Monday, July 23, 2018

A Gluten Free Breakfast with a Fusion of Flavors

When the weather is in the summer is at its peak, I prefer a cool breakfast! I prefer to keep it simple on a hot day. I tend to turn to Greek Yogurt as my breakfast "blank canvas" and I create my masterpiece from there. I purchase PLAIN LOWFAT Greek Yogurt so I can customize the flavor profile and control the sugar that I have each day.

I do not stop using the oven or stove on hot days. If I need to do any baking, I do it after breakfast when the house is still cool! I love to cook and do not let the outside temperature stop me from eating healthy, real food!

I follow a simple formula to create my breakfast, then I add variety based on the format:

1 cup FRUIT + 1 cup GREEK YOGURT + 1 TBSP FLAVOR (or honey) + 1/2 cup SEEDS/NUTS/GRANOLA

I have found that the riper the fruit, the sweeter it is. If I wish my breakfast to be a bit sweeter one day than another, I dice my fruit and warm it in the microwave for 30 seconds.

My favorite flavor to add is cinnamon as it helps reduce blood sugar and diabetes runs in my family. I also enjoy adding ORGANIFI RED JUICE to my yogurt along with red berries for an antioxidant boost!

HandfullsSnacks Fusions are a great addition to yogurt for breakfast. Pictured here is DENALI MOUNTAIN MIX on top of Greek Yogurt and Peaches! I did not add flavor to my yogurt as the Denali Mix provided the flavor (and texture) boost!

NOTE: This could be made into a dessert by adding some honey and/or a few gluten free chocolate chips to the add-in mixture. 



A Simple Salad with CRUNCH

During the HEAT of the summer many people enjoy eating COOL foods. A salad can become a meal with the addition of flavors, textures, and nutrients. Your salad can be made to fit your dietary needs.

A GLUTEN FREE addition to a salad can be Immuno-Viva Core. A teaspoon added to the salad (as part of oil and vinegar dressing) can help support the heart, skin, and immune system.



A GLUTEN FREE addition to a salad can be HandfullsSnacks Crunch Bites or Fusions. The picture below includes Crunch Bites Sea Salt added to a salad along with raisins and red pepper. My salad was made from zucchini spirals and red cabbage (diced/shredded).

Recipe for one salad:
  • 1 cup shredded zucchini (or yellow crook neck squash)
  • 1 cup diced/shredded cabbage
  • 1/2 cup diced bell pepper
  • 1/2 cup dried fruits
  • HANDFULL of Crunch Bites (about 1/2 cup) 
  • Oil and vinegar dressing ... with a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes to taste

Sunday, July 22, 2018

Active Lifestyle and Active Travel Requires Nutrition to Go

I lead an active lifestyle and take active vacations. I love real foods, natural sugars, and limited ingredient products (when I purchase packaged foods). NuGo Nutrition has products that meet my needs and I am sure you will love them as much as my husband and I do!



NuGo bars are healthy choices as the company believes in using fresh, NON-GMO ingredients. They are committed to keeping artificial hormones, sweeteners, and maltitol (which causes digestive distress in some people) out of their products.

NuGo has a variety of bars that meet a variety of dietary needs including gluten free, vegan, soy free, low fat, and low sugar. Pack one in your gym bag, suitcase, or pocket today!


Tuesday, July 17, 2018

Gluten Free Almond Granola ... Start Your Day the California Almond Way!

Start Your Day the California Almond Way ... Bring Back the Jingle!

I enjoy making homemade granola to control the sugar that I consume. Many packaged cereals are loaded with sugar, and, as a granola fan, I need to make sure to limit my sugar intake since I have a tendency to eat lots of granola as cereal or a snack!


My recipe for granola is simple ... Gluten Free Oats + Flavoring + Oil + Honey + Mix-Ins

I love the versatility and simplicity of the granola formula. The flavors and quantity can be customized each time you prepare a batch!

California Almonds provide numerous health and nutrition benefits. The easy formula to remember is 1-2-3 ... one serving of almonds is 23
nuts. They add a crunch to a recipe, have a low glycemic index, have prebiotic potential and fiber, and contain "good" fats and contain to curb cravings.

Ingredients:
2 Cups Gluten Free Oats
46 almonds diced into slivers (I cut each into three or four slivers)
3 TBSP Almond flavoring
1/3 cup oil - I used avocado oil for this recipe
1/3 cup honey - I like to use local raw honey



Instructions:
  • Preheat oven to 350
  • Combine ingredients in a mixer
  • Line a cookie sheet with foil  (I use non-stick) 
  • Spread the granola on the foil and back until done ... about 15-20 minutes until the edges start to look a bit brown. (You can bake for more/less time based on your taste preferences.)
  • Let the granola cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Break up clusters created by the honey if you wish. 
  • Once cooled, store in an airtight container.

Monday, July 16, 2018

Pumpkin Date Bread

I believe in experimenting with recipes to continually evolve them and create endless varieties!



This recipe started with my gluten free, eggless, vegan banana bread recipe posted on Valentine's Day 2018 and was modified as follows:



Modified for Pumpkin Date Bread:

2 cups Pamela's Baking and Pancake Mix
1 Cup Gluten Free Oats
2 FLAX EGGS
2 TBSP Pumpkin Pie Spice
1 1/4 cup pumpkin
1/2 cup dates diced into uniform pieces
1 cup low fat Greek Yogurt (I used OKIOS)
Replacing the coconut butter with Greek Yogurt adds moisture, but does not allow the bread to be titled VEGAN. I have wanted to make this substitution for a while to see how it changes the bread's texture and I am glad I did it. The bread is very moist and full bodied.

Yes, I will make bread using the Greek Yogurt again, but I will continue to make gluten free and vegan options to satisfy my entire household's needs!

Instructions:
  1. Preheat the oven to 350 and spray a loaf pan with olive oil or coconut oil
  2. Prepare the flax eggs in your mixing bowl
  3. Once the flax eggs set, add the wet ingredients and combine
  4. Add the dry ingredients  one at a time and mix
  5. Bake for 30 minutes and use a knife to check to see if done; if not, continue to check every 15 minutes until done. 



Serving Suggestions:
  • Serve warm or room temperature. 
  • Enjoy with fresh fruit or Greek Yogurt as a breakfast. 
  • Top with a nut or seed butter for added protein post workout
 

Sunday, July 1, 2018

Papa Steve's No Junk Raw Protein Bars

My husband and I loved the Papa Steve's No Junk Raw Protein Bars that arrived in my New Hope Blogger Box! They were amazing...when you opened the package you saw something that looked like it was actually made in your kitchen. It was not uniformly cut. It was HONEST, ALL NATURAL, GLUTEN FREE GOODNESS! A bar does not have to look perfect to be perfect for you!

I love food that is good for you and made from the heart. Papa Steve's creates food made from the heart and it is evident. Their 100% handmade bars are made with locally sourced ingredients and are Non-GMO, Gluten Free, and Soy Free. They are organic and have NO added sugars or preservatives.

When you do not have time to make your own protein bars, let Papa Steve's make some for you!

A New No Sugar Added Nut Butter in Town

Love finding products that have NO SUGAR ADDED! Since diabetes runs in my family, I try to find TASTY ways to eat healthy.


One place I look to avoid added sugars is in nut butters. I found Legendary Foods Peanut Butter Cup Peanut Butter recently and ENJOY it! who does not like CHOCOLATE and PEANUT BUTTER? 
 
After my workout yesterday, I added some to a rice cake and topped it with pepitas and hemp seeds. The flavors and textures were satisfying and it was a great recovery snack. Decorate your bread or rice cake with a smiley face or pattern and make it fun for a child too!  (TIP: Let a child "top" it to join in the healthy food preparation to make cooking and eating healthy fun. See picture below for an idea posted before.
)

We are all looking for the secret to aging gracefully. I believe Life is a canvas; a masterpiece waiting to be created through food, fitness, family, and friends. 
 
 
NOTE: All of the Legendary Foods flavor profiles are unique, I cannot wait to use each one in recipes and share with you!