As someone who was recently diagnosed with Mast Cell Activation Syndrome, and has spent the last almost thirty years of my life without any dietary restrictions, you can imagine how hard it is now to suddenly become ill to foods I had been enjoying my whole life. My journey to wellness lead me to create each and every one of these recipes featured on Damngoodthyme.

With the diagnosis of MCAS came hormonal imbalances, leading to hypothyroidism and PCOS. What I was unaware of at the time of these diagnoses, was that diet would play the biggest role in helping me achieve remission and lose the weight gained from all of the inflammation my body was under. I began to prioritize eating high protein meals to help with blood sugar imbalances.

As a busy college student, I often found myself making salads for an easy on the go lunch, but always loved a nice crunch to add to them. I often would add sunflower seeds, chopped carrots, cucumbers, and other crunchy veggies, but with the fall approaching, I wanted something a little more festive. Which is why I created these Vegan Low Sugar Candied Walnuts.

These walnuts are made with maple syrup and coconut sugar and are therefore refined sugar free. Better yet, they are easily made on the stovetop in under 5 minutes- making them the perfect addition to your weekly meal prep.

Whether enjoyed on their own, sprinkled over salads, or used as a topping for desserts, these stovetop candied walnuts will become a favorite in your meal prep rotation!