Trying to be healthy while fighting those chocolate cravings that just won’t subside? Meet Katie.

Katie Higgins started her healthy dessert blog in September 2007. Today, this recent university grad has had her recipes featured in numerous magazines, while her blog Chocolate-Covered Katie has fans all over the world (including a number of us at Refresh Western!) From her Candy Corn Milkshake to her Sugar Cookie Oatmeal to her Homemade Chocolate Peanut Butter Larabars, each of Katie’s recipes is not only incredibly original but surprisingly healthy.  Yes, you can eat that Ultimate Chocolate Fudge Pie and not feel guilty! Vegan and gluten-free options make her recipes accessible to almost any diet.  We can guarantee there is something to make even your pickiest roommate drool.  We emailed Katie to get a little more information from her about eating vegan, balancing the student life with healthy eating, and her recommendations for her ultimate chocolate-covered recipes!

Have you always been vegan or did something inspire you to become vegan? How did you begin creating your own healthy vegan recipes?

I went vegetarian in seventh grade, after learning about factory farming. At the time, I never thought I’d be a vegan! I thought vegans were crazy, especially since they couldn’t eat ice cream! But a little over a year later, I gave up dairy for Lent and it was so easy that I never went back!

The name of your blog is intriguing! How did you decide on the name Chocolate-Covered Katie?

Chocolate is my absolute favorite food in the world. I could (and sometimes do!) eat it at every meal!

How did you balance being a student with eating healthy?

I was lucky to go to a vegan-friendly campus my first year of college (Bryn Mawr). And then, when I transferred to SMU (Southern Methodist University), I lived in an apartment with a kitchen. And it was in Dallas, so very close to a lot of Whole Foods and health food stores.

What is your process for developing new recipes for your blog?

I don’t really have a set process… I have a list of hundreds of ideas I want to try, and I’ll just pick some randomly (or to go with a certain holiday or season) and try the ideas out. More times than not, the first try is not successful at all! But it’s a learning process, and I can usually get a good recipe from the second or third try :)

What simple recipe on your blog would you recommend to Western students?

Hmmm, probably something without a blender or food processor… Maybe my One-Minute Chocolate Cake!
http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2012/01/19/single-serving-mocha-chocolate-cake/

What is your all-time favourite recipe?

If I *have* to choose just one recipe, probably my Chocolate Bar Pie!

http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2011/09/15/chocolate-bar-pie/

Check out Katie’s delicious blog at [
http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/
]

Refresh Western tested and approved recipes (check out our recipe for the Cookie Dough Dip!)

Interview by Rebecca Lewis