I have mentioned before that the kids and I do read aloud time each day and that it often includes tea or hot chocolate. I don’t use just any hot chocolate mix though, my homemade version is our go to because it is dairy free, not packed with sugar and had good protein and fat. This means the kids actually benefit from the yummy drink even though they don’t realize it and we skip the crazy blood sugar crash.
Collagen – We are learning more and more of the benefits of collagen. It is a great dairy free protein source. It helps promote joint health. promotes skin elasticity, helps reduce fat and burn muscle, & may improve digestive health. My favorite place to get collagen is in bone broth but I also like to add it here and there as I can in other things. This mix is a great way to do that and no one knows!
MCT Oil – May increase brain/memory function, provides an energy boost, may help lower blood sugar and improve cholesterol levels. If you don’t have MCT oil you can also use refined coconut oil in this recipe.
Stevia – Not everyone loves stevia but as a member of a family with a long history of diabetes, I am a fan. We have taken processed sugars out of diet completely and use honey, stevia, maple syrup & coconut sugar for our sweets. I chose to use stevia here because it makes the drink taste sweet but doesn’t effect the kids blood sugar. Most often we are drinking this before nap or near bedtime so I prefer to keep their blood sugar stable. The main caution is to be sure you are getting stevia that has been processed properly. I have found this article very helpful concerning the use of stevia.
If you don’t like stevia or you just want something more decadent, use powdered sugar instead.
Cocoa isn’t just for taste, it also has health benefits. According to a study by Antioxidant Redox Signaling “The voluminous literature addressing health effects of cocoa and chocolate, only a portion of which is represented here, is overall quite compelling. The probability of a net health benefit for most people from habitual intake of dark chocolate is high… Food can be medicine, and chocolate may be a noteworthy example. “
Sunflower lecithin– Lecithin is an emulsifier. It is naturally occurring in the body and can also be found in soy, eggs and sunflower. Since I am not a fan of soy products in general, plus my daughter has a soy allergy, I chose to use the sunflower version here. Lecithin has been shown to improve cholesterol, improve digestion, and even helps keep your skin healthy. Breastfeeding moms who struggle with plugged ducts may find adding lecithin to their diet a useful remedy.
I got the idea for this mix from the girls at Trim Healthy Mama but altered it to make it dairy free. Hope you enjoy it!
Dairy Free Hot Cocoa Mix
Ingredients
- 2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 4 tsp sunflower lecithin I use the Trim Healthy Mama brand
- 2 scoops collagen
- 1/2 tsp salt
- approx. 1 tsp stevia extract or sweeten to taste with your sweetener of choice do not use if you are using powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar if you don't want to use stevia
Almond (or other nut) milk, MCT oil and vanilla extract will be needed when serving. The nut milk is a must to get the creamiest taste.
Instructions
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Mix all together and put in a jar for later use. For a mug of hot chocolate - pour 12 oz hot almond milk in a blender, add 2-3 TBS of the mix, dash vanilla extract, 1 tsp MCT oil. Blend for a few seconds, and serve.
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