango & Avocado Salsa:

  • Wild Pacific halibut (or other fish of choice)
  • Avocado
  • Mango
  • Red onion
  • Cilantro, basil or parsley
  • Lime
  • Avocado oil

Healthy sides to pair with this fish dish …

Halibut with Avocado & Mango Salsa (AIP, Paleo)

Halibut with Mango & Avocado Salsa

Halibut with Mango & Avocado Salsa is a fresh and delicious fish dish! Perfect for the warmer months when you're craving something light and fresh on the palate. Feel free to use any fish with this flavourful mango & avocado salsa. AIP friendly, paleo & low-carb.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: AIP, Low-Carb, Paleo
Servings: 2

Ingredients
 

  • 1 lb wild Pacific halibut, or other fish of choice
  • 1 avocado, chopped into small chunks
  • 1 small mango, chopped into small chunks
  • 1 tsp red onion, finely chopped
  • 1 tbsp cilantro, basil or parsley, finely chopped
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • Sea salt & black pepper to taste, omit black pepper for AIP version
  • Avocado oil

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 400F and grease or line baking dish with parchment paper.
  • Coat halibut with avocado oil and season with sea salt and black pepper.
  • Place halibut in oven and cook for 10-15-minutes (more time may be needed for thicker pieces of fish). Halibut should be opaque and flake when cut with a fork.
  • While halibut is cooking, combine mango, avocado, red onion, fresh herbs, lime juice and seasoning in a bowl and mix until well combined.
  • When halibut is done, let rest for a few minutes then top with fresh mango & avocado salsa and serve.

Notes

  • If you can't find wild Pacific halibut or it's too expensive, try wild cod or another similar fish. If you're not a fan of fish, this salsa works great with chicken too!
  • Omit black pepper for AIP version.
Keyword avocado, dairy free, gluten free, grain free, herbs, mango, soy free, wild fish
Chocolate Banana Chia Pudding (Plant-Based, Keto)

Chocolate Banana Chia Pudding (Plant-Based, Keto)

Chocolate Banana Chia Pudding is a delicious and easy snack or dessert recipe! Naturally sweetened with banana & bursting with rich chocolate flavour. Only 4 simple ingredients and 5-minutes needed to prepare this chia seed pudding recipe! Plant-based, low-carb, keto & paleo.

DID YOU KNOW? Chia seeds are a great plant-based food to help with weight loss.

Chia seeds rank high on the list of plant-based protein foods, making them great for putting on lean muscle, burning fat, and managing hunger and appetite.

Studies show that increasing your intake of protein can promote weight loss by curbing cravings and therefore reducing your caloric intake. Additionally, other research shows that following a high-protein diet rich in foods like chia seeds could reduce the hunger stimulating hormone, ghrelin.

So, if you’re looking for an easy and delicious way to add chia seeds into your diet, I highly recommend chia seed pudding. It makes for a great snack or dessert!

Check out more delicious chia pudding recipes …

Chocolate Banana Chia Pudding (Plant-Based, Keto, Paleo)

What you need for Chocolate Banana Chia Seed Pudding:

Turn this recipe into a satisfying breakfast by mixing in 1-2 scoops of Whole Body Collagen.

Want more healthy & delicious treats? You’re going to love these …

Chocolate Banana Chia Pudding (Plant-Based, Keto, Paleo)

Chocolate Banana Chia Pudding

Chocolate Banana Chia Pudding is a delicious and easy snack or dessert recipe! Naturally sweetened with banana & bursting with rich chocolate flavour. Only 4 simple ingredients and 5-minutes needed to prepare this chia seed pudding recipe! Plant-based, low-carb, keto & paleo.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Soaking Time: 1 hour
Course: Dessert, Snack/Treat
Cuisine: Keto, Low-Carb, Paleo, Plant-Based
Servings: 3

Ingredients
 

  • 1.5 cups unsweetened almond or coconut milk, use canned full fat coconut milk for a more rich & creamy pudding
  • 1 large banana, ripe
  • 6 tbsp chia seeds
  • 2 tbsp cacao powder
  • 1 tsp maple syrup, optional

TOPPINGS: (optional)

  • Cacao nibs
  • Sliced banana
  • Dark chocolate chips

Instructions
 

  • Add milk, banana and cacao powder to blender and blend until smooth. Taste for sweetness, add maple syrup if desired and blend again to combine.
  • Pour into glass container, add chia seeds and whisk until well combined.
  • Let pudding thicken in fridge for a minimum of 1-hr before consuming. The longer you let the chia seeds soak the more thick and delicious the pudding becomes (I like to soak my chia seeds for at least 8 hours before enjoying).
  • Transfer to small serving bowl, add toppings and enjoy!

Notes

  • Use canned full fat coconut milk for a more rich & creamy pudding.
  • The longer you let the chia seeds soak the more thick and delicious the pudding becomes.
  • Turn this recipe into a satisfying breakfast by mixing in 1-2 scoops of Whole Body Collagen.
Keyword banana, cacao, chia seeds, dairy free, gluten free, grain free, healthy dessert
Tostone Taco Bites (AIP, Paleo)

Tostone Taco Bites (AIP, Paleo)

It’ll be love at first bite with this Tostone Taco Bites recipe! This dish is packed with all the good stuff including healthy fats from grass-fed beef and avocado, PLUS loads of fiber thanks to plantains and avocado, once again. So whether it’s Taco Tuesday or just a regular night, you’ve got to try this paleo & AIP friendly dish!

You know that feeling when you try a recipe for the very first time and after just one bite you can’t wait to make it again and again?!

Well, that’s the feeling you’ll get when you try this dish!

These bite-sized tostone tacos are to die for and super fun to eat. I replaced the traditional taco shell with tostones since they are grain free, gut friendly and so delicious! 

Just in case you’re wondering what tostones are, they’re slices of unripe plantains that are fried, flattened, then fried again (in heat stable oil, of course!). Learn more about plantains and tostones here.

You can find plantains at most grocery stores. They look like big green bananas and tend to be located next to regular bananas. I’ve been able to find them at stores like Walmart, Fortinos & Longos.

How to assemble Tostone Taco Bites:

  1. Spread guacamole on tostone.
  2. Add beef on top of guacamole.
  3. Grab with your fingers (or use a fork) and bite into your delicious creation!

This meal is packed with all the good stuff including healthy fats from grass-fed beef and avocado PLUS loads of fiber thanks to plantains and avocados, once again. I highly recommend adding this recipe to your list of “must try”, it’ll be love at first bite!

Tostone Taco Bites (AIP, Paleo)

What you need for Tostone Taco Bites:

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Tostone Taco Bites AIP Paleo

Tostone Taco Bites

It'll be love at first bite with this Tostone Taco Bites recipe! This dish is packed with all the good stuff including healthy fats from grass-fed beef and avocado, PLUS loads of fiber thanks to plantains and avocado, once again. So whether it's Taco Tuesday or just a regular night, you've got to try this paleo & AIP friendly dish!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: AIP, Paleo
Servings: 3

Ingredients
 

  • 1 lb ground beef⁠, grass-fed
  • 1 small yellow onion, chopped⁠
  • 2 cloves garlic, ⁠sliced
  • 1 zucchini, chopped⁠ (optional)
  • 1 pack mushrooms, sliced
  • 2 large green plantains, peeled and cut into 1 inch slices
  • 1-2 avocados
  • ½ lime, juice only
  • Avocado oil
  • Sea salt & black pepper, to taste

TACO SEASONING:

  • 2 tsp dried oregano⁠
  • 1 tsp garlic powder⁠
  • 1 tsp onion powder⁠
  • ½ tsp ground cinnamon⁠
  • ½ tsp sea salt⁠

Instructions
 

  • Sauté onion and garlic in 1 tbsp avocado oil until fragrant, then add in zucchini and mushrooms. Cook for 5 minutes.
  • Add ground beef and taco seasoning. Break a part meat and cook until liquid evaporates and meat is browned.⁠
  • While beef is cooking, use another large pan to cook the plantains. Cover bottom of pan in avocado oil, heat oil then add plantain slices and fry on both sides until golden (roughly 2-minutes per side).⁠ Season with salt.
  • Remove plantains from pan and gently smash until flattened (I smash my plantains between two pieces of parchment paper with a mug or can).⁠
  • Add smashed plantains back to the pan and fry again on both sides until golden brown.⁠ Now you have tostones!
  • Mash avocado in a bowl, add lime juice, sea salt, black pepper and a pinch of garlic powder.
  • Place everything onto a dish, as shown in photo, and assemble your tostone tacos as you eat them!
Keyword autoimmune protocol, dairy free, gluten free, grain free, grass fed beef, healthy dinner, paleo diet, plantains, quick meals, tacos

 

Tiger Nut Lemon Cheesecake Bars (AIP, Nut & Dairy Free)

Tiger Nut Lemon Cheesecake Bars (AIP, Nut & Dairy Free)

Tiger Nut Lemon Cheesecake Bars are rich & creamy with a hint of tartness and tiger nut crunch. The perfect cheesecake recipe if you’re following an AIP, plant-based, nut or dairy free diet.

DID YOU KNOW? Tiger nuts are recommended for healthy skin, weight management, and fertility—all because of vitamin E!

One serving of tiger nuts provides you with 278% of the daily recommended value–that’s 3mg of vitamin E!

Vitamin E is important to our health due to its powerful antioxidant properties that may help reduce free radical damage and slow the aging process of your cells.

Free radicals not only weaken and break down healthy cells, but these molecules may also contribute to heart disease and cancer.

It’s important to have a diet rich in antioxidants to protect yourself from oxidative damage over time, and tiger nuts are a great source of antioxidants.

If you’re looking for tasty ways to add more tiger nuts to your diet, check out some of my tiger nut recipes (including the yummy cheesecake below!).

tiger nut lemon cheesecake bars

What you need for Tiger Nut Lemon Cheesecake Bars:

Want more tiger nut recipes? You’re going to love these …

Tiger Nut Lemon Cheesecake Bars

Tiger Nut Lemon Cheesecake Bars are rich & creamy with a hint of tartness and tiger nut crunch. The perfect cheesecake recipe if you're following an AIP, plant-based, nut or dairy free diet.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Freezer Time: 5 hours
Course: Dessert, Snack/Treat
Cuisine: AIP, Paleo, Plant-Based
Servings: 9 bars

Ingredients
 

  • 1 cup skinned tiger nuts, soaked & drained
  • 6 tbsp maple syrup
  • 6 tbsp lemon juice
  • 6 tbsp coconut oil, melted & cooled
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 drops food-grade lemon essential oil, optional
  • ¼ tsp sea salt

Toppings

  • 2 tbsp crushed tiger nuts, use a food processor for this
  • Fresh berries, raspberries, strawberries or blackberries

Instructions
 

  • Put tiger nuts in a jar, fill with water and let soak in fridge for 12+ hours. Drain well.
  • Process all filling ingredients in a high-powered blender until completely smooth. Note: Tiger nuts are not easy to breakdown, so you may need to blend for a while, scraping the sides of the blender along the way.
  • Transfer cheesecake filling into small glass container (~5"x 5") lined with parchment paper and smooth out.
  • Freeze for at least 5 hours. Remove cheesecake from container and slice into bars. Thaw out briefly, decorate with toppings and serve. Keep remaining bars refrigerated for up to a week or in the freezer for longer.
Keyword coconut oil, dairy free, Egg free, gluten free, grain free, healthy cheesecake, lemon, nut free, tiger nuts
Green Pea Soup (Dairy Free, Plant-Based)

Green Pea Soup (Dairy Free, Plant-Based)

Green Pea Soup is made from frozen peas and other wholesome ingredients! It’s a creamy & filling soup that’s dairy free & plant-based.

DID YOU KNOW? Green peas are part of the legume family and contain beneficial nutrients and fiber (which feeds the gut flora), BUT they also contain antinutrients.

Antinutrients are substances found in many foods, including legumes and grains, that may interfere with digestion and mineral absorption.

While these generally aren’t a concern for most healthy people, their health effects are still important to keep in mind. They are more likely to impact those who rely on legumes as a staple food, those with IBS or other gut issues, and individuals at risk of malnutrition.

Two antinutrients found in legumes:

PHYTIC ACID: May interfere with the absorption of minerals such as iron, calcium, zinc and magnesium.

LECTINS: Associated with symptoms such as gas and bloating and may interfere with nutrient absorption.

How to help prevent adverse effects from antinutrients in legumes:

LIMIT CONSUMPTION: It’s best to limit consumption of legumes to 3-4 times a week. Also limit the quantity you consume in one sitting since a larger amount is more likely to cause problems (I recommend 1/3 to 1/2 a cup as a max).

PREPARE PROPERLY: Soaking and/or sprouting may be helpful in reducing the amounts of antinutrients in legumes. At the very least soak your legumes for 18-hours before cooking.

COOK THOROUGHLY: Antinutrient levels are higher in raw legumes, which makes them more likely to cause digestive issues. Cooking legumes helps to reduce antinutrients.

In summary, while legumes do contain beneficial nutrients and fiber, they are not as nutrient-dense as other foods—like meats, fish, shellfish, eggs and vegetables—and, as mentioned above, some of the nutrients they contain are not bioavailable due to antinutrients. For this reason and others mentioned above, legumes are not a staple in my diet and I only consume them once in a blue moon.

If you choose to consume legumes, I recommend that you pay attention to how you feel when you consume them. If they don’t energize you or if they cause digestive problems, it’s best to avoid them for a period of time and try reintroducing them at a later date.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Levels of antinutrients tend to be lower in peas than in other legumes, so they are unlikely to cause problems unless you eat them frequently or in excess.

Now that we got all the important stuff out of the way, it’s time to try my Green Pea Soup. It’s absolutely delicious–and a great side dish for the spring & summer.

green pea soup

What you need for Green Pea Soup:

  • Frozen green peas
  • Cauliflower
  • Yellow onion
  • Garlic
  • Chicken or vegetable stock
  • Coconut milk
  • Lemon juice
  • Avocado oil
  • Dried parsley
  • Dried dill

Want more wholesome soup recipes? You’re going to love these …

Green Pea Soup

Green Pea Soup is made from frozen peas and other wholesome ingredients! It's a creamy & filling soup that's dairy free & plant-based. Enjoy during the spring and summer--or anytime of the year!
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Course: Side Dish, Soup
Cuisine: Plant-Based
Servings: 5

Ingredients
 

  • 4 cups frozen green peas
  • 350 g frozen cauliflower, or fresh
  • ½ yellow onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, sliced
  • 4 cups organic chicken , or vegetable stock
  • 1 cup full fat coconut milk, canned
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp avocado oil
  • 1/2 tsp dried parsley
  • 1/2 tsp dried dill
  • Sea salt & black pepper, to taste

Instructions
 

  • Sauté onion and garlic in avocado over medium heat until onion is translucent.
  • Add dill and parsley and sauté for another minute.
  • Add all remaining ingredients, cover the pot and bring to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, uncover and reduce the heat to low. Let the soup simmer for 15-minutes.
  • Transfer the soup to a blender (or use an immersion blender) and blend on high until smooth and creamy.
  • Transfer to bowls and serve. Store leftovers in a mason jar in the fridge for up to one week.

Notes

Turn your soups into a complete and nutrient-rich meal in one easy step ...
Add 2 scoops of collagen powder into your bowl of soup and stir to combine. Collagen is loaded with nutrients that support skin, hair, nails, joints and the gut lining. Boost all your soups and smoothies with this powerful ingredient!
Keyword cauliflower, coconut milk, dairy free, gluten free, grain free, green peas, healthy soup, soy free