I Just Can't Get Enough ... Grounded Snacks

Lundberg Family Farms Continues to Delight Customers

Not only does Lundberg Farms create excellent sweet and savory rice cakes that are enjoyed by people of all ages, but they also create baked grain bites that are masterful. Each flavor, made from flavors curated from around the world, and enhances your meal.

I had an opportunity to try the product at the Nourished Festival in San Diego in February. Since that time, they have been a regular inhabitant of my cupboards!

Granola Made Simple

I love making granola so I can control the sugar in my diet. When I first needed to eat a gluten free diet, I had a difficult time finding cereal that was not loaded with sugars. (The options are much better now). I got in the habit of making my own cereal and have not looked back!

Making homemade granola does not take a long time and will cost you less than the packaged granola in the stores. I purchase my supplies when they are on sale and stock up (not too much as I do not have much storage) to keep the cost down. Many of the items I get in bins in the store which helps reduce packaging waste.

The granola is cooked for 20-30 minutes depending on the temperature of your oven and the texture you prefer. Once the granola is cool, you can store it in an airtight container for a month.

Time Savers:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 when you start assembling your granola
2. Line a cookie sheet with non stick aluminum foil ... the granola slides off and clean up is minimal (just the bowl you used for assembling the granola)

Granola Formula

Oats + Ancient Grains + Seeds + Flavor + Oil + Honey + OPTIONS

I usually use this ratio:

• 3 cups Gluten Free Oats
• 1 cup ancient grains (quinoa or millet)
• 1 cup of seeds (sunflower, pepitas, hemp, flax)
• 1-2 TBSP flavor ...vanilla, almond, maple, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, or coconut (you decide the intensity)
• 3/4 cup oil (I usually use coconut oil)
• 3/4 cup honey (substitute Agave for Vegan option)

I combine until mixed and add in options such as:

• 1 cup ground flax seeds
• 1 cup unsweetened coconut (you could add sweetened if you wish a sweeter granola)
• 1 cup dried fruit
• 1 cup diced nuts

The beauty of this recipe is you can control the quantity you make, the flavor, and the ingredients. You can cook it a bit longer for a dry and crunchy cereal or a bit less for a chewy texture.

Chia Pudding with a Sunwarrior Twist

I modified my Chia Cups recipe to add texture, protein, fiber, and flavor. Why did I make the change you may wonder? One reason is that I am creative and look for new ways to modify tried-and-true recipes! another reason is practical, I was looking for an easy to digest, nutritious, and healthy option for nutrition between my workout and the group fitness classes I was teaching. The chia pudding cups are perfect as they can be packed and taken on-the-go.

To make the dish more satisfying I diced a Sunwarrior Sunwarrior Sol Good Blueberry Protein Bar and added it to the top of of chia. It was the perfect addition of flavor and texture! The bars are tasty on their own, but also a great addition to a dish. They are gluten free, soy free, dairy free, non GMO, vegan , and organic ... which appeals to most consumers. Other flavors include coconut, cinnamon, and salted caramel.