Winter's chill brings with it the perfect excuse to indulge in comforting beverages, and what could be more soothing than a cup of gut-healing hot chocolate? Made with nutrient-dense bone broth, this recipe combines the richness of chocolate with the health benefits of bone broth, creating a drink that's both delicious and nutritious. Ready in just under five minutes, it's an ideal treat for the entire family to enjoy during the cold months.
The secret to this hot chocolate's appeal lies in its simple yet effective ingredients: bone broth, milk, maple syrup, cocoa powder, vanilla extract, and a hint of cinnamon. For an extra touch of indulgence, a drop of Young Living's Peppermint Vitality essential oil can be added to enhance the flavor. Whether topped with marshmallows or whipped cream, this hot chocolate is a delightful way to incorporate the healing properties of bone broth into your daily routine.
Instructions
- Heat: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, bring the bone broth to a light simmer.
- Mix: Add the milk, maple syrup, cocoa powder, vanilla extract, and cinnamon to the saucepan and whisk until creamy.
- Serve: Pour the hot chocolate into two separate mugs. If desired, use a milk frother to make the hot chocolate nice and foamy (this is where I also like to add a drop of peppermint vitality. Serve with optional marshmallows or whipped cream on top. Sip and enjoy!
Notes:
- I recommend using a chicken bone broth for this recipe without a ton of added herbs or seasoning.
- You can add 1 scoop of collagen to the hot chocolate if desired. Just whisk it into the hot chocolate in the saucepan before serving.
- You can swap the maple syrup for honey, however it will be slightly sweeter.
- Add more cocoa powder to taste if you like it extra chocolatey.
- Want to make a single serving? Just cut the recipe in half!
As someone who has been sipping on bone broth for over a decade, I’m always looking for new ways to incorporate it into my routine. Bone broth is rich in collagen, minerals, and protein, so it’s a great way to boost the nutrient density of recipes. I love making my own bone broth and using it in soups, stews, and even in making rice instead of using water.
I first came across the idea of making hot chocolate from bone broth from a brilliant internet friend, Fallon Lee. After seeing the idea, I started experimenting with it for my own family. My kids absolutely love hot chocolate, especially during the cold weather months. And if I could actually disguise bone broth in a chocolatey drink for them? Well, sign me up!
After months of perfecting it, I’m happy to share that my rather picky kids absolutely love my bone broth hot chocolate recipe! It’s creamy and rich, and the combo of vanilla, cinnamon and peppermint adds the perfect amount of warmth. If you’re not a huge fan of bone broth but want to soak up the benefits, this recipes is right up your alley! It makes two servings so you can share a cup with your children, or save some for the next day!
Broth vs Bone Broth
While broth and bone broth are often used interchangeably, there are some distinct differences between the two. Broth is made by simmering meat and vegetables in water. It's typically seasoned with salt and may include herbs and spices for flavor.
Bone broth, on the other hand, is a further evolution of broth and stocks. It’s made by simmering vegetables, meat, and bones, often with connective tissues like ligaments and tendons. The bones are usually simmered for a longer period, sometimes up to 24 hours. As a result, bone broth is rich in minerals, amino acids, and collagen, and has a higher protein content in comparison to broth.
Let me know if you try this and what you think! Enjoy!
Melinda
Fill your diffuser with Vanilla & Christmas Spirit and grab a mug of Peppermint cocoa because it's time to get festive! No matter what holiday (if any!) you celebrate this time of year, these fun and festive recipes, DIYs and diffuser blends are certain to create a cozy, welcoming winter home.
Doing some gifting? I also have some great wellness-focused and handmade gift ideas for you too! Today, I am personally whipping up a batch of festive bath bombs that my daughter and nieces ask for every year. They are soothing to the skin as well as relaxing which is exactly what busy college students (and myself) need this time of year.
You can print off this entire little handbook and stick it in a notebook for reference for multiple winter themed ideas over the next few months. Let me know if you have any troubles printing this or if you make any of these recipes or diffuser blends!
Merry Christmas from my family to yours!
Melinda Haak
(Young Living Support Leader)
Let this be the first of many reminders that you don't need to run 5 miles, do 1,000 burpees, hit the gym extra during these Holiday weeks just to "earn" a piece of your favorite holiday dessert. You don't need to earn the "right" to eat or enjoy food EVER.
As a former cardio queen that used to spend HOURS in and outside the gym in the "fat burning" zone and obsessively counting calories, I think about this often. I found holidays and times centered around food especially stressful. It stole the joy from all that the season is supposed to focus towards. It's crazy how what I grew up with learning, reading, and watching became a part of who I am. Even as an adult who doesn't do the yo-yo dieting, restrictive mentality thing, I sometimes still struggle with trying to "earn" my food. Do you ever feel guilt of shame for eating something, or hating parts of your body when you look in the mirror? These are incredibly difficult habits and behaviors to shift.
You are human. You deserve food. Food is nourishment for your body and mind and should be enjoyable and satisfying. The idea that you need to punish yourself for eating creates a transactional relationship between food and exercise. This mentality is so toxic, and I spent a lot of time in therapy to recover. I have vowed I would not pass this onto my kids, and I would be a champion and encourager for women who struggle with this mentality. It is not sustainable, and I wasted a lot of mental, emotional and physical energy trying to "burn" calories with cardo and high repetition strength training. All I ended up having to show for it was a lot of added stress, physical imbalances, chronic pain, and anxiety.
Sometimes, you eat less, and sometimes you eat more. MANY things influence your metabolism and the idea that a specific exercise "burns off" a food is oversimplified and inaccurate. You have permission to move in a way you love. You have permission to move when it's right for your body. So, enjoy the holidays, your family, and the food. Don't worry about articles that say you need to do XYZ to burn off that extra piece of pie. If you are focusing on eating food that are nourishing for your body, that piece of pecan pie or that cinnamon roll at your great-aunt Suzie's house, isn't going to blow everything you are working towards.
Before blindly accepting something as fact or running towards the latest diet or nutrition fad, try to always do these two things:
1) Ask WHY. Why is it better? Why is it wrong? Why is it good for you? Why is it necessary? Is this nourishing or depriving?
2) IF the answer is "because that's what they say"...ask WHO IS THEY? A lot of opinions are floating around out there (and biases), and just because someone has one, doesn't mean it's actually true, right for you, or has legitimate research behind it.
You get one body, and it is incredibly resilient and forgiving. Be gentle with yourself. Be kind. Give it the best chance for longevity because it is the kind and loving thing for your body...not because of guilt or because society sets a certain standard.
Let me know if this is an area you have also struggled with. Together we are stronger.
Love and blessings,
Melinda Haak
Signs Your Body Needs Minerals: 
Chronic fatigue
Always feeling "so stressed out."
Frequent urination/excessive thirst
Muscle weakness, tightness, or cramping
Irregular heart beat
Adrenal dysfunction
If you are struggling with stress and chronic fatigue, your body needs minerals.
As we head into a higher-stress season, your body needs some extra TLC. If you are not already taking a mineral supplement, now is the time to start. Why? Minerals are rapidly depleted during times of stress. But here's the catch, minerals are needed to support the stress response. Add high intensity workouts, lack of sleep, and lack of sunshine on top of it, and it's easy to see why so many women struggle with chronic fatigue, chronic illness, adrenal issues, and thyroid problems.
Basically, minerals are your body's "spark plugs" -- they are required to activate the more than 20,000 enzyme reactions in your body.
When minerals are depleted, your body doesn't have the resources it needs to create energy at a cellular level and support enzyme function. Our mitochondria are rich in minerals, and minerals are the catalyst for energy creation within our cells.
So where have all of the minerals gone?
1. Minerals are largely missing from our food supply due to decades of farming where land hasn't been given an opportunity to rest, combined with the effects of pesticides, herbicides, and air and water pollution. Our soil has slowly been drained of its vital elements. Minerals cannot be created by the body. We must consume them from our diet.
2. Most people aren't absorbing the minerals they are eating in their food due to poor gut health.
3. Minerals need to be fat soluble vitamins to be properly absorbed. The low-fat movement scared people away from foods rich in fat soluble vitamins like meats, organ meats, eggs, and grass-fed butter. If you have bone density issues or tooth decay/cavities/root canals, you likely have a deficiency in fat soluble vitamins.
4. During pregnancy and breastfeeding, minerals are depleted. Without intentionality, the body can quickly become depleted.
5. Table salt is highly processed and removes trace minerals, whereas unprocessed sea salt contains all the trace minerals along with the sodium.
If you're struggling with signs and symptoms of mineral depletion, there are many ways to support your body with minerals.
1. My favorite way is just using a simple unprocessed sea salt when cooking like this one https://a.co/d/fzFyYKj.. or this one https://a.co/d/fzFyYKj.. You can also drink an adrenal cocktail which has Vitamin C, potassium, trace minerals.
2. If you have had a really stressful season or if you are like me and had back-to-back babies, I would add Mineral drops to your filtered water.
Here are two of my favorites:
Mineral Essence https://m.lfstps.com/ZmV4/CHw3X
Trace Minerals: https://a.co/d/3DBSali
3. Eat fruits and veggies in season and from local sources to reduce mineral depletion.
4. Incorporate grass-fed beef and organ meats into your diet, which are rich in minerals and fat soluble vitamins (needed for mineral absorption).
5. Drink an adrenal cocktail (I'll post a recipe below).
6. Get outside! Sun exposure will increase your Vitamin D, which is necessary for mineral absorption.
Do you supplement with minerals? Has it made a difference? If you haven't intentionally added minerals to your daily regiment, give it a shot for 90 days and I'd love to hear how they make you feel!
Blessings!
Melinda Haak
Adrenal Cocktail Recipe:
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup orange juice (for vitamin C)
- 1/4 cup coconut water
- 2 Tablespoons coconut cream or milk
- 1/4 tsp cream of tartar (for potassium)
- 1/4 tsp unprocessed sea salt (sodium + trace minerals)
Directions: Mix, and sip! Drink midmorning to support cortisol rhythms.
Here are a couple of fun recipes to kick off the Thanksgiving season! I know it can be tough to stay healthy around the holidays—especially when traditional recipes don’t always support dietary needs. When autoimmune issues entered our home, I had to make big changes to avoid discomfort for my kiddo every time she ate. For someone who wasn’t particularly into cooking, it was a huge adjustment. I knew I needed to step up, not only for her health but also for our entire family. Over time, my attitude toward healthy cooking shifted because it truly helped us rely less on pharmaceuticals. It's been a journey, but it's absolutely been worth it and one the primary reasons I went back to school and got my Nutritional Health Coaching Certifications
Today, I'm sharing two of our go-to holiday recipes along with a link to a cookbook that has been a game-changer for us. Danielle Walker's Holiday Celebrations Cookbook is filled with fantastic, inflammation-friendly recipes that the whole family can enjoy together. No more separate meals or sacrifices—just delicious food for everyone. Check it out here: Danielle Walker's Holiday Celebrations Cookbook.
Hope these recipes bring a little extra joy and comfort to your holiday table!
A healthy twist on a classic fall treat, these healthy pumpkin bars are soft, decadent, and perfectly spiced! They're easy to make and bake is a s 8x8 square baking pan! Because they are made with almond flour, they are also gluten free.
Need to the cream cheese frosting to be dairy free or lactose free? I have tested this with both Kit Hill Dairy Free Cream cheese https://www.kite-hill.com/our-food/cream-cheese-style-spreads/ and Green Valley Grass-fed Cream Cheese https://greenvalleylactosefree.com/product/lactose-free-cream-cheese?gad_source=1
Ingredients:
Pumpkin Bars:
- 3/4 cup pumpkin puree
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1/2 cup coconut sugar
- 1/4 cup melted coconut oil
- 1/4 maple syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups blanched almond flour
- 2 Tablespoons tapioca flour
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 Tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
Instructions
- Prep: Preheat the oven to 350 F and grease an 8x8-inch square baking pan with coconut oil. Line the pan with a parchment paper sling so the paper drapes over two sides.
- Mix the batter: In a large mixing bowl, beat the pumpkin, eggs, coconut sugar, coconut oil, maple syrup, and vanilla extract together until combined. Add the almond flour, tapioca flour, baking soda, baking powder, and spices to the bowl, and beat until smooth. The batter will be thick.
- Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly. Bake on the center rack in the oven for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. The bars are done when you start to see a hint of golden color on top of the bars.
- Cool: Remove the bars from the oven and place them on a wire rack to cool completely, about 3 hours.
- Frost: If using frosting, spread about 1 cup of the cream cheese frosting on the bars and place in the fridge to set for 1-2 hours.
- Serve: Slice into 12 equal bars. You can serve these chilled or at room temperature.
Nutrition Facts
Serves 12
Calories Per Serving: 190
Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 1/2 cup butter or ghee
- 3 cups confectioner's sugar or powdered Monk Fruit & Erythritol sweetener https://www.lakanto.com/products/powdered-1-1-monk-fruit-sweetener
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- pinch of salt
Instructions:
- Beat: In a large bowl using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle or beater attachment, beat the cream cheese and butter or ghee together on high speed until smooth and creamy, about 1-2 minutes. Add the confectioner's sugar and vanilla. Beat on low speed for 30 seconds, then switch to high speed and beat until smooth and no clumps remain.
- Chill: For best results, chill the frosting for 30-60 minutes to help it firm up. Whip it in the mixer for about a minute after chilling if needed. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
And here is an amazing recipe that I have personally made several times and we all love. Enjoy!
I would love to hear if you try either of these recipes and how you like them! Have a wonderful weekend! Blessings!
Melinda Haak
