Smart Snacking: Frozen Chocolate Popcorn #Recipe by @LearnEatGrow

Can celebrations and healthy food co-exist? It seems that celebrations and “junky” foods have become best buddies. I define “junkie foods” as anything very high in sugar with little to no nutritional value and of course usually a few added chemicals just to make it all look and taste appetizing. So what’s a mom to do when trying to raise health conscious children?

I have chosen to teach my kids the value of whole foods, an appreciation for nature and the farmers that grow our food and most of all the love of deliciously healthy food. My kids didn’t always love the food I make for them. We did transition to healthier food as a family over a few years. We had great successes and many challenges. Now deliciously healthy whole foods are just a staple in our home.

This does not mean we don’t have treats and celebrate the good times. My son recently achieved a new reading level that was beyond his teacher’s as well as his own expectations. So it was definitely time to celebrate. This time I choose to make him frozen chocolate popcorn. You can never go wrong with chocolate anything.

There are so many fantastic websites that offer a variety of healthy treat recipes. I always recommend starting with your child’s favourite treat and looking for a more nutritious recipe. Among the many advantages of making a homemade treat is you control the amount of sugar and you can add in some nutritious foods that are also delicious.

The frozen chocolate popcorn recipe is super easy to make and it takes very little time. You get a boost of nutrition by using dark chocolate with a 70% or higher cacao content. Cacao is high in antioxidants and contains a variety of vitamins. The almond and sunflower butters offer a source of plant protein and healthy fats. The best part is you can make a double batch of this recipe with no additional effort and freeze for future treats. That is if you can keep from eating it all at once…I warn you it’s addictive!

Frozen Chocolate Popcorn Recipe

Ingredients:

8 cups popped popcorn

4 Tbsp. almond butter or sunflower butter

2 Tbsp. maple syrup or coconut nectar

4 Tbsp. dark chocolate chips

1 tsp. coconut oil

¼ tsp. sea salt

Directions:

1. In a medium sauce pan add the almond or sunflower butter, maple syrup or coconut nectar, dark chocolate chips, coconut oil and stir over low heat until chocolate is melted.
2. In a large bowl add the popped popcorn and sprinkle with sea salt.
3. Add the melted chocolate mixture to the popcorn and toss gently in the bowl to cover all the popcorn evenly.
4. Spread the popcorn on two baking sheets lined with parchment paper and place in the freezer for 1 hour.
5. Once the popcorn and chocolate sauce are frozen it’s ready to eat and/or you can transfer the popcorn to a ziploc bag and store in the freezer.

Want more tips on raising healthy kids who understand the value of whole foods? Check out LearnEatGrow.com online or come chat with us on Twitter @LearnEatGrow!