Fridays are sweet!
Before we jump into why they are so sweet….I want to share the Winner of The Wellness Show & Reiki Giveaway!
Melissa, you are the winner!! What a great way to spend your special day 
Congrats girl!! I am so happy for you!
Ok, now onto sweets…..
Cleanse or no cleanse, people around the world celebrate this happy day of the week on common ground. We eat TREATS!
I wake up giddy on Fridays, I gladly do my workouts on Fridays and I sit and savour any bit of chocolate I can get my mitts onto on Fridays……
Remember, I have already admitted I have an emotional eating challenge, but I also know with my heart wide open that today is a day I allow myself to let the guard down and let the sweetness in with open arms. I do NOT overindulge, but I DO fill my sweet tooth up with an amount that satisfies me.
Let me share with you a healthy way you can satisfy your treat day and not jeopardize your diets or cleanses while walking away smugly with a little chocolate left on the corner of your right cheek
Instantly people think treats should be sworn off because of the high refined sugars, yet people are still eating them and regretting it. My mission in life is to shower you with option of healthy indulgence that feeds your soul, gives you happiness, satisfaction and leaves you with zero guilt. This morning I made this batch, licked the spoon and ended up eating another 2 {heaping} tablespoon fulls and never felt that regret because all the ingredients were pure and natural.
This recipe today is sweetened with medjool dates. Dates are an excellent source of natural fiber and full of beneficial vitamins and minerals such as calcium, iron, potassium, sulfer, magnesium and copper. Now, I don’t eat too many date during my day as they are still a form of sugar and can be on the higher side of the calorie belt, but they are wayyyy better for your body than a white or brown sugar.
Healthy Chocolate Rice Treats:
1 cup perky’s crunchy flax cereal {any puffed hard cereal would do}
3/4 cup chopped, pitted medjool dates
1/2 cup water
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp coconut oil
4 heaping tbsp cocoa powder
1/4 cup shredded coconut
To Make Healthy Chocolate Rice Treats: Place chopped dates with water into a small measuring cup and place in the microwave for 50 seconds.
Remove the dates and use a fork to mash up dates and water into a thick and creamy paste.
In a separate bowl mix together cereal, cocoa and coconut.
Mix in the coconut oil and the vanilla to the date paste and pour over cereal mixture.
Mix well and lay in a parchment lined cake pan.
Place in the freezer for 30 minutes before serving.
These little puppies will be accompianing me to Starbucks today and will gladly fill my Healthy Friday Treat!
I mentioned yesterday on the Facebook Fan Page that we are on our way to reaching 300 “likes”! Please click here and “Like” I Heart Wellness 
Much Love!
How do you get around refined sugars in your treats? Do you use Dates or Stevia?
To Your Glam Life,
xxoo
Kris
jenn (4)
Cali (2)
Gillian (1)
Kat @KaleSpa (1)
Kristina (1)
Lisa (1)
Michelle D (1)
Oh man, these treats look amazing! I am definitely not the one to ask about refined sugars!
Madeline – Greens and Jeans´s last blog ..crush
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kris Reply:
February 18th, 2011 at 5:29 pm
Hahaha! Girl, you crack me up! I love your comments
xxoo
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I’ve never used dates in my baking, but I am going to give them a try to see how I like them. These chocolate rice treats look fantastic – satisfying my sweet tooth with pure, wholesome ingredients sounds like a great idea…especially after all of the indulging I have been doing since Christmas!!
My favourite sweeteners are agave nectar, maple syrup and brown rice syrup. I’ve just started using them this past year and they have replaced a lot of the sugars I used to use regularly. They definitely fit my criteria of healthy, yet still delicious.
Andrea @ Vegvacious´s last blog ..Warm You to the Soul Winter Vegetable Casserole
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kris Reply:
February 18th, 2011 at 5:28 pm
I think you are on the right track with trying all these natural sweeteners in your baked goods! The dates are great and easy to use
xxoo
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I love using dates – “natures candy” right?? In baked treats I like using applesauce, honey, agave, brown rice or maple syrup…
these look great – I LOVE rice crispies!!
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kris Reply:
February 18th, 2011 at 5:27 pm
You are so cute! I love the way you bake with all your healthy tips and tricks
I hope you have a wonderful weekend my friend!
xxoo
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Kristina @ spabettie Reply:
February 21st, 2011 at 5:26 pm
I thought of you this weekend – I made my date bars and called them “natures candy”… my friend just laughed at me, until she tried them – um, YES !!
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kris Reply:
February 21st, 2011 at 7:06 pm
Love your “natures candy”!! That is so true!!
I wish you all the luck on this giveaway!!
xxo
I actually got away from eating dates for a while, but I’m going to change that next time I go to Costco… they have this lovely tub that I’ve been eying for weeks!! I use a lot of stevia and have been slowly but surely experimenting baking with it to pretty good results!
Christin@purplebirdblog´s last blog ..Dill Pickle Dip
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your amazing recipes are just endless!
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I love using maple syrup!
Dani @ Body By Nature´s last blog ..urban vegetarian
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Hey chica!
These look delish! Do you think if I use carob I’d have to bump up the date factor? Still can’t have cocoa yet
Le boo.
Have a great friday!
x
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kris Reply:
February 18th, 2011 at 6:30 pm
Yea girl, try the carob and let me know how it turns out! It will be even sweeter and tastier I bet! You are a sweet treat genius
xxoo
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I don’t really like carob…I’m a chocolate-girl, for sure! Those treats look delicious…I’m going to have to try them. I sweeten with dates, honey, agave syrup or maple syrup. I loooove sweet things!
Stephanie´s last blog ..Appearances Deceive
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I use stevia in my oatmeal, and for more baked-type goods I’ve used bananas, dates, dried figs, raisins, and frozen fruit (and its’ juice from when it thaws).
Now I’m feeling like doing an experiment!
Meri´s last blog ..Please sir- may I have some mochi
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I am drooling. These look AMAZING. I am a COMPLETE date addict, and I will run out soon to get me some puffed cereal!!
Girl, not only are you gorgeous, but you are a genius. Fact.
Emma (Sweet Tooth Runner)´s last blog ..Are you jealous yet
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Hey, Girl!! Happy Friday!!
I so agree about people warding off sugar then eating them anyway and feeling guilty. Embrace your sweet tooth by making better choices! You have so many amazing recipes that do that!! Those treats look amazing and easy to make
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I’ve been looking for ways to use dates (versus granular sugar of any kind) as a sweetener more..and ta da here you are!!
These treats sound awesome and they beat Starbuck’s treats anyday!!
I have yet to use stevia in baked goods. I need to order the stevia for baking online and try it out.
Have fun at the show and maybe I’ll see you there:)
Melissa´s last blog ..Take Two
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Gah, you never fail to come up with fabulous treats! I always use stevia for a sweetener! I used to use splenda back in the day-ah, so glad I stopped that!!
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Yum, these look perfect for weekend treats! I’ve been using more dates for sweeteners to replacing agave nectar and even stevia. I just wish the good organic dates were cheaper at Whole Foods!
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I love using crunchy flax in snack bars. Aren’t they the bomb?! They’re so high in fiber too!
I use a lot of stewed fruits, fruit purees, or fruit juices in my recipes instead of sugars. I find my digestive system does so much better with these ingredients over cane sugar.
Thank you for your reply on my comment yesterday, you truly made my day. I’m so ridiculously happy that I found your blog
Leanne @ Healthful Pursuit´s last blog ..Snack Attack GIVEAWAY!!
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I don’t eat a lot of sweets, so I typically use white or brown sugar. I tried baking with stevia, but the aftertaste was terrible.
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