Whether you homeschool, or send kids to school (or even if they aren't old enough for school) kids like an after lunch treat. Heck, I like an afternoon treat!  These black bean brownies make a great dessert for something  a little sweet to finish off a healthy meal.

The reason I like these black bean brownies is you don't have to puree the beans before adding them to the mix.  Who wants to spend all that time in the kitchen anyway, right?  I promise you, the beans blend right in with the rich chocolate taste of the brownies, that no one will be complaining.

One Tip: If you are using canned beans, make sure to rinse them thoroughly!  Hot water is ideal.  Get all the sodium rinsed off that you can!

For lunch, try a chicken salad (shredded chicken, strawberries, chopped pecans, and salad greens), some rolled up flat bread, and a mini, bite sized brownie.

Black Bean Brownies Recipe:

• 1 15 ounce can of black beans, or 1 1/2 cups pre cooked black beans.
• 1/2 cup cocoa (100%)
• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 3 eggs
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/4 tsp. salt

Rinse beans!  Mix all ingredients together.  Pour into an 8X8 inch greased pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.

* this recipe was adapted from one of my very favorite cookbooks, The Real Food Diet Cookbook (ton's of great recipes)

** For the decorative brownie bites, I used a little writing icing from the baking aisle at the grocery store.  You could also whip up some of your own royal icing as well!

Why should cocoa be a part of a healthy diet?

Cocoa powder is an ingredient with amazing benefits for children. The antioxidants in cocoa powder can help kids have healthier skin, can combat diarrhea, improve insulin sensitivity, help soothe a cough, plus improve visual as well as verbal memory!