I don't typically have much of a sweet tooth. I scrape the frosting off of birthday cakes and need coffee to get down my pastry or piece of chocolate. Holiday treats are lost on me.

But, since I started avoiding dairy I've had this incredible yearning for chocolate. It's a strange craving that I've tried to satiate by eating a banana or a handful of almonds and cranberries instead. So far....the chocolate monster is still tapping on my shoulder.

Over the weekend we did our grocery shopping at Berkeley Bowl in (you guessed it!), Berkeley. It's a great store with such a variety of great products and a wonderful produce section. I could walk around there all day admiring all the amazing foods and ingredients to play with in my kitchen.

During our tour we ended up in the baking aisle and I eyed up a bag of Cacao Sweet Nibs from Navitas Naturals. I knew that cacao is a dairy free product so me and the chocolate monster looked closer to see if this might be the solution I'd been looking for. The label read organic, raw AND vegan. Success! At $5.99/bag I hesitated (barely) and ended up tossing it in the cart. I must be pretty desperate.....

As soon as we got home I tore the bag open like a crazed addict, tossed a few tiny nibs in my mouth and chewed. They were pretty darn tasty. With a very slight hint of sweetness they taste a bit like coffee beans and have they have a nice crunch which is also pretty satisfying.

Just a small taste after dinner or as an in between snack has so far settled my occasional chocolate cravings (now I just have to keep them away from Dani!). The bag is only 4 oz and at around $6.00 can seem a bit pricey. However, with a little self control I can see it going quite a long way and lasting me at least 2 weeks.

More yummy tidbits about cacao:

• Cacao is full of antioxidants (more than in green tea and red wine!) and has trace minerals such as magnesium and iron
• Cacao may increase your focus and alertness and contains nutrients to keep you happy
• Cacao does contain caffein. So, if you are avoiding caffein or are sensitive pay close attention to how eating cacao affects you. 
• Ancient Mayans called cacao "The Food of the Gods"
• 1 oz of Navitas Naturals Sweetened Cacao Nibs contains 150 calories

So, if you are looking for a healthier sweet treat give cacao a try. When I'm feeling adventurous I may have to try using it to make fudge or chocolate chip cookies.

Let me know if you have tried a raw and/or vegan recipe with cacao or cacao nibs. I'd love to hear it!

We've been in recovery.

Last Thursday night we took a 5 hour drive to Solvang in southern California. Our goal for the weekend was to ride the Solvang Half Century (50 miles) along with about 5,000 other cyclists. We had been actively training for this first official ride for a few months and were excited (and a bit nervous) to see if we could hang with all those other hard-core cyclists out there.

To make it even better Tanya's parents traveled all the way from Pennsylvania to meet us there and her dad rode the 50 miles with us. Plus, it was his 60th birthday on the day of the ride so it was a great way to celebrate.


We were lucky to have incredibly beautiful weather and just had to battle a bit of a head wind. When you're pedaling to go downhill you know it's windy!

Because this was our first ride there were a few things we learned that we'll use for upcoming rides:

1) Cool Gear Does Not a Rider Make. Sure, we all want to look good while we're doing whatever sport we're into but it's important to remember that it's not all about the look. We saw plenty of stylin' bikers pushing their bikes up the hills (and of course many others kicking butt!). Our conclusion.....don't get hung up on the gear and the look. You don't need the best and most expensive gear to get on a bike. Just get out and do it! Tanya's dad put it well; "The best dressed skiers aren't on the slopes, they're at the bar."
2) Age Doesn't Matter. We have found that cycling spans an incredible age spectrum. You are never too young or too old to get on a bike. We saw parents on tandems with kids as young as 5 all the way to adults in their 70's. It was wonderful to see so many different ages coming together to enjoy a beautiful day on a bike. Even someone's dog got to enjoy a some time on two wheels.


3) Preparation Ensures Success. Being prepared is key to make sure you are successful in any sport. For an organized ride like the one we were on there are usually SAG stops (Support and Gear) along the way that will provide you with snacks and the opportunity to fill up water. But, you need to rely on yourself in case you don't have a SAG stop or need to refuel along the way. Here are our suggestions.

• 2 hours before your ride eat a high carb meal of oatmeal, bagel, muffin, pancakes or pasta for example. Be sure to give the food enough time to digest before riding. 
• Bring plenty of water. You should plan on at least 16 ounces of water for every hour you plan on being on the road. Fill up every time you have the opportunity to do so. 
• If you have space for an extra water bottle, fill it with a protein powder. This will help aid in faster muscle recovery.
• Bring at least one snack with you just in case. Check out our review of a few popular bars that you can easily pack in your bike bag.
• Always carry a spare tube and tools (it's also good to know how to use them), just in case you get a flat.