I know you just want this recipe. To scroll to the bottom so you can make it tonight.

I don’t blame you. I’d probably do the same.

But the reason why I made it might fascinate you.

So.

Lately, I’ve been prepping for busy season, and taking on the biggest project and challenge that I’ve ever done this summer. More on that later [promise].

I’m terrified. And a little scared of the amount of work in front of me, if I’m being completely honest.

It makes me think.

Reminding me about the so-called problem that I’m trying to solve. To show people a better way to live their life more fully and freely.  And I’ve come to one very big conclusion.

That most people think of healthy food as boring, bland, gross, unsatisfying, limiting + flavorless. And too hard to keep up with over time. In real life. That healthy food is basically less cool than unhealthy food. And that people eat healthy because they are supposed to. Not because they love it.

And, that thought makes me crinkle.

I just don’t think it’s true.  But it matters what your definition of  “healthy eating” actually means.

Let’s get this straight:

It means food that is good for you, yes. Full of nutrients. Food that is going to give you something back. Aka, real food.

But, it’s not only that.

Eating well is also about the experience we have with it.

Our excitement around it. Our love of it. Our enjoyment. And not just excitement with the bad stuff. But excitement about good food too. In in it’s pureness. In it’s beauty. In the thousands of flavors and textures and amazing variety of all of it. In how we celebrate and commemorate life with it.  Because it’s life-giving. Because eating can, and should be both- good for you so enjoyable as it’s happening.

This is the missing piece I think. That most people don’t fully grasp:

How good real food is. How it looks, how it tastes, and how it makes you feel. That you’re not compromising  or giving up anything. You’re actually expanding upon it. It’s about infusing more good things in, not a lack of things you can’t have.

That good tasting food is healthy food.  And beautiful to look at, and serve, and to make people’s mouths water. Not something totally seperate.

These are the things I think about.

Wanting, hoping and dreaming.

That if only more people could have a better experience with good food, they would just see what I mean. And want to do it!

So, I do what any little lady on a mission does.

I make snacks.

To lure them in. I’ve been told I’ll even get a little sparkle in my eye. Slightly mischievous, even.

It happens when I get to prove that eating healthier doesn’t automatically mean eating only vegetables and missing out on life. It means eating good tasting stuff. That you like. And it just happens to be better for you.

Like this week, for example.

With 2 big Seattle companies starting a group program with me this week (pairing my  4 week meal plans with weekly group meetings in a phenomenal combination if I do say so myself), this little “prove it” recipe of mine has been in heavy rotation. Because 1) it’s peanut butter and 2) it”s popcorn. And if I needed a third reason, it’s a recipe that could easily incorporate chocolate.

Done.

And yes, it’s all real food. So simple. So good. And not a person out there that wouldn’t be at least curious to try it [in the context of being healthy or otherwise].

Go ahead. Tip toe in to this real food thing. And with it, bring a little bit more joy and playfulness to your healthy eating routine. I promise it’s a mentality that will serve you better than anything else.

Because when you love your food and have a great [positive] relationship to eating good stuff, that’s when a healthy lifestyle [for the long haul] really starts to happen.

And nothing is better than that.

Except, maybe this popcorn. Maybe.

Peanut Butter Popcorn

Recipe adapted from With Style & Grace 

Makes approximately 4 servings

Ingredients:

1/4 organic popcorn kernels [important to get organic here- if not, it’s likely GMO corn)

2 TB unrefined coconut oil

2 TB organic peanut butter

1 tsp sea salt

Optional additions: raisins, chopped dark chocolate or chocolate chips, coconut flakes, or slivered nuts

Prepare popcorn as normal in an air popper, or my favorite method, the whirly pop. Or, if you don’t own either of those tools (why not?), you can do it the old fashioned way: heat 1 TB coconut oil in a large soup pot with a lid. As the oil heats up, add kernels and cover with a lid. Wait for popping to start, then gently shake the pot until the popping increases, the slows down. Pour popcorn into a large bowl when done. Add a bit more coconut oil to the pot to melt. Drizzle over the popcorn.

In a seperate saucepan, add peanut butter and melt over low heat.  Add the warmed peanut butter over the top. Sprinkle the popcorn generously with sea salt and toss to combine with a spoon (note: not your hands- it will burn you. I may be speaking from experience.) Add any other additions you’d like here!

 

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Simply Real Health, Inc is a healthy lifestyle company on a mission to educate, teach and inspire others to live their happiest + healthiest life. Read more about Sarah here.