Most of us are trying to drop a few kilos at the moment and there are times you need a snack but can’t face any more carrot sticks and hummus!

This healthy blueberry almond slice satisfies any sweet cravings without being too naughty. The best part is it is quick and easy and apart from the fresh blueberries (which thankfully are super cheap at the moment!), you should have most of the ingredients in your pantry. If you have a Thermomix or high-speed blender you can also blitz up some whole almonds rather than needing to buy almond meal which should save you some money.

Bon appetite!

Ingredients

• 1 cup almonds or almond meal
• 400g canned chickpeas drained and rinsed
• 1-2 tablespoons of honey (depending on desired sweetness)
• 1/3 cup coconut milk 
• 2 teaspoons natural vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon gluten free baking powder
• 125g fresh blueberries (one punnet)

Instructions

1. Pre-heat oven to 170 degrees C if fan-forced (190 if not fan-forced). Line a baking tray with baking paper (20 cm square tin)
2. Blend up the almonds if you have a high strength blender or Thermomix otherwise skip this step.
3. Add almonds/almond meal, chickpeas, honey, coconut milk, vanilla extract, and baking powder to a blender and blend until well combined. The chickpeas should be chopped.
4. Add just under half of the blueberries and gently fold through the blended ingredients.
5. Pour into the baking tin and poke the remaining blueberries into the top of the slice just before you place it in the oven.
6. Bake for 35-45 minutes depending on your oven. Allow to cool before cutting into slices.

Major YUM factor!!!

The NUTRITIONAL factor

Compelling reasons to eat Blueberries:

• They are nutrient dense and low calorie – an entire cup contains only 84 calories.
• Blueberries are believed to have one of the highest antioxidant levels of all common fruits and vegetables. 
• Blueberries protect you by reducing LDL cholesterol from becoming oxidized to the dangerous small lipid particle version.
• Regular blueberry intake is tied to lower blood pressure in numerous studies.
• The antioxidants in blueberries seem to benefit brain function and delay mental decline.
• Several studies demonstrate that blueberries have anti-diabetes effects, improving insulin sensitivity and lowering blood sugar levels.
• Like cranberries, blueberries contain substances that can prevent certain bacteria from binding to the wall of your bladder, which may help prevent UTIs.

I’m off to buy some seasonal blueberries!

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