I mentioned earlier that I was going to start writing about some of my favorite things. Sometimes it will be a product, sometimes it might be a place, or sometimes it could be a product or thing–like a movie. Today, however, it is about a recipe. A HEALTHY recipe from a friend of mine Allison Reyna whose life mission is about helping people use food as medicine. As a single, working mom with kids on the go, the following recipe is easy, healthy, and full of protein, good fats and complex carbs. Plus, it stores well in the fridge or freezer. Just pop them out when you need them. So, here it is. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!
No Bake Almond-Oat Energy Bites
(Makes 24 1-inch balls and takes < 30 minutes to make!)
2 ½ cups rolled oats (regular)
½ cup raw pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
2 Tbs. cocoa powder
½ cup raisins or dried cranberries
1 Tbs. raw sunflower seeds
1 tsp. cinnamon
½ cup almond butter
1/3 cup + 1 Tbs. honey
2 Tbs. barley malt syrup or brown rice syrup
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Optional: ¾ cup cacao nibs
(I also throw in some dried blueberries, and mini dark chocolate morsels!)
-
Grind ½ cup oats, ¼ pumpkin seeds and 2 tbs. cocoa powder in food processor until powdery. Transfer to medium bowl and set aside.
- Combine remaining 2 cups oats, remaining ¼ cup pumpkins sees, raisins, etc. and cinnamon in large bowl. Stir in almond butter, honey, barley malt or brown rice syrup, and vanilla until soft dough forms.
- Moisten hands and roll dough into 1 inch balls. Coat balls in oat-pumpkin-cocoa powder. Place on cookie sheet. Place cookie sheet in freezer to set, then serve or store in fridge.
- And– oh yeah, enjoy!
P.S. If you have allergies, food issues, weight loss goals, energy problems, or are battling an illness, I encourage you to seek guidance from a nutritional counselor. There is power in the right foods.
Continue reading about Raindrops on Roses, Whiskers on Kittens…
You know, try as I might, there are still days we are moving too fast. Now granted, it is usually due to the fact that we went too bed too late and didn’t get up as early as we should have…! Nonetheless, we still need something quick and easy AND healthy on our way out the door. Here’s a little something that is fast and good…AND healthy. It beats a refined-rich blueberry muffin and sugar coffee any day! (which, btw ladies, is 820 calories, 11 g protein, 35 grams of artery clogging / butt clinging FAT and 1 measly gram of fiber!) Try this and let me know what you think:
- 1 cup lowfat cottage cheese w/
- 1/2 fresh or frozen blueberries and 7 chopped almonds
(This little power mix provides 254 calories with 30 grams of protein, 7 grams of good fat, and 3 grams of fiber.) Sometimes I use Greek yogurt (so yummy and creamy) in place of the cottage cheese and throw in some Stevia and cinnamon, plus some whey protein and ground flax.
What about you? Got any on-the-go healthy snacks and meals you can share?
Continue reading about On the run, but need a quick healthy boost?
You BETCHA!!
1 whole egg (preferable free range) + 2 whites ½ -1 scoop chocolate whey protein powder (my fave right now is Designer Protein) ¼-1/3 c unsweetened chocolate almond milk (or soy or nonfat cow stuff) ½ c slow oats.
Add a couple drops of vanilla extract & mix it all together and let sit for about 2 minutes, so the oats soak up some moisture. Then pour it into a lightly sprayed omelet pan and cook. When I am finished cooking, I will remove the pancake, then throw in some organic frozen blueberries to lightly cook them. (I do try to avoid the microwave when possible.) You can either add a light syrup or try this. To get your good fat, pour a little flax oil over the pancake, then sprinkle with stevia and cinnamon and cover with your blueberries. Yum. Think I will go make some now!
