Holiday Comfort Cranberry Balls and Dark Chocolate Hummus Dip

Holiday Comfort Recipes

Cranberry Balls & Dark Chocolate Hummus Dip

by Lacy Ngo MS, RD
Hospice Dietitian

Grieving happens in its own way and on its own time, and yet while you are grieving you may wonder if anything could help you feel better. While there is no magic “thing” that can take the pain away, there are things you can do to help you cope. Moreover, if you are already feeling sad AND you have certain nutrient deficiencies that have been known to negatively affect mood, those deficiencies could exacerbate your feelings.

Fruits, vegetables, green tea, nuts, seeds, and dark chocolate are all high in antioxidants, and antioxidants have been shown to improve general mood and symptoms of depression. Studies found that antioxidant levels are lower in adults with depression. Consistently eating an antioxidant-rich diet may help your mood over time, and one study suggests that eating antioxidant-rich foods, especially fruits, may improve your mood immediately. Dark chocolate is rich in antioxidants and serotonin and has been shown to even act as an antidepressant.

Green tea (a good source of polyphenols) has been associated with a decrease in the prevalence of depression. In fact, individuals who drank 4 cups or more per day had a 51% lower prevalence of depression compared to those who drank 1 cup or less per day.

Recipe

Cranberry Balls	Dark Chocolate Hummus
Ingredients	Ingredients
½ cup rolled oats or granola ½ cup peanut butter or another natural nut butter ¼ cup dried cranberries 1 tsp Vanilla Extract	15 ounce can of chickpeas ¼ cup maple syrup or sugar-free maple syrup ½ cup Dark Chocolate Cocoa Powder 1 tsp. Vanilla Extract ¼ teaspoon Sea Salt
Instructions	Instructions
Blend all ingredients in the food processor Roll dough into bite-size balls Store in the refrigerator	Blend all ingredients together in a food processor and serve with your Cranberry balls!