Paleo Peach Pudding
I told you in my last post (Chicken Cherry Salad with Orange Vinaigrette) that I’m on a fruit rampage right now. Summer fruits make me want to do a little happy dance! The kids could not get enough of this paleo peach pudding, and I think you’ll like it, too! It’s super healthy and super easy to make.
If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you may know that I highly recommend Dr. Joel Fuhrman’s book, The End of Diabetes: The Eat to Live Plan to Prevent and Reverse Diabetes
Isn’t that good news!? Your sweet tooth isn’t necessarily a bad thing…you’ve just been taught by our culture that you need refined, processed junk food in order to make your sweet cravings go away. Now is the time to retrain your body and mind to crave things, like peaches. Studies have shown that peaches actually have phenolic compounds in them, that help you maintain a healthy weight, lower inflammation, and lower LDL cholesterol. Peaches can also help fight off cancer and diabetes, and give you healthier skin. For more information on peaches, check out this article. Your cravings for processed sweets won’t go away overnight, but if you are consistently eating healthy foods your taste buds will change. Notice I didn’t say that you have to be perfect. Just be as consistent as you can, and don’t beat yourself up for mistakes. Remember that new cravings will be formed as you have more positive experiences with healthy food. Try to eat things that really taste good to you, and find joy in them!
A note on sweeteners: I do believe that God designed our sweet tooth to help us crave fruit, because he knew it would be good for us. I also believe that some of the natural sweeteners are ok and can even be beneficial in moderation. Use them to improve your experience of a dish, but don’t turn the sweetener into the star of the recipe. For example, I use maple syrup in this pudding to enhance the sweetness of the peaches, but maple syrup does not take center stage…peaches do. If you have diabetes I recommend that you use xylitol
Use just enough sweetener to enjoy the flavor of the peaches, but push yourself to make it less sweet than you normally would. Your tastebuds may have become dull to the flavor of sweetness, which makes you crave more of it. As you dial back the sweetener your tongue will become more sensitive to the flavor of sweet. I used to love peanut butter cups, but now that milk chocolate, jam packed with sugar, doesn’t really appeal to me at all. I still love the flavors of peanut butter and chocolate, however, so I’ve made my own version of “peanut butter” (actually it’s sunbutter) cups with way less sugar. Don’t give up, friends! The battle for your health is worth fighting.
Before I get to the recipe for Paleo Peach Pudding, I’d like to invite you to join with others who are making healthy changes! Let me walk alongside you on your journey towards wholeness and health! Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” May you find freedom from food habits that are destructive to a full life!
- 1 Cup Raw Cashews
- 3 Peaches
- 2 Tbsp Maple Syrup (can substitute xylitol to lower carbs)
- 1 Tsp Vanilla
- 1 Tbsp Fresh Lemon Juice
- 1/4-1/2 Cup Light Coconut Cream (see note)
- 1 Tbsp Organic Lemon Zest
- 1/4 Tsp Pink Himalayan Salt
- Berries
- Coconut Cream (chilled)
- Hemp Hearts
- Fresh Mint Leaves
- Add all of the ingredients for your pudding in your food processor. Run it on high until it is the consistency that looks good to you. You will probably need more coconut cream, but start with just a quarter cup. You can also add more sweetener if you'd like.
- Scoop the pudding into serving bowls, then chill it. Garnish it just before serving. Make sure to use full fat, chilled coconut cream for the garnish, so that it's solid enough to make a cute little scoop. Enjoy!
