Jaime Oliver's Food Revolution! Start With Your Own Family!! WATCH THIS!

Showing posts with label Healthy Snacks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Healthy Snacks. Show all posts

Friday, April 2, 2010

Avocados Are Now In Season: The Sacred Tree Of Life

The other day at the Farmers Market we bought a bunch of large green Avocados. They are in season right now and filled with health!
I love, love avocados and try to eat one almost daily. My 3 yr old loves them as well. I remember way back when a mom in one of my play groups brought an avocado in its skin to scoop and feed her one year old. I thought, what a GREAT idea. I am so fortunate my son and husband love them as well.
Avocados are a super alkaline fruit and soooo good for you. They contain the, "Good Fat." They are rich in vitamin A, B, C, D, E, and K and are said to have the HIGHEST ENERGETIC VALUE OF ANY FRUIT.
I was going to post my So Satisfying and Smooth Guacamole Recipe but once I made it, IT WAS EATEN! I had no time to take a picture. I will post it very soon.
**Secret - You can buy Hass Avocados at Costco, 5 for $5. This is the best deal I have found, even better than Trader Joe's.

**Tip - To prolong ripening, put them in the refrigerator.

I made these tasty little treats for my son the other morning. He loved them! Small Wheat Bagels from Trader Joe's on Cream Cheese with avocado bites. Yum!


Then...he tried to walk,... and eat them...Oh....NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! Get back here....





Sunday, December 6, 2009

Kale-Pomegranate Quinoa Stuffing - Dr. Oz's Thanksgiving SUPERFOOD LIST


This is NOT just for Thanksgiving. This is going into my monthly rotation for sure! This recipe is SO HEALTHY AND the pomegranates are a BURST OF FLAVOR in your mouth!!


I will post a picture next time I make this. I have to say this is so DELICIOUS!!! and filling and I ate the entire thing myself over a 4 day span. The only down side of this recipe is the next day, after being in the refrigerator, it doesn't look as pretty but the taste is even better.

**I made a few additions such as: 1/4c Roasted Corn & a little Goat Cheese sprinkled over and melted in & 1 Leek cut up (light green to white part)


Article & Recipe from Natural Health Magazine -

Pomegranate
**(Bought this at Trader Joe's: currently they have them already seeded and still in shell)

WHY IT'S A SUPERFOOD A favorite of Dr. Oz's, pomegranate may be one of the gut-friendliest foods around. Its anti-inflammatory compounds help protect the colon from damage caused by diseases like ulcerative colitis and Crohn's.

Leek

**(Bought this at Trader Joe's already trimmed and Whole Foods has HUGE ones)

WHY IT'S A SUPERFOOD A single leek provides over half the recommended daily value of vitamin K, "a nutrient so vital to bone health that people deficient in vitamin K2 [which the body makes from K] get osteoporosis," Dr. Oz says.

Quinoa
**(Bought this at Trader Joe's - Organic)

WHY IT'S A SUPERFOOD Quinoa is a triplethreat: "gluten-free, a complete protein, and a prebiotic [meaning it stimulates the growth of probiotics or good bacteria already found in the gut]," Dr. Oz says.

Kale
**(Bought this at WHOLE FOODS)
WHY IT'S A SUPERFOOD Consuming the leafy green increases HDL ("good") cholesterol and decreases LDL ("bad") cholesterol. "It's also a very good source of calcium, which your heart needs in order to beat properly," Dr. Oz says.


Kale-Pomegranate Quinoa Stuffing

Serves 12

5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil,
divided
6 cloves garlic, finely sliced, divided
1/2 cup vegetable stock
1/2 pounds young kale, stems and leaves
coarsely chopped
Salt to taste
White pepper to taste
1 1/2 cups pecans
1 cup finely chopped onion
1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage
1 tablespoon fresh thyme (strip the
leaves from the stems)
2 cups cooked quinoa
1 tablespoon butter, melted
1 egg, lightly beaten
3/4 cup dry white wine
1/2 cup fresh pomegranate seeds

1. Preheat oven to 325[degrees]F. Lightly oil a 9 x
13-inch glass baking dish.

2. In a large saucepan over medium-high
heat, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil. Add
half of the garlic and cook until soft but
not yet golden. Raise heat to high, add
the stock and kale and toss to combine.
Cover and cook for 3 minutes. Uncover
and continue cooking, stirring until all the
liquid has evaporated. Season with salt
and white pepper. Set aside to cool.

3. Add cooled, cooked kale and pecans to
a food processor; pulse several times until
pecans are chopped and kale is shredded
but mixture is still chunky.

4. In a separate saucepan over medium-high
heat, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil;
add the onion and remaining garlic; saute
2 to 3 minutes. Add the sage and continue
cooking until onion is caramelized,
approximately 3 to 4 more minutes. Stir
in the pecan-kale mixture.

5. Transfer the onion-pecan-kale mixture
to a large mixing bowl. Add the cooked
quinoa and stir to combine. Stir in the
remaining tablespoon of oil and melted
butter. Season with salt and white pepper.
Add the egg and wine and toss to
coat. Transfer the mixture to the prepared
baking dish. Cover and bake 30 minutes.
Garnish with pomegranate seeds before
serving.

Per serving: 220 calories, 18 g fat (2.5 g
saturated), 13 g carbohydrates, 4 g protein,
3 g fiber, 214 mg sodium (9% Daily Value).

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Flax Oil that tastes like a Stawberry Banana Sauce?



My friend M recommended this to me while we were perusing Rainbow Acres Grocery store. It's approx $22 but lasts quite a while. You can put it on yogurt and make a parfait. You can put it over ice cream, waffles, cereal... It is DELICIOUS!! You would never know it is good for you. What will they come out with next??, ..I have no idea. It doesn't get any better than this. :)
You can buy these at Whole Foods and VP Health as well.
This is a MUST TRY!

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Yvonne's Gluten-Free Goodies





We had SUCH a special treat the other day when Yvonne Condes with Yvonne's Gluten-Free Goodies came to our playgroup and brought some of her AMAZING and HEALTHY GF Goodies.
WOW!! These were soooo yummy. She let us sample her Agave Sweetened Mixed Berry Muffins, Pumpkin Apple Muffins, and Chocolate Chip Cookies.


Thank you so much Yvonne!!
Everyone could not stop talking about how everything tasted so gourmet and was so healthy at the same time.
You are such a talented baker.
I would highly recommend her Goodies for any occasion.
Check out her website : http://yvonnesgfgoodies.com/
Yvonne's Contact Information:
(310) 447-8345
(Above Photo and story courtesy of Yvonne Condes)

Yvonne has always loved cooking, but she didn’t discover gluten-free baking until her husband was diagnosed with Celiac Disease in 2000. It took almost a year for his doctor to diagnose him and by that point he was very sick. When she found out that a dietary change could make him better she immediately learned all she could about living gluten-free.

After spending so much time going from grocery store to grocery store searching through the small amount of gluten-free baked goods available, she decided it was time to make her own. She started experimenting with whole grain flours and healthy, organic ingredients. She came up with vegan fruit pies, cakes made with rich, organic cocoa, or natural vanilla, and cookies with organic, whole-grain flour and sugars.

As the mother of two active young boys, Yvonne is mindful of what she puts in their bodies. Our gluten-free, casein-free offerings are carefully prepared with attention to finding only the best ingredients.


Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Are Peanuts and Peanut Butter really bad for you?




After many years (and wasted jars $) of being told by so many I should switch to ALMOND BUTTER over PEANUT BUTTER, I finally made the switch. I just could not get into Almond Butter for some reason. About a month ago my, soooo, sooo smart friend S gave me the idea to add a little honey or agave nectar to the almond butter which makes it a little more paletable and VOILA!!! IT WORKED!
I went to Trader Joe's and bought the All Natural Almond Butter with Sea Salt put it on a slice of whole wheat bread and yummy. :)

Jorge Cruise, diet and fitness expert, writes:
http://www.lifescript.com/Body/Shape/Fit-tips/Is_Peanut_Butter_Bad_For_You.aspx

It’s America’s most iconic, creamiest, dreamiest snack around. But beware: not all peanut butter is good for you. Most of what you’ll find at your grocery store is loaded with sugar, sodium and hydrogenated oils. Swap regular processed peanut butter for the natural variety with the oil floating on top. It’s a good move because the natural variety doesn’t contain artery-clogging trans fats that the processed types do. Even better, spread on the almond butter instead! Most nuts are good for you, but study after study shows that almonds are rich in omega oils and may help fight heart disease and cancer. And since research shows that peanuts are not as nutritious as once thought, you’ll be doing your body a favor by making a healthier swap. Peanuts are said to be carcinogenic (cancer causing) and contaminated with pesticides. Fungus can also be found growing in the shells, and they have fewer essential omega oils than almonds.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Trader Joe's - FIBERFUL END & PIECES


These are delicious little snacks that you and your child can eat. It is REAL dried fruit with nothing added. (I don't let my 2.5 yr old eat too many. :)
12g of fiber per serving!! - But watch out for the "natural sugar" content.

You can find these near the nuts.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Trader Joe's - Organic Unsweetened Apple Sauce


I love this as a HEALTHY SIDE DISH for Baby P. He loves to dip almost EVERYTHING in it. I love how it is made from ORGANIC APPLES and is TOTALLY NATURAL.
This is soo easy to have in the refrigerator at all times and I know he is getting some fruit in his diet. I try to get him to eat an apple a day, with the skin of course, but this is a good filler.

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Trader Joe's - Mini Pizzas



These are great when you have kids coming over or for a quick lunch...or for appetizers.
You can either bake them or if you are pressed for time, I microwave them for a couple mins then bake until golden.

"Fresh" SWEET POTATO FRIES



I usually but these at Trader Joe's in the vegetable section. These are sooo convenient, tasty, and healthy. My son really thinks these are, "Fries!!"
  • *Toss with a little EVVO, Salt, and Pepper
  • *Place on cookie sheet with aluminum foil
  • *Bake @ 425 for approx 30-40 mins
  • *2 BAGS is good for 3 people

Tip: If you need them to come out a little quicker, microwave for a few mins to get the cooking process started, then bake

Tip: If you make them as a side dish with Salmon, drizzle a little MAPLE SYRUP or AGAVE at the end...YUMMY!!!

(The first 2 years I didn't like to microwave a lot of my son's food but it really speeds up the baking process on many foods.)

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Quick Pack-up Lunch or Snack Idea

My son loves when I put all of these into a snack cup so he can eat them as a combo lunch or snack. I obviously tear up the cheese and meat so it all fits into the cup.
Crackers are from Whole Foods
Organic Cheese and Low Sodium Meat are from Trader Joe's

Organic String Cheese & Lite Mild Cheddar - Trader Joe's




SNACK CHEESE = Good protein source


These are both great to put in my son's cooler bag when we are off to an activity. I'd prefer them both to be ORGANIC but he enjoys the variety.


This is a great protein source and easy for him to eat on the go. For some reason, kids seem to really like cheese that looks like a stick?


He's just learning how to take actual bites so I still tear up the cheese a little to make it easier to consume.





Annie's Homegrown Crackers "SALTINE" & "BUTTERY RICH" - Whole Foods






These are both CERTIFIED ORGANIC DELICIOUS & HEALTHY snacks for my son and sometimes... I have a few. :)

Annie's offers such a great product line of healthy foods.

Organic Bunny Classics Saltine Ingredients : http://www.annies.com/

0g Trans Fat
Vegetarian
0g Saturated Fat
No Cholesterol

MADE WITH ONLY THE BEST INGREDIENTS: ORGANIC WHEAT FLOUR, ORGANIC EXPELLER-PRESSED VEGETABLE OIL (SAFFLOWER AND/OR SUNFLOWER), SALT, YEAST EXTRACT, ORGANIC MALT SYRUP, BAKING SODA, YEAST.

Organic Bunny Classics Buttery Rich -
0g Trans Fat
Vegetarian
0g Saturated Fat
No Cholesterol

MADE WITH ONLY THE BEST INGREDIENTS: ORGANIC WHEAT FLOUR, ORGANIC EXPELLER-PRESSED VEGETABLE OIL (SAFFLOWER AND/OR SUNFLOWER), ORGANIC EVAPORATED CANE JUICE, SALT, YEAST EXTRACT, ORGANIC MALT SYRUP, YEAST, ORGANIC NATURAL BUTTER FLAVOR, BAKING SODA, ANNATTO EXTRACT FOR NATURAL COLOR

Chocolate Chip Granola Bars (like a healthy candy bar) - Trader Joe's

Try them FROZEN. So yummy,...like a CANDY BAR but not as bad for you. I put them in the freezer and when I having a sweets craving, this hits the spot.
These are also great for my son when he wants something sweet and chocolaty. I usually only give him a few bites because they tend to melt a little when holding them and make a mess.

Organic Mini Cheese Sandwich Crakers - Trader Joe's


My Son's FAVORITE!! That's why we have 2 boxes. :) Semi healthy ..better than the other snacks he could be eating.

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Fat Flush Tortillas




They come 6" and 12".
These are made with sesame seeds, six sprouted grains, and legumes.
They really fill me up and I think they are pretty healthy?
(I met a lady that worked at a nearby French bakery who recommended them to me. She told me she had lost some weight eating them? Hmmmm....I thought I had to check them out. :)
Let me know if you try them and what you think.
(I have not given them to Baby P yet?)

Friday, July 10, 2009

Stonyfield - Yo BABY Organic Yogurt

STONYFIELD "YO BABY" ORGANIC YOGURT



Baby P LOVES this yogurt and the great thing is it doesn't have a lot of sugar. I usually give him 3/4 of the cup in the morning and I take the other 1/4 over my oatmeal.
**Breakfast Idea***
Parfait -
Yogurt, fruit, and granola
Baby P says "Parfait Mommy? .....it's soooo cute!!! You can stack the layers and it looks really fancy. (I think he thinks it's dessert.)
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