Can Ceremonial Cacao Transform an Unhealthy Relationship with Food?

This has certainly been the case for me.

When we honour our bodies and listen to what it is they are craving, we can learn how to nourish ourselves without deprivation.

Trust is key. If we can learn to trust the intelligence of our physical body, we can trust that what it is asking for is what it needs.

There are two ways Cacao has taught me to do this.

The first is the practice of a daily Cacao ceremony.

Having a daily ritual where I carve out a small amount of time each morning to connect and listen to my body, has allowed me to transform the way I think and feel about it.

When I took the time out of my busy schedule to do nothing more than sit in stillness and enjoy a nourishing, morning tonic, I was sending a powerful message to my subconscious that I was worth making time for. Not only was I was worthy of my own time but my inner wisdom was worthy of being heard.

Over time, it became easier and easier to drop in and connect to the space in my heart where I innately knew what my body needed - The space where the body, mind and spirit, are one. It was in this space when all the mental chatter had quietened down, that I was able to observe and connect to the intelligence of my being.

It is in the stillness of this space that we need to learn to listen. It is not to the voice in our head that tells us we need something sweet as soon as we finish our dinner or the one that peps up when the cookie tin does its rounds at work of an afternoon.

No, this is a different kind of listening - Dropping into our body and sensing what it needs.

Are we actually hungry in this moment or are we just bored? Are we really craving that block of Cadburys or are we actually craving the vitamins and minerals that a pure, unprocessed dose of Cacao would provide? Could that craving be satisfied instead with a rich, spicy, cacao tonic?

Whenever you feel hungry, take a moment to breathe deeply into your body, sensing what it needs and furthermore trusting what comes. Maybe you actually are hungry, maybe you really do need chocolate!

That’s also okay and here’s why.

Cacao can teach us that we don’t have to feel guilty about the foods we enjoy.

This was a huge revelation for me and as my relationship with Cacao grew so did my relationship with food in general. The more time I spent connecting with Cacao, exploring its nutritional qualities and the physical and psychological sensations it triggered in me, the more I learnt to appreciate and trust it.

When I learnt to shed the feelings of guilt I had once associated with chocolate, I was able to enjoy it and experience its gifts in a way I never had before. I was no longer afraid of what it might do to my body because I knew that in its pure form it was nothing but good for me!

Because in reality, it’s not the chocolate itself that is bad for us! It’s the processed sugars, milk powders and stabilisers that are added to it. These are the addictive ingredients that leave us feeling full, bloated and sick.

The same rationale can basically be applied to all processed foods. Pure, whole foods, in their natural state, will not leave us feeling this way unless there is an underlying health issue which needs to be addressed.

Cacao has helped to rewire my brain when it comes to food because it has shown me that indulging does not have to be a bad thing and furthermore, eating the foods I love, like chocolate, is not something to feel guilty about.

These days treats for me are no less delicious than the blocks of Cadburys or sugar-laden ice-cream I was once accustomed to.

The difference now is that:

The foods I am eating are whole and unprocessed.
I make time and space to listen to my body and what it is craving.
I wholeheartedly trust my body’s wisdom and know that it will process the nutrients I feed it, in a way that won’t make me feel sick or gain weight.

We live in a world where we are all so busy all of the time. We have lost the ability to listen to our innate wisdom and we have lost the ability to nourish our bodies because we have lost touch with what they need.

If you can learn to connect with your body, creating space and stillness for it to be felt and heard, I can guarantee that you will never need to read another diet book again. You will always know exactly what you need in order to thrive, and you will be able to enjoy food without feeling guilty or deprived.

In my quest to help you to see that chocolate is your friend, here is one of my favourite recipes for an immune-boosting batch of Medicine Balls that will leave you feeling satisfied, radiant and energised. The perfect thing to satiate that 3pm cookie craving!

Immune Boosting Medicine Balls

Wet Ingredients :

80g of Organic Cacao or 1 Large Cacao Club Ceremonial Disc
2 tbsp Coconut Oil (Melted)
3 Medjool Dates (soaked and pitted)
2 tbsp Tahini
2 tbsp Rose Water

Dry Ingredients:

150g Almond meal
1/4 cup of Pumpkin Seeds
1/4 cup of goji berries
1/4 cup of coconut flakes
1 tbsp Echinacea powder
1 tbs Vitamin C powder
1 tsp Cinnamon
1 tsp Turmeric Powder
Pinch of Salt

Process :

Combine all dry ingredients in a large bowl.

Blend Cacao, Coconut Oil and Dates in a high-speed blender until smooth.

Add two-thirds of the Chocolate mixture to the bowl along with the Tahini and Rose Water. Mix until everything is combined, you may like to use your hands to ensure everything is nice and sticky and chocolatey.

Next, start rolling your mixture into large balls and place on a tray topped with baking paper.

Once you have all your balls rolled out, use the leftover chocolate mixture from the blender to pour over the top. For something extra luxurious garnish with 2 - 3 rose petals or a sprinkle of cacao nibs.

Leave to set in the fridge for at least 30 mins and then store in the fridge or freezer for up to a week.