How to Make Awesome Low-Calorie Edibles at Home

Homemade, low-calorie edibles provide the perfect way to enjoy an edible high without stacking on the pounds. They are also surprisingly easy to make once you have the right ingredients. Here, we offer some culinary inspiration for sugar-free edibles that you can enjoy as part of a wellness lifestyle. Remember that edibles should never be eaten on an empty stomach and are best consumed in small amounts.

The Principles that Underpin Healthy Edibles

Choose, Whole, Nourishing Ingredients

Mother Nature knows best when it comes to foods that nourish body and soul. When making healthy edibles at home, stick to natural, optimally-prepared ingredients, such as:

• Steamed, raw, and fermented vegetables

• Raw and sun-dried or dehydrated fruits

• Soaked, sprouted, and/or lightly roasted nuts, seeds, and grains

• Soaked, sprouted, and/or and well-cooked legumes

• Cold-pressed oils such as coconut oil and olive oil

• Grass-fed raw and fermented dairy

• Grass-fed and free-range poultry and lean meat

• Wild-caught fish

• Free-range eggs

Healthy Fats

Cannabis is best consumed with fat because the ingestion of fat stimulates the lymphatic system, which makes the cannabinoids available to the body. Having cannabis with a fat-containing meal also slows down the time it takes for you to digest and metabolize the THC for a longer-lasting and more satisfying high.

The kinds of fat that are ideal for cannabis-infused edibles are saturated fats like butter and coconut oil. However, some healthy edible enthusiasts also use unsaturated fats, including:

• Olive oil

• Avocado oil

• Almond oil

• Avocado

Drop the Refined Sugar, Flour, and Oils

When it comes to health, everyone agrees that you're best off avoiding refined ingredients like sugar, white flour, and vegetable oil that contribute to inflammation. Instead, sweeten your edibles with banana, honey, or dates, choose high-protein flour alternatives like nut flours or oats, and go for quality, cold-pressed fruit oils rather than soybean or sunflower oil.

Keep these basic tenets in mind as you create some delicious, low-calorie edibles. Your body will thank you and your taste buds will enjoy the result. In addition to the recipes listed below, you can adapt many of the recipes you love by swapping out the refined ingredients and swapping in minimally processed alternatives instead.

How to Create Cannabis-Infused Oil for Edibles

To begin creating cannabis recipes, you'll need to make cannabis-infused oil or butter. You can do this by infusing your favorite culinary oils or butter with cannabis flower from our Bellevue dispensary — or by using ready-made CBD oil, THC oil, or hemp oil.

Step 1: Choose Your Cannabis Strain

If you decide to go with ready-made cannabis oil, your choices may be limited to CBD isolate, broad-spectrum hemp, full-spectrum hemp, or a THC-infused oil. However, if you really want to have some fun, you can select from any of hundreds of cannabis strains for a truly personalized result. Just be sure to find out how much THC your weed contains (per gram or per ounce) so that you can calculate the strength of your edibles.

Step 2: Choose an Oil for Infusion

The kind of oil into which you infuse your weed will depend on the kind of recipe you hope to create.

• Olive oil is perfect for salad dressings and dips.

• Coconut oil is ideal for no-bake treats.

• Cannabis butter can be used to marinate vegetables and fish.

If you're looking for low-calorie edibles, you might prefer olive oil over coconut or butter. However, saturated fats can keep you feeling fuller for longer, so you can enjoy them in moderation as part of a healthy diet.

Step 3: Infuse

There are different recipes available for the various kinds of infused oil. However, the steps are basically as follows:

• Grind your cannabis, but not so much that it will fit through the holes of a strainer.

• Mix the ground cannabis with the oil, melted coconut oil, or melted butter.

• Cook on low heat (less than 240 degrees Fahrenheit or 115 degrees Celsius) for at least 45 minutes and preferably up to a few hours.

• Using a nut milk bag or cheesecloth, strain the liquid into a heat-proof glass container. Do not squeeze the bag as this will add too much chlorophyll to the mix.

• Allow to cool and store in an airtight container in the fridge.

• Calculate the THC concentration per tablespoon of infused oil so that you know how strong your edibles will be.

Why Heating Marijuana Is Important

The reason that cooking the mixture is so important is that heat causes the cannabinoid precursors (THCA and CBDA) in your weed to decarboxylate and convert to THC and CBD. A temperature of 240 degrees F (115 degrees C) is sufficient for decarboxylation without causing too much damage to the nutrients and terpenes.

Alternatively, you can bake your cannabis for 45-50 minutes at the same recommended temperature in the oven. Once the green leaves turn to a greenish-brown color, the cannabinoids should be decarboxylated and ready for you to infuse with your favorite (pre-heated) cooking oil.

Delicious, Healthy Edibles Recipes to Try at Home

Kale Chips

This is probably the best healthy recipe for snacking on a lazy afternoon. It's crunchy, nutritious, and ridiculously simple to make! For this recipe from Cannabis Cheri, all you will need is kale, cannabis-infused olive oil, and salt. Wash and dry the kale, mix with oil and salt, and bake in the oven for 20 minutes. Once they’re done, you'll have low-calorie edibles to satisfy (or give you) those infamous THC munchies.

Potent Vegan Protein Balls

These tasty protein balls pack a punch with a potent dose of protein, and they also get you high. The only problem with this recipe is that you won't be able to stop at just one. These chewy little treats are gluten-free and vegan-friendly, and they only require a food processor to make.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons of marijuana-infused coconut oil

• 1 cup of almond butter or tahini

• 2 tablespoons of hemp seeds

• 2 tablespoons of sunflower seeds

• 2 tablespoons of desiccated coconut

• 1/2 a cup of dried apricots, chopped

• 1/2 a cup of dates, chopped

Method

1. Combine the coconut oil and almond butter or tahini until smooth.

2. Blend with hemp seeds, sunflower seeds, and coconut.

3. While the food processor is working, gradually add the dried apricots and dates.

4. Roll into balls, refrigerate, and enjoy!

Choc-Cannana Smoothie

After a workout or whenever you're craving something especially nourishing, whip up this smoothie that's easy to adjust for all kinds of dietary restrictions. While this recipe is a little higher in calories, it's immensely satisfying, sugar-free, and suitable for those with celiac disease.

Ingredients

• 2 cups of half-and-half or coconut cream

• 2 tablespoons of cannabis butter or cannabis-infused coconut oil

• 2 frozen bananas

• 1 heaping tablespoon of hemp seeds

• 1 heaping tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa

Method

1. Melt the cannabutter or cannabis-infused coconut oil on low heat.

2. Combine all the ingredients in the blender and blend until smooth.

3. Serve and enjoy!

Of course, if you don’t have time to make your own recipes at home, you can find plenty of low-calorie edibles in Bellevue at Higher Leaf dispensary. 

Get High With Low-Calorie Edibles

Healthy marijuana recipes provide delicious treats you can make at home without having to worry about the harmful effects of sugar and gluten (for those who need to follow a gluten-free diet). 

Remember to keep the THC to a low dose—10mg per treat is ideal—and eat a high-fat meal at the same time or preferably before for optimal absorption and a pleasant high. Once they’re made, store your edibles in an airtight container in a locked cabinet out of the reach of children and pets.