Healthy Chocolate Pudding Recipe

Healthy Chocolate Pudding Recipe

Made with Greek yogurt

Make delicious chocolate pudding with 4 simple ingredients (serves 4): 1/2 cup dark cocoa powder (or Dutch process) not regular, 2 cups full-fat Greek yogurt, 3 TB pure maple syrup, 1 tsp pure vanilla.

Use a whisk to stir the cocoa powder and remove lumps. Then mix everything together in another bowl. The mixture will be very thick at first and ‘powdery.’ As you stir and incorporate the cocoa powder into the yogurt it will become smooth. Adjust ingredients to your taste (amount of liquid if very thick, cocoa powder for chocolate flavor, maple syrup for sweetness).

Nutrition Facts (per serving without revisions to above): 185 calories, 6 g fat, 21 g carbohydrate, 12 G protein

5 Tips for eating more vegetables this summer

Vegetables are essential for optimal health. Whether you grow your own, browse the farm stand or simply buy them at the grocery store, get creative. Those who eat a wide variety of vegetables daily enjoy health benefits such as lower BMIs and better gut health.

1. Buy a veggie noodle maker for zucchini or buy veggie noodles. Find them in the freezer section at the grocery store (carrot, beet).
2. Grill them – try bell peppers, onions, mushrooms and pineapples on skewers.
3. Have a green smoothie for breakfast. Frozen bananas, apples, leafy greens, Greek yogurt, a bit of honey and squeeze of lemon work well together.
4. Whether you make homemade pizza or buy frozen, add extra sliced/diced veggies as a topping before putting in the oven.
5. Throw some romaine lettuce hearts on the grill with your chicken or burgers for a charred salad.

The Positive Approach

Changing your mindset to focus on the positive in everyday situations and circumstances is key to reducing stress and increasing joy. What you think, and ultimately say, about your situation, largely determines your path. “I’ll never… I can’t, I won’t…” are powerless words. Try looking at stressors as temporary situations that can be overcome. Keeping a positive outlook improves mood, and approaching stressful situations with hope increases resiliency. Making this a habit ultimately changes how we perceive reality and how stressors affect our lives.

It’s about building on what is strong instead of what is wrong and replacing dread, guilt and shame with hope, love and joy. “I can, I will” and “I am able,” are power words.Remember, your behavior follows your thoughts.

Attitude is everything. How you approach life, your mindset, the things that take your time and focus, so much stems from our attitude. Positivity wins every time. Next time a stressful situation arises, check your thoughts and what you say about the situation. Notice the difference. Bottom line…quit focusing on what you don’t have, can’t do and don’t want.