With all the celebration over kale last week, the other side of Kale & Chocolate felt a little left out. (Okay, just an excuse to share my newly created, melt in your mouth Guilt-Free Chocolate Orange Truffle recipe.)

But first, it really got me thinking about what it means to live a Kale & Chocolate-inspired lifestyle.

I created Kale & Chocolate because I believe you can’t live a life of “perfect eating” and “perfect health” without letting yourself enjoy food and let go of the  “rules” sometimes.

But, in the same breath, you can’t live a life where you feel healthy & vibrant without nourishing your body with nutrient-dense, whole foods.

So, in Kale & Chocolate land…

Nutritious & delicious are embroiled in a whirlwind romance.

Pleasurable food doesn’t come out of a package. It springs from the earth.

Plates are joyously filled with gorgeous hues of color.

Easy to make recipes can be satiating & satisfying.

Planning meals is simple & stress free.

Guilt & food do NOT go hand in hand.

Practicing self-love is part of the nutrition equation.

Nourishing your body in creative, innovative & appealing new ways is the winning formula to find balance & harmony… in and out of the kitchen.

Out of the kitchen, my yoga and running (and pups!) help me feel grounded and in the present moment. And, in the kitchen… well, what’s more enjoyable than getting a little messy and creating a heavenly, tantalizing batch of healthy chocolate? Nothing.

From my cocoa dusted kitchen to yours, try my latest double ‘thumbs up’ family-approved decadent chocolate truffle. It’s loaded with antioxidants & heart healthy fats, and one delicious bite-sized treat is all it takes to enjoy your delectable chocolate alongside your luscious leafy kale.

Guilt-Free Chocolate Orange Truffles

*Makes approximately 18 truffles

1 cup cashews (can use almonds)
¾ cup packed Medjool dates, pitted
¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder or raw cacao powder
Pinch of sea salt
1 tablespoon orange zest
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Cocoa powder or raw cacao powder for dusting

Place cashews in a food processor and blend until finely ground. Add in dates, cocoa powder, sea salt and vanilla. Once the mixture is smooth, pulse in the orange zest and process until everything is incorporated together. Next, with slightly wet hands, roll into 1-inch balls. (If the mixture is too sticky to handle, place in freezer for about 15-20 minutes until firm enough to roll.) Lightly cover each truffle with cocoa powder. Place in refrigerator for at least an hour before serving. Store any remaining truffles in an airtight glass container up to 3 days in the refrigerator or freeze to have on hand always. Yum!

Now it’s your turn: How does your lifestyle resemble some of the Kale & Chocolate-inspired ideals? Share in the comments below.