I love marking holidays and special occasions with my family. It stirs my heart to incorporate little treats and surprises for my children to make holidays exciting and memorable. In an effort to avoid unnecessary blood-sugar spikes as well as the refined sugars, additives, and other food triggers found in many valentine’s treats, I prepared this trail mix for my girls. I looked trough my pantry in search of elements that remind me of valentine’s day-vibrant red hues, rich neutrals, and, of course, decadent chocolate. These ingredients are much less harmful for the belly and brain than their conventional counterparts and offer beneficial fats, antioxidants, and nutrients to nourish the body. Admittedly, I did not even measure as I threw together this trail mix; but I think it was roughly equal parts of each addition. Feel free to modify this recipe for what you have on hand-the goal is to cultivate a sweet Valentine memory without added stress or harmful ingredients.

Ingredients

1 cups coconut flakes

1 cup cashews

1 cup sunflower seeds

1 cup freeze-dried strawberries

1 cup freeze-dried raspberries

1 cup dark chocolate chips

1/2 cup cacao nibs

Method

Combine the ingredients in a large mixing bowl and transfer to an airtight container for storage.