Super-Healthy Raw Vegan Chocolate Orange Pudding

(I wonder if I could get any more adjectives into the title of this post.)

If you've been a long-time reader of my blog, you will remember that in January of '09, I became a vegan. I was especially interested in the raw vegan lifestyle and had lost a good deal of weight and had become generally more healthy because of my new diet.

Then I got pregnant.

I found out we were expecting our 10th baby in July of '09, and I was doing well maintaining the my vegan diet until I hit about 8 weeks pregnant, when I started craving cow's milk and meat. I gave into my temptations, as those types of foods were the only things I felt I could eat without throwing up, and thus ended veganism for me.

Now that the newborn is 4 weeks old, though, I have had a renewed desire to get back on the wagon. My new efforts are a bit different than when I started 16 months ago, as my diet includes milk products and eggs, and even meat if I am at a get-together or someone brings some over, but I want to refocus on getting lots of raw vegan foods into my diet as well.

Today as I sat outside with the 4 four and under, I thumbed through one of my raw vegan cook books, "The Idiot's Guide to Eating Raw", in fact, and found this delicious recipe. I hope your fam loves it as much as mine did...

Raw Chocolate Orange Pudding

Ingredients:

2 cups mashed avocados (about 3 whole avocadoes)
1/2 cup cocoa powder
2 teaspoons orange zest
4 dates, pitted and soaked at least 45 minutes
1/4 cup date soak water
1/4 cup honey or agave nectar
3 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice
1/2 teaspoon soy sauce or nama shoya

Directions:

Step 1: Place avocados, cocoa powder, orange zest, dates, date soak water, sweetener, orange juice and soy sauce in a food processor fitted with an S blade. Process on high for about 45 seconds or until smooth.

Step 2: Serve immediately or refrigerate for a firmer texture. This pudding will keep up to 5 days in the fridge.

Personally, I loved this pudding, but only 50% of the kids did, including the 15-year-old girl.

Just look at Twin B's happy face...

...and his hands...

Twin A felt the same...

And although the 3-year-old boy enjoyed the pudding as well, he wanted me to show you how he accomplished the task of keeping his hands clean...

I, for one, was impressed.

Now, you may be wondering if they actually got any in their mouths, and honestly, I'm not sure, but here is an empty bowl...

At least it made them happy. Enjoy!

On 365 Days of TV-Free Toddler Time today:
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