Chocolate: the Flavor of Love
07 of 52 | Treat yourself inside and out with cacao powder, movement, and extra love this week
To love oneself
I was thinking… is there a day dedicated to celebrating the love we have for ourselves?
Did a little search and guess what? Yes, there is a day!
Although not yet widely recognized, many people consider February 13th "Self-Love Day," purposely ahead of the day we celebrate our love for everyone else, Valentine's Day.
But we know, just one day a year is not enough so…
Happy Self-Love Day today and every day! ✨
Talking about love, our week's ingredient goes perfectly with any love and affection celebration.
Cacao Powder
Cacao powder is chocolate in its purest form. Minimally processed, nutrient-dense, and packed with antioxidants. Unlike traditional cocoa, cacao powder is made by cold-pressing unroasted cacao beans, preserving its natural enzymes, vitamins, and minerals. It delivers all the chocolatey goodness without unnecessary additives, making it a superfood worth celebrating.
Here’s why cacao powder deserves a spot in your diet:
Rich in Antioxidants: Helps fight oxidative stress and supports overall health.
Heart-Healthy Benefits: Contains flavonoids that may improve circulation and lower blood pressure.
Mood Booster: Packed with compounds like serotonin and theobromine, which can enhance mood and energy levels.
Brain Power Support: Increases blood flow to the brain, helping with focus and cognitive function.
Magnesium-Rich: One of the best plant-based sources of magnesium, essential for muscle function, relaxation, and stress reduction.
To get the most benefits, choose organic, non-alkalized cacao powder with no added sugars or fillers. It blends beautifully into smoothies, lattes, energy bites, and even oatmeal, giving you a nutrient-packed chocolate guilt-free craving fix.
Chocolate Velvet Smoothie
This week, I was craving chocolate, not as a bar, but as a rich, creamy, indulgent chocolate drink. Maybe it was the cooler weather, or maybe it was all the chocolate displays everywhere (Valentine’s marketing works).
Luckily, I had a 2lb bag of organic cacao powder from Costco just waiting to be put to use.
Looking for a velvety, chocolatey dream, I blended it with frozen blueberries, almond butter, and whey protein.
What did I learn from the results? Naked Whey gives a thinner texture compared to Jocko Vanilla, and while almond butter didn’t add much taste, I probably needed more for a real texture impact.
The chocolate flavor? Spot on! Thanks to cacao powder’s richness and blueberries’ subtle taste.
It just wasn’t creamy enough. So, I tried again, this time adding avocado, and voilà ! Perfection.
This little craving and experiment led to this week’s recipe, and trust me, you’ll want to try it.
Ingredients:
1 cup Frozen Blueberry
1 1/2 cup Almond Milk
1 Tbs Cacao Powder
1/4 small Hass Avocado (half of one side/half)
1 scoop* Naked Whey Protein
1 Tsp Agave
*Most whey protein brands include a measuring scoop.
How to:
In a blender cup, start with the frozen blueberries, then pour in the almond milk. Add the remaining ingredients, then blend for about a minute until smooth. It’ll turn deep purple, but all you’ll taste is rich, chocolatey goodness!
Exercise.
This week, I’m sharing from a personal perspective. I’ve had many reasons to exercise throughout my life. Wanting to look good in a bikini, lose weight, or more recently, keep my brain happy and avoid depression.
We all know movement is important, and I don’t need to tell you that an active body is a healthier, stronger body. But lately, I’ve discovered something else in my workouts: the power of the present moment.
When you’re moving with intention, whether lifting dumbbells, doing squats, or holding a yoga pose, there’s little space for your mind to wander.
You feel your muscles working, your feet grounding you, your breath syncing with your movement. You become aware, focused, and present. And in that moment, you naturally start to appreciate your body, not for how it looks, but for what it allows you to do.
So this week, I invite you to move for the experience, not just the outcome. Find an activity you enjoy and go for it!
Hit the gym, take a walk, stretch in your living room. Whatever it is, be there for it. Feel your body, clear your mind, and let movement hold you in the moment.
What a great way to celebrate Self-Love Day every day, uh? 🧡✨
That’s all for today!
Until next time,
