If you don't already know this about me, I like to find foods I love, then make my own healthier version. It has to taste good though...not like cardboard! I want people to want to eat foods that are good for their body because they taste great, not just because they are healthy. Food should be enjoyable.

Anyway, our kids loved Nutella for many years, but when I looked at the nutrition label, I could no longer justify giving it to them for breakfast, or lunch. What could I come up with as a substitute? I searched online for whole food "Nutella" recipes, and found ones I loved, but they required me to buy and roast hazelnuts, rub off the skins, and then use up my very precious and expensive non-dairy chocolate chips.

There had to be a more frugal way to make a chocolate spread my kids thought of as a fun treat. I found it! Chocolate hummus for the win. I tried quite a few recipes I found online, but kept changing it for a version we enjoyed, with ingredients I always had around.

I chose to use black beans instead of the typical bean garbanzos, usually used in hummus, because they are much higher in antioxidants, and would add to the dark brown color I was going for. Canned beans are so easy to keep on hand, so I use those most of the time. But if I have extra beans I've cooked from scratch for our taco night (unseasoned of course!), then I will use those.

To make the dip creamy, it needed a fat that was not a processed oil. I like to make my recipes with whole foods when possible. Nut butter is always my first go to. Peanut butter is the most budget friendly and a great option to cover up the beany flavor. Some of you may have allergies to nut butters. If that is the case, feel free to sub sunflower seed butter.

Now to sweeten up those beans. Honey makes this spread quite sweet for those who prefer it that way. You can also use maple syrup for a less intense sweetness. Dates are the most healthy sweetener, because they won't spike your blood sugar due to the intact fiber, but it makes the dip too thick, so extra liquid would be needed. You choose how you want to sweeten the hummus based on your preferences.

I always have cocoa powder in my pantry. We love all kinds of chocolate stuff! This is a very inexpensive way to get your chocolate fix from something that is shelf stable and relatively inexpensive. It also allows you to have more control over your ingredients.

Now you just need a good blender or food processor to mix this up to a fluffy, creamy consistency-bean chunks are not desirable in this particular concoction! It is a wonderful way to make fruit fun for your kids. They always love dipping...and they are getting a dose of beans in for their snack as well. Double win!! Try it with your family and see what you think. I would love to hear in an email how it goes for you.

Enjoy our afternoon snack!