Belmont Village Quarterly Newsletter
on Senior Living

Enjoy a Fright-Free Halloween Treat!

The holidays are approaching, and Halloween is the first to tempt us with treats and tidbits, but there’s no need to be frightened! With a little planning, you can enjoy delicious, healthy treats that won’t torture you
later – even if you’re haunted by diabetes.

Belmont Village Crown Cove Chef Manager John Melanson created this healthy energy snack to scare away his cravings for sweets:

“About eight months ago, I was diagnosed with Type II diabetes.  I changed my diet to mostly raw foods, started an exercise program, and completely reversed all diabetic symptoms; I have never had another problem. I now eat more or less the same as the average person, except that I avoid most sweets. I created my own personal energy snack –it’s a cross between a brownie and the standard store brand energy bar.”

John’s Sweet Revenge

2-cup raw almonds
1-cup raw walnuts
1-cup raw pecans
½ cup unsweetened coconut flakes
¼ cup raw unsweetened cocoa or chocolate powder
¼ cup raisins (29 grams of sugar) - or better yet- use dates which have less sugar.
4-tbs. raw honey (NOTE: honey must be raw or it will spike blood-sugar-level)

Place in food processer and blend until smooth (2 or 3 minutes).  The raisins or dates gum everything together.  Any dried fruit may be substituted, but check sugar content first – it should not exceed the amount found in ¼ cup raisins.

Flavor Option:
Add dry spice to taste:
Cinnamon
Nutmeg
Clove
Ginger
*Any or all depends on you – Go Wild!*

Scoop mixture into small cookies and flatten (on wax paper), then freeze.  For energy bars, press mixture into a ½ sheet pan and freeze, then cut into squares. Snacks should be stored in the freezer and eaten frozen; this is what gives them their firm cookie- or bar-like texture.   The recipe makes about 30 cookies, with 1-gram of sugar each (when made with raisins).   

--John Melanson, Belmont Village Chef

November is American Diabetes Month. 
To learn more, visit www.diabetes.org 

Note: John’s story is based on his personal experience.  Belmont Village does not endorse or recommend any particular diets or diet plans.  Consult your physician before starting any new diet, especially if you have a chronic health issue such as diabetes. Do not try this recipe if you have sensitivity to nuts, or have had an allergic reaction to nuts in the past.

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