I’m Sarah, a Naturopathic Doctor, wellness enthusiast and health-foodie. I’m a well-being advocate and green kitchen guru who is living my true purpose while guiding patients through their personal health journeys. I’m also a complete and utter health food fanatic who wants to see everyone benefit from eating healing foods!
December 12, 2018 By Sarah White No Comments
Keto Chocolate Peppermint Bark with Hazelnuts
The holidays are upon us – T’is the season for spending time with family and giving thanks for all the wonderful blessings in our lives. Unfortunately for most of us, it’s also the time of year when we majorly over indulge in sugary treats and drinks. Well-meaning colleagues fill workrooms with Christmas cookies, and holiday parties are always over-stocked with pastries & chocolates. While I can get behind the occasional sweet indulgence, it does not mean that I encourage my patients to abandon all of their health goals and go crazy on the sugar for an entire month of December.
I don’t mean to be a Dr. Grinch over here, but refined sugar is never a healthy choice and should be avoiding whenever possible – even during the holidays. New reports estimate that almost half of North Americans are insulin-resistant, pre-diabetic, or diabetic. This is a major problem since many scary chronic diseases including heart disease, dementia and cancer can be linked to dietary sugar intake & insulin resistance. Prevention is way more effective than cure, and avoiding refined sugars is one of the most single important things you can do for your future health regardless of your age and current health status.
It’s not always easy to stick to balanced eating habits during the holidays. All you can do is try your best to make good choices as often as possible, and this starts with limiting how many sweets you eat this winter. One of my favourite tips for patients looking to stay committed to their health goals through the holidays is to bring your own healthier desserts to holiday events. This keto chocolate peppermint bark is my holiday party go-to. While I don’t always follow a strict keto diet, I definitely don’t do well with sugar, and prefer satiating healthy fats over sweet treats whenever possible.
I’ll whip up a big batch of this bark whenever we’re asked to bring a dish to holiday parties. It tastes indulgent, and is loaded with healthy fats from coconut butter & roasted hazelnuts to keep you full and satisfied for hours. You can even stash a few extra pieces at home in the freezer for a surprisingly filling and delightfully festive breakfast.
This indulgent keto dessert recipe is loaded with healthy fats from coconut butter & roasted hazelnuts to keep you full and satisfied for hours and is an excellent additional to any healthy holiday party. You can even stash a few extra pieces at home in the freezer for a surprisingly filling and delightfully festive breakfast.
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Dr. Sarah White is a Naturopathic Doctor, Integrative health expert and the founder + CEO of This Doctor’s Kitchen — your evidence-based resource for all things health and wellness. Dr. Sarah takes a food-first approach to health with a focus in fertility, longevity and natural beauty. She is recognized as an expert in women’s hormones, thyroid health and anti-aging. Dr. Sarah is a published health author with features in Elle Canada, Best Health, EcoParent & Whole Family magazine.
