We eat a lot of fresh produce in our house, but unfortunately, berries have always been a challenge for us to keep fresh.  That being said, I’m willing to bet we’re not the ONLY ones who have experienced the following scenario:

You’re at the grocery store picking out fresh berries.  You double check that there are no visible signs of mold or bacterial growth.  Thinking you’ve found the IDEAL container of berries you buy them and revel with joy knowing you’ve made the perfect purchase.  You go home and place the berries directly into the refrigerator for safe keeping.  The next day you open the refrigerator to enjoy some fre…..What the heck?!?…..Despite your best efforts, the berries are covered in (queue dramatic sound effect)…..Dun Dun Duuuuuuun…..fuzz.

Thankfully, this scenario is a thing of the past.  I’ve recently learned how to prolong the life of my beloved produce and couldn’t be happier with the results.  Berries now last a week or longer in our refrigerator, which means less fruit in the trash and more in our bellies! [Read more…]

Ingredients

• 1 apple
• 2-3 tablespoons raw nut butter of choice (almond, peanut, etc)
• 2-3 tablespoons unsweetened almond milk (or other nondairy milk alternative)
• Toppings: choose 3-4 of the following – pomegranate, goji berries, chia seeds, chopped nuts, raisins, sunflower seeds, unsweetened dried coconut, or my caramel recipe 😀

[Read more…]

Ingredients

• 1 Green Apple
• 1-2 teaspoons Ground Cinnamon
• 1 Brown Rice Tortilla
• 1/2 – 1 tablespoon Butter (or Coconut Oil)
• Honey

[Read more…]

Recently I’ve been on a ch-ch-ch chia seed pudding kick (you’re welcome for the flashback reference to the popular 1970’s chia pet).  Chia pudding is great for breakfast, an afternoon snack, or even dessert. It not only tastes good, but it takes 5 minutes to make and best of all, it’s packed with nutrition.  A quick look at nutritiondata.self.com  shows that 1 ounce of chia seeds (equivalent of 2 Tablespoons) has 4 grams of protein, 12 grams of carbohydrate (11 of which are from dietary fiber), and 9 grams of fat.  Additional beneficial properties of chia seeds include:

• They have all the necessary amino acids to be considered a complete protein
• They have a low glycemic index which helps provide energy over a longer time period
• They have both soluble and insoluble fiber which acts as a prebiotic for the friendly bacteria in your digestive system as well as cleans the digestive tract
• They are one of the best plant sources of omega-3 fatty acids which help to decrease blood triglycerides, reduce inflammation, and increase HDL cholesterol
• They are a good source of Calcium, Phosphorus, and Manganese with 18%, 27%, and 30% of the recommended daily values respectively

[Read more…]

I was out with some friends a few weeks ago and we ventured into a coffee shop for a warm beverage.  Ironically, I was the only one to purchase something warm to drink as the rest of the group fell prey to the delicious pastries that were strategically placed on display.  Don’t get me wrong, I WANTED to be a fellow victim of the tasty goodness but the coffee shop didn’t have any gluten free options.   Can’t a girl indulge in a dessert that won’t leave her feeling absolutely terrible afterwards (insert whiny voice)?!?  As a matter of fact, she can!  Enter….. Lemon (No) Sugar Cookies. [Read more…]

A few days ago I was hungry for a mid-afternoon snack (or as my mom calls it a “pick-me-upper”).  I had a craving for something sweet so I walked (Who am I kidding?  I full-on charged!) into my kitchen to see what I could whip together.  I’m happy to report that this snack took me less than 60 seconds to make (AND consume) and it completely satisfied my sweet tooth.

[Read more…]

After years of secretly judging my friend for not liking avocados she’s finally come to her senses 😈 .  In celebration of her new found “tolerance” of this nutritious fruit I felt inspired to share my homemade guacamole recipe.

Fun/Weird/Slightly disturbing facts about avocados: [Read more…]

When I accidentally go too long between eating I get a fierce hunger (and by fierce hunger I mean I turn into a huge B…. and by B I mean BRAT… 😜).  Once I’ve reached this point I am no longer in control of my actions (or words) and will eat anything that is within my grasp regardless (or “irregardless” if you’re one of THOSE people) of whether or not what I’m eating (or saying) is health promoting.  It is for this reason that I purposefully plan out snacks (like homemade hummus)  each week.   [Read more…]