Maybe your special Valentine’s “Date” should be a Medjool!

Weren’t we just resolving to eat better last month? By February, it’s easy to find that our resolutions to eat well are already waning, and then—WHAM!—along comes Valentine’s Day to seal the deal. Sweet-lovers who want to eat healthfully are finding the secret—a natural treat that satisfies the sugar craving: Medjool dates.

Go Bananas with Dates

They are the perfect dessert for healthy eaters and an excellent choice as part of a healthy, balanced diet. Medjools are one of the best natural sweeteners because they’re low to medium on the glycemic index, contain six essential nutrients and they have 50 percent more potassium by weight than bananas! So go bananas: eat lots of dates.

Better still, Medjool dates are low in sodium and one 36 gram serving of dates contains 187 milligrams of potassium. And a serving of two Medjool dates provides 2.7 grams of dietary fibre, more than 10 per cent of your recommended daily intake.

You Deserve A Better Date

Yet not all dates are created equal. Medjools are considered the king of dates because they are the biggest, most-moist and sweetest of the hundreds of date varieties. And with their luscious taste and caramel-like texture, it’s not hard to see why so many chefs reach for the Medjool and only the Medjool.

So be good to your body this Valentine’s Day with a healthy, nutritious “sweet something” while you whisper sweet nothings!

Taking the guilt out of a guilty pleasure:   Medjool Date Truffles

Here’s a healthy version of a chocolate treat for your sweetheart this Valentine’s Day. 

 

Medjool Date Pecan Chocolate Truffles

12 Natural Delights Medjool Dates, pitted

12 Pecan halves

5 oz (150 g) dark chocolate (70%), chopped

2.5 oz (75 g) white chocolate, chopped

Using a small paring knife, cut a slit into each date and remove the pit. Gently squeeze a date open and stuff the pecan half inside. Repeat with remaining pecan halves and Medjool dates.

Using a double boiler, gently melt the chocolate and remove from heat once it’s melted. Be sure to keep any moisture, water or even steam away from the chocolate.

Using a fork, dredge the stuffed dates through the chocolate and place onto a wire cooling-rack. Let cool completely.

Place the melted white chocolate into a small piping bag. Drizzle the white chocolate decoratively back and forth over the chocolate dipped date. Let cool completely before serving.

Makes 12 truffles.

For more information and recipes, visit naturaldelights.ca