Sweet Treats with a Nutritious Twist

I am all about balance and moderation with food choices.  I feel it is my job to provide my kids with foundational meals to satisfy what they need and allow them to make good and "bad" choices to fill in the gaps.
The following recipes feel like a treat but have some nutritional supplements which demonstrate that not all "healthy food" have a "healthy food" taste.
The gymnasts at my gym voted these three treats their favorites!

Important notables we discussed in our "recipe of the week for wellness" minute:

Iron is an essential mineral which is needed for the transport of oxygen in the body.
As teen's approach puberty they lose iron during menstruation and demanding training and performance activities.
Iron can be found in unlikely food sources such as raisins and lentils.

Dark chocolate and cocoa contain antioxidants and minerals useful to growing bodies.  Developing an appreciation for cocoa minus the loads of sugar in processed candy can be fun and delicious.

Veggies such as zucchini which have a high water content can assist in hydration and also provide vitamins and minerals rather than empty calories.

Treats which contain veggies, whole grains, and/or nutritional value can still be fun and delicious!

Chocolate Zucchini Brownies

Ingredients:

2 cups white whole wheat flour

2 TBS unsweetened cocoa powder

1 tsp baking soda

½ tsp. salt

½ cup butter

1 ½ cups sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 ½ cups shredded zucchini

2 TBS sugar

1 cup dark chocolate chips

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray a jellyroll pan with Pam

Sift flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl

Beat butter and 1 ½ cups sugar until smooth.  Beat in one egg at a time until blended.  Add vanilla extract and blend.

Mix in flour mixture just until incorporated.

Fold in zucchini.

Pour all in pan.

Sprinkle with remaining 2 TBS sugar and chocolate chips

Bake for 25-30 minutes

Chocolate Lentil Brownies

Ingredients:

3 c cooked black lentils

2 c milk chocolate chips

1/2 c unsweetened applesauce

2 eggs

2 tsp pure vanilla extract

2 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 tsp salt

1 c chopped walnuts

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350° F.

In a food processor, puree lentils, chocolate chips, applesauce, eggs, and vanilla extract.

Add coco powder, and salt.

Puree until well combined.

Stir walnuts into the batter.

Line an 8x8 pan with parchment paper leaving enough paper to stick out the sides.

Spoon batter into the pan.

Bake for about 30-35 minutes. Cool before cutting.

For a cool twist – roll cooked brownies into little balls and roll in flaked coconut or other topping.  Makes it taste like a truffle!  (Coach Ami’s idea!)

Zucchini-Granola Cookies

Ingredients:

¾ cup butter

11/2 cups brown sugar

1 egg

1 tsp. vanilla

Grated rind of one orange

3 cups grated zucchini

3-31/2 cups whole wheat flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

3 cups granola

1 cup dark chocolate chips or cacao nibs

Directions:

Cream butter and sugar. 

Add egg, vanilla, orange rind, and zucchini.

Sift flour, baking soda, and salt into zucchini mixture.

Add granola and chocolate chips

Drop by spoonfuls on cookie sheet.

Bake at 350 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes

*Adding Raisins provides a great source of Iron