Healthy Hot Chocolate

Ahhh, hot chocolate… one of my favourite things. But not the sugar-laden, artificial flavour-filled, conventional kind. No, I prefer to make it myself using real, nourishing,  delicious ingredients. Emphasis on the “delicious” because, my friends, that is an essential for me. Not just healthy, but mouth-watering, eye-closing, pleasure-inducing deliciousness.

Oh yeah.

One of the key ingredients here is called Mineral Matrix, and this is one of my favourite things… ever. It’s dehydrated goat whey which provides 25 naturally occurring, food-based minerals. Twenty-five. Food-based. Minerals! YES! Our bodies so desperately need a steady supply of minerals, and this is a delicious and easy way of getting them. Two tablespoons is one serving, and I personally have it on most days (you can also add it to a smoothie or just plain ol’ hot water).

The source of whey in Mineral Matrix is grass-fed goats (another of my favourite things), and the grass they munch on is free of pesticides, AND they’re not given antibiotics or hormones. I mean really, it can’t get much better than that. It has a bit of a sweet taste on its own, so is an excellent addition to hot chocolate. Click here if you want to know more about Mineral Matrix (right from the website of its brand, St. Francis).

Cacao powder, a definite key ingredient in hot chocolate, is a fantastic source of minerals in its own right, most especially magnesium. It’s the raw form of chocolate, before it’s been mixed with sugar and milk to make what most people think of when you say “chocolate”. This is the real stuff, and provides an array of antioxidants in addition to minerals.

When we feel stressed, what do we turn to? Usually flavourful things that temporarily satisfy us, right? Well this hot chocolate gives us that satisfaction, but it’s more long-term as it’s actually providing nutrients (like magnesium, which we need even more of under stress!) while giving us that enjoyable taste.

So no need to feel guilty with this one; rather, sit back, relax, and know that you’re feeding your body more of what it needs.

Healthy Hot Chocolate

1 1/4 cups unsweetened almond milk*
1 Tbsp cacao powder
2 Tbsp Mineral Matrix
5-15 drops French vanilla liquid stevia (depending on desired sweetness)

*As an alternative to almond milk, you can try:
3/4 cup water
1/2 cup full-fat canned coconut milk
The coconut milk adds nourishing fat to this healthy drink… excellent for brain health, energy, and blood sugar balance. It definitely adds a coconut flavour, though, so if you aren’t a fan, then use almond milk. If you still want the benefit of the added fat but hate the coconut flavour, then use almond milk but add a tablespoon of unflavoured coconut oil (ex: the brand Orphée carries a “neutral taste” coconut oil).

Whew… that was a long side note. 🙂

Heat the almond or coconut milk combined with the water on the stove. Once heated through, add the remaining ingredients and stir to combine. Pour into a mug. Sip. Savour.