Ahhh. For the first time in weeks, I’ve actually had a little time to relax! Between being sick (which is always inconvenient and frustrating), school, and work, I feel like it’s been a while since I had quality “me” time. I believe it’s so important for everyone to take some personal time to do what they enjoy, to relax, and to appreciate the finer things in life. I’ve noticed that whenever I’m unable to have my “me” time, other areas of my life begin to suffer as a result.

Yesterday, after getting up early to go buy groceries, I thought to myself, “what am I doing?” I got back into my PJs, climbed back into bed with my hubs, and we watched football for hours. I don’t know that there’s anything I could have enjoyed more than curling up under the covers next to my best friend on a chilly day and simply relaxing. I even nodded off for a while and I don’t have any clue how long I napped because, for once, I didn’t have to watch the clock and budget my time. Afterward, I got up and played around in the kitchen. I made some new fun food, took a few pictures for the bloggy-blog, and ate more food than any one human being should eat in one day. To say that my Sunday was perfect would be an understatement. It was one of the best days I’ve had in a while, and I really didn’t do much of anything. Perfect.

So what’s the one thing that could have made a perfect day even better? Dessert, of course!! And chocolate dessert at that!

Honestly, it doesn’t feel right referring to this Chocolate Acai Chia Pudding as “dessert” because all of the ingredients are unbelievably healthy. More often than not, the term “dessert” is reserved for the truly decadent, the sinfully delicious, the guilt-inducing. I’ve been challenging myself lately to rethink my idea of what constitutes dessert. Rather than desserts completely negating any healthy eating that may have occurred throughout the day, desserts can actually supplement a healthy diet by providing us with nutrients that our bodies need without sacrificing flavor!

Since I cut back on sugar (including high-sugar fruits and veggies), I’ve been experiencing some major sugar cravings. Unfortunately, I’ve responded a couple of times by eating unhealthy amounts of high-fat foods–foods that can be healthy in moderation, but not when you’re eating, say, an entire jar of almond butter in one sitting. So, instead, I’ve been trying to stay one step ahead of my cravings by making big batches of healthy desserts like this pudding that taste decadent, but also provide my body with nutrients like protein, omega-3s, fiber, calcium, and antioxidants. I also love the addition of acai in this recipe. Acai is an extremely low-sugar fruit that packs an antioxidant punch and is even more amazing when paired with chocolate. Moreover, the addition of cacao nibs and shredded coconut take this dessert over the top–it tastes divine and completely naughty, but won’t leave you feeling crummy afterward.

For more yummy desserts made from whole, healthy ingredients, visit my Recipes page. Also, I’ll be posting more completely sugar-free desserts for anyone else who may be dealing with candida-related issues.