"What To Eat Wednesday" Wednesday: Sugarless Sweet Valentine's Treats

Sometimes, I feel as though I've lived three different lifetimes during my 23 years on this planet.

It's hard to imagine that 15 years ago I was sitting in a classroom with a bag full of folded Care Bear valentines taped to tootsie roll lollipops. I remember sitting there in my "jelly shoes" and pink t-shirt, feeling the butterflies flutter in my stomach as the boy that used to chase me around the playground handed me two lollipops instead of the standard one. It was extra exciting because one of them was cherry, my favorite.

Though I still remember Valentine's Day in elementary school pretty vividly, I barely remember what a tootsie pop tastes like. The last time I had something cherry flavored it was a fruit-enhanced "green smoothie", and I'm pretty sure there wasn't a tootsie roll hiding in the middle of the glass. 

 As a typical "90s kid", I didn't really think about what it might be that makes tootsie rolls so waxy, or why my lollipops had the ability to stain my tongue the colors of the rainbow.  I'm still not exactly sure what tootsie rolls are made of, but at this point I'm pretty sure plastic has to be one of the main ingredients. I wouldn't be surprised if the one that was at the center of my tootsie pop 15 years ago is still hanging out somewhere in the pit of my stomach.



15 years later, as I find myself drinking vegetables, snacking on seeds and considering fruit to be dessert, conventional candy just seems frightening. I don't even crave what I now know to be sugar-laden, genetically modified, chemical and preservative-filled "treats". In fact, I wouldn't touch them with a ten foot pole. Yet, I can't help but feel a sense of nostalgia when holidays roll around. What's Valentine's Day without the sugar, right?

Well to me, a handful of candy with its 15 seconds of nostalgia and notorious sugar rush isn't worth the cascade of detriment that follows it. For more information on sugar's link to our country's obesity, chronic illness and diabetes epidemic, check out Dr. Mark Hyman's article on high fructose corn syrup, author William Duffy's excerpt on refined sugar, and Dr. Mercola's collection of studies on artificial sweeteners.

If the staggering documented detriment of sugar and its substitutes aren't enough to drive you away, try entirely cutting it out of your diet for a while and let your body dictate your opinion. I can't even put into words how much better I felt when I completely eliminated sugar from my diet. I was a whole new girl.

...a whole new girl that was left with a few holiday predicaments. Thanksgiving with its pies, Christmas with its cookies, and...Valentine's Day. The day where the nation either expresses their feelings with gifted chocolate, or drowns their feelings by gorging on it.


So, I thought I'd put together a few sugar-free suggestions for your Valentine's plans, whether you're celebrating with your significant other or flying solo this year. Each recipe is free of sugar, corn, gluten and soy, contain no artificial ingredients, and most are paleo and/or vegan friendly.

Sugarless Sweet Valentine's Treats

The Raw Dessert Kitchen's Valentine Heart Cookies

grain free, dairy free, nut free, egg free

One Sweet Heat's Chocolate Covered Cookie Dough Cups

grain free, peanut free, egg free 

Real Sustenance's Cranberry Heart Linzer Cookies

grain free, egg free 

Detoxinista's Mounds Bar Truffles and Homemade Chocolate Recipe

grain free, dairy free, egg free, nut free 

Not Quite Nigella's Coconut Raspberry Fudge 

grain free, dairy free, nut free, egg free  

The Urban Poser's Vanilla and Raspberry Coconut Macaroons 

grain free, dairy free, egg free 

Wicked Good Kitchen's Almond Double Thumbprint Heart Cookies 
grain free, egg free, peanut free
 

Have a deceptively sweet Valentine's Day.

****

P.S.

Stay tuned for a new weekly series....

"Kitchen Messes" Monday- Sometimes my messes turn into successes. Other times, green drink ends up on the ceiling.

"Toxin Free" Tuesday- I have an addiction to "clean" snacks and an obsession with organic shampoo.

"Living Without" Wednesday- Because I've set out to prove that living organically and without food allergens doesn't mean you have to live without decent meals. I'm also an expert at figuring out "what to eat when you can't eat anything".

"Top Three" Thursday- I'm a big fan of lists.

"Feel Better" Friday- Over the past 7 years, I've acquired more information on health and alternative medicine than I can comfortably fit in my head. This is either impressive, or a little bit scary.

"Sum it Up" on Saturday- The week in review, from my (odd) standpoint.

"Sunshine" Sundays- Because wherever you go, no matter the weather, you should always bring your own sunshine.