Trim Mint Crispy Cereal {Low Carb, Sugar Free}

Raise your hand if Thin Mint cookies are your favorite…

They are mine too!! With cookie season right around the corner this cereal makes indulging in the flavor of our favorite cookie possible all year long FOR BREAKFAST!!

I've been missing cold crunchy cereal for breakfast, and let's face it some of the options just aren't nearly as fun as crispy minty chocolate cereal with some nice cold almond milk. I was looking to find a cereal that could be enjoyed in my Trim Healthy Mama journey as a fuel pull meal, and couldn't find one. Most of them contain nut or seed flours which aren't allowed during a fuel cycle, See Chapter 28 for more details about that. This is an S though because of the amount of coconut oil.
So I played with ingredients and here we go!!!

Trim Mint Cereal

Printable Recipe

2 Scoops of Whey Protein Isolate
¼ cup Psyllium Husk Powder or Oat Fiber
¼ cup Cocoa Powder
¼ cup Coconut Oil
4 TBS Sweetener, I used Pyure, Organic Stevia Sweetener
¼ tsp Baking soda
4 TBS Water
1 tsp Pure Peppermint Extract

 

1. Place dry ingredients in a larger mixing bowl.
2. Cut Coconut oil into dry ingredients with a fork until crumbly, Add extract, then water 1 TBS at a time incorporating until dough sticks together.
3. Roll dough to 1/8^th inch thickness and cut into pieces with a pastry cutter or pizza wheel.
4. Bake at 400(F) for 8 minutes.
5. Remove from oven and break pieces apart allow to cool on baking sheet.

 
Store in an airtight container.
Makes 4 servings
For trim Healthy Mama's this is an S 

 

Chocolate to the Rescue

     Part of what makes me happy eating my new healthier lifestyle is "Skinny Chocolate" it was one of the things that drew me to Trim Healthy Mama to begin with. (We are serious Chocoholics in this house.)

     So when  planning for my very first fuel cycle one of the administrators mentioned making chocolate fudge for Deep S days. She posted this link to a wonderful recipe over on Gwen's Nest that follows the Deep S guidelines.

     I'm not a huge fan of dark chocolate so I normally tweak my everyday chocolates with peanut butter, heavy cream or cream cheese...

 Hello!! Those aren't weight loss friendly...

     Protein powder makes Chocolate chewy, not my favorite... but it works to help make things a more milk chocolate taste. These don't even have that ...

     So I was looking at the variations that were listed and was like but I want chocolate and cherries... or maybe some with coffee as that makes the chocolates taste ohhh so yummy.

     And Chocolate Cherry Candies were born...

Chocolate Cherry Candies

Printable Recipe

1 cup coconut oil, I used refined
1/2 cup softened butter
1 tsp cherry extract
4 TBS ground Sweetener, (I use Pyure Organic Stevia All-Purpose Sweetener )
2 TBS Cocoa Powder, I used Hershey's Dark

Melt the oils, whisk the sweetener into the oils, add the extract.
(I poured this mixture into candy mold cervices about 1/2 way and froze them. Then added the cocoa powder to the remaining oil mixture while that layer was hardening in the freezer.)

When those were solid I whisked the oil mixture with cocoa again and poured into the remaining space of the molds, popped them in the freezer and let them harden all the way.

Unmold and store in the fridge or freezer.

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Working the Plan with Sweetener Allergies

    I've introduced a number of people to Trim Healthy Mama, only to find that they are allergic to ragweed, which means that stevia can give them issues as it is in the same plant family. Mind you the plan allows for use of multiple types of sweetener alternatives, stevia, erythritol and xylitol or blends of them like Pyure Organic Stevia or Truvia. It gets mighty expensive to try all the different options, we have. 

On Plan Sweeteners

    Stevia Extract is a natural sweetener derived from a plant. It is 100 times sweeter than sugar. Not all extracts are created equally. Some brands taste better than others depending on the processes they use to extract the REB A. Another thing that affects the taste of these extracts is the plants themselves, as with all plants the growing conditions, strains of the plant and elemental factors play a large role in the taste of the final product. Stevia is related to ragweed, which means that if a person is highly allergic to ragweed they may react to stevia as well.

     Xylitol is one of those sugar alcohols that gives some people gastro intestinal trouble (gas, bloating, stomach upset and frequent trips to the restroom) when used. It is also HIGHLY toxic to household pets. For those reasons we as a family have chosen not to allow it into our home. 

**Please note that many plan approved gums and candies do contain this ingredient so PLEASE keep it safely stored away from your pets.

Xylitol measures 1:1 with sugar and has no aftertaste.

 

    Erythritol is also a sugar alcohol, it IS SAFE for household pets, is not as likely to cause gastrointestinal issues and is many time mixed with stevia because it is less sweet than sugar. While erythritol can be used alone some people may experience a cooling effect on their tongue when using it (I do). Products that mix Erythritol and Stevia include Pyure Organic Stevia and Truvia.

                Erythritol measures 3:1 with sugar and can have a cooling effect on the tongue.

 

    As a family we have tried all of these options. After learning that xylitol can harm our pets Rick and I decided that it just isn't an option in our home with Sprocket who likes to sneak crumbs or try to drink your coffee when you aren't looking. 

    I bought NOW Better Stevia extract and have been using it to make a Stevia Sweet Juice Concentrate. 

     Using it this way removes the bitterness and allows me the option of a liquid sweetener for things like infused waters, good girl moonshine and sweetening tea. We also use Pyure Organic Stevia which is an all-purpose sweetener blend of erythritol and stevia extract.

 

Splenda

    Splenda is a sweetener that is not approved for Trim Healthy Mama. While it is referenced in the book it is not considered optimal for weight loss. There is a lot of controversy about this sweetener as it is in many sugar free items. I will say that this is a sweetener that I have and will continue to use for family members that are allergic to stevia.

    I do understand that this sweetener is honestly not the best choice however if I have to choose between using it or sugar … Splenda will win out. I have used this and products made with Splenda for many years, it is one of the only sweeteners that I have found which are heat stable, meaning that the flavor does not change when used in baking, cooking or candy making.