I wish I was one of those people who could eat a meal and be done with it. Unfortunately, that’s just not me. Eating savoury is a survival tactic, because if I had it my way, I’d live off sweets and be happy as candy-coated pie, writes Cape {town} Etc’s Robyn Simpson. What I’m getting at here is that if my sweet tooth were a person, it would be Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson.
Ironically, I’m also a bit of a health nut. Food is medicine and I’m a firm believer in ‘what you put in, you get out.’ What could be a serious moral dilemma has been replaced with some of the most delicious sweet treats I’ve ever tasted – and it’s all thanks to these goodies that are made right here in the Mother City. Local truly is lekker.
Here’s a list of my favourite sweet treats that aren’t only locally stocked, but are healthy, too.
Anything, literally anything, from Thank Goodness Foods
The Millionaires from Thank Goodness will have you ditching the real deal for good – they are the best and that’s that. This vegan, gluten-free treat is packed with protein from the crunchy base of gluten-free rolled oats below a layer of date-caramel, and topped with a crunchy layer of organic 85% dark chocolate. A multi-level taste sensation.
Ingredients: Gluten-free oats, dates, coconut oil, creamed coconut, 85% dark chocolate, cinnamon, nutmeg, Himalayan pink salt, vanilla bean, vanilla extract.
My other go-tos include the Double Chocolate Chip Cookie, the best ever Banana and Quinoa Muffin, or the Vegan White Chocolate, Fig and Walnut Bar.
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Grumpy Snacks
These little chocolate coated chickpeas pack a nutritional punch, and Grumpy spent months in their kitchen perfecting the crunch. The chickpeas are dry roasted and small fractions of oil and spices are added thereafter, or they are coated in dairy-free vegan chocolate. They use only natural ingredients and each step has been developed to ensure maximum nutrition is available for absorption.
Ingredients: Chickpeas (60%), dark chocolate (40%), 58% cocoa solids (cocoa mass, cane sugar, cocoa butter, soya lecithin, natural vanilla flavouring).
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NaNuki Confectionary
Their products are honest, pure and wholesome. They are made by hand from responsible, carefully sourced and all natural ingredients that are designed to be gluten-free, dairy-free, superfood chocolate. My favourite NaNuki goodie has to be the the salted caramel and chocolate chip cookie.
Ingredients: Organic coconut sugar, tapioca, pea protein(15%), rice flour, gluten-free oat flour, salted caramel (date syrup, sesame, sea salt), cocoa mass, coconut oil, flaxseed, raising agent (sodium bicarbonate), vanilla bean.
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Wild Sprout Biscotti
Wild Sprout’s gluten and refined sugar free biscotti tastes just like traditional biscotti – yet they are much more wholesome. Enjoy with your tea or coffee or as an on-the-go treat. The addition of cranberries, almond essence and lemon zest creates a delicious taste dimension that will have you coming back for more.
Ingredients: Almond flour, gluten free flour (stoneground rice flour, potato flour, tapioca flour, chickpea flour, xanthan gum), whole almonds, coconut oil, free range eggs, vanilla extract, coconut blossom sugar, baking powder.
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An Honest Chocolate slab
Honest Chocolate is a small artisanal bean to bar chocolate company. They believe in keeping things handcrafted, using old school methods, using quality organically produced ingredients, and making a pure chocolate that has a deliciously distinct feel and taste.
Their 70% with pineapple and dried buchu slab is an absolute winner. Buchu is an aromatic medicinal herb that grows only in the mountains of the Western Cape. It goes so well with dried pineapple that together, its flavour magic!
Ingredients: Certified organic cacao, certified organic coconut blossom sugar, dried pineapple (local), dried buchu (local).
The 70% with miso, tamari and roasted sunflower seeds is equally as delicious and perfect for those looking for an umami kick.
Ingredients: Certified organic cacao, unrefined cane sugar, sunflower seeds, certified organic miso, certified organic tamari.
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Now, more than ever, it’s so important to keep our bodies healthy. Thanks to our local foodies, getting in the goods has never been this easy or this delicious. Most of these options include a wide range of superfoods that won’t just curb your sugar cravings (or blow your socks off with how good they taste), but will nourish you from the inside out.
#RobynintheHood
Insta: @Robyn.inthe.Hood
Twitter: @Robynhoodcpt
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Picture: Thank Goodness Foods / Instagram