Recipe: Almond Butter Cacao Nib Cookies

Body image. Oh, body image. It’s something we want to talk about, but it’s also taboo. I was reading a few articles the other day about body image, and I came across this. I wanted to share it here because it struck a cord with me. While it’s a few years outdated, the context is still hauntingly relevant. Apparently, upwards of 97% of women will be cruel to their bodies today. Ninety-seven. 97. I kept looking at that number thinking, there’s no way. But then again, we have such a toxic tendency to think negative thoughts about our bodies. All. of. the. time. For many of us, we look in the mirror each morning and pick and prod at what we dislike, what we wish we could change, and how dissatisfied we are with the image reflecting back at us.

But here’s the thing—your body isn’t a piece of wood from which you can chip away at. You’re still going to have that scar on your left arm, your thighs will still touch, your freckles will still dance across your cheeks, your cellulite will still jiggle on the back of your legs, your stomach will still feel soft and pudgy, and you will still stand at 5’4″ when you go to bed at night. And that is all okay. It’s more than okay. You are you. You are imperfect. I am imperfect. We’re all human, and this is life. Together, we’re chock-full of flaws that are meant to be embraced.

Most importantly, though, we’re beautiful. And we should believe it. We should love ourselves, just as we are, in a culture that encourages us not to. And furthermore, we should think critically about the messages we see, all day every day, promoting beauty. As it’s portrayed, beauty is clear skin and youth and a thin frame. Beauty is money, and money is happiness. It’s these evocative messages that fuel a multi-billion dollar industry. We’re being brainwashed into thinking that we need to buy certain weight-loss and makeup products to look a certain way. And once we look that way, we’ll be happy.

Here’s the catch: most of these products don’t actually work. You buy them, just because you see them advertised in magazines or on Instagram, and you realize that they’re really just a fad. Then, you buy something else. Something better (so you think). You’re hoping that new product will bring you coveted results. Yet again, it doesn’t, and you’re back to square one. You repeat this cycle over and over again. PSA: I’m totally guilty of it.

Through trial and error, though, I’ve found that there are some trends and products that do work for me. Others, not so much. You may realize that adding collagen powder to your smoothies doesn’t relieve joint pain and that your skin doesn’t look any more radiant. So, don’t keep buying it. You may realize that putting grass-fed, unsalted butter and MCT oil in your coffee in the morning is unappetizing and does very little for your metabolism. Don’t add them.

What I hope you will do, though, is stop body shaming. Stop being so cruel to yourself. Be the 3% of the 97. Move past the guilt, self-judgment, and negativity that surfaces multiple times a day. You have the freedom to choose to love your body, and you can have a peaceful relationship with food, exercise, and your self-esteem if you really, truly want it. Every body is the perfect body. Remeber that there’s no one-size fits all.

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Almond Butter Cacao Nib Cookies

Ingredients

• 2/3 cup blanched almond flour
• 2 tbsp coconut flour
• 1/3 cup drippy almond butter
• 1/4 cup melted unrefined coconut oil
• 1/4 cup coconut sugar
• 1/4 cup cacao nibs
• 1 whole egg
• 1 tbsp almond milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• a few dashes of cinnamon

Instructions

• Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Mix together your almond flour, coconut flour, and date sugar in a bowl.
• Pour in your almond butter, coconut oil, egg, almond milk, vanilla, and cinnamon into the aforementioned bowl. Mix together your wet and dry ingredients.
• Fold in your cacao nibs.
• Take a spoonful of the dough and plop it onto your baking sheet (you can place them close together because they won't spread out).
• Bake for 8-10 minutes.
• Enjoy these with a glass of plant-based milk 🙂

Notes

If you make any of my recipes, please tag me (@wellnesswithedie) or use #wellnesswithedie on Instagram! That way, I can easily see your creations. For more recipes visit the wellnesswithedie.com.