When you or someone you know was pregnant, did they think they could eat whatever they wanted due to the fact that they were "Eating for 2?" Eating ice cream with a trans-fat filled cone dipped in chocolate is an equation for an unhealthy fetus.
Smucker's Twix Magic Shell Ingredients: Sugar, Sunflower Oil, Coconut Oil, Wheat Flour, Cocoa, Chocolate, Partially Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (Soybean and Cottonseed Oils)2% or Less of: Artificial and Natural Flavors, Salt, Soy Lecithin, Cocoa Processed with Alkali, Vanilla, Sodium Bicarbonate, Vanillin (Artificial Flavor)Milk.
Trans-fats cause extensive damage to a fetus, and most importantly, the brain of the developing fetus. Trans-fats are found in peanut butter, margarine, and almost every packaged food including Saltine crackers, Lipton Soup Mix...I've even found it in salsa! Trans-fatty acids are also called "hydrogenated oils" because the hydrogenation process is how they are created. The hydrogenation process changes the chemical structure of certain fats and creates a monster of a molecule which can damage the brain of a fetus, cause cancer, cause Type 2 diabetes, and a whole host of other health problems.
Trans-fats have even been found in baby foods, such as infant cereal. When we eat trans fatty acids, they enter the "parking spots" of our cells reserved for essential fatty acids (EFAs) that are needed for brain development. Our brain is over 60% fat and when we fill it with trans fats instead of healthy DHA fats, our memory, learning and development is severely affected. To read more on our brain health, check out Secrets to Controlling Your Cravings Weight and Mood.
Even if you don't feed your baby and children these packaged foods, babies are still getting high doses of trans fats if the mother is eating it; trans fats pass through placenta to the fetus. Once born, the trans fat ingested by mothers is passed to their babies through breast milk. In fact, it has been proven that breast milk contains among the highest levels of trans fats reported. This IS NOT a time to eat whatever you want, you should be more concerned about what you are putting in your body at this time. I know that cravings strike and I am not saying never give into them, I'm just saying...try this recipe instead!
"HEALTHIFIED" Magic Shell
6 TBS butter or coconut oil
6 TBS unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 tsp stevia glycerite (or to desired sweetness)
*Note: You could use 4 TBS of Nature's Hollow Honey for a smooth texture
1/2 tsp Celtic sea salt
Melt coconut oil over low heat. Stir in chocolate, sweetener and salt until completely melted. Allow to cool to room temperature before drizzling over ice cream. Makes 6 servings.
ADDITIONAL FLAVOR IDEAS:
Peppermint Patty: 1 tsp mint oil
Almond Joy: 1 tsp almond oil
Snicker's Candy Bar: 1/2 tsp almond oil and 1/2 tsp vanilla oil AND chunks of my "healthified" snicker's bar
Twix Candy Bar: 1/2 tsp vanilla oil and chunks of my "healthified" Twix recipe
Creamsicle: 1 tsp orange oil and 1/2 tsp vanilla oil
Key Lime: 1 tsp lime oil
NUTRITIONAL COMPARISON (per serving)
Smucker's Shell = 210 calories, 15g fat, 1g protein, 18 carbs, trace fiber
"Healthified" Shell = 129 calories, 14g fat, 1g protein, 3 carbs, 1.6g fiber
