Organic Gluten Free Maple Glazed Granola

Oh yes, this granola tastes as amazing as the name sounds! Hey, who says you can't have treats and be healthy? We enjoyed this as a bedtime snack over a little unsweetened almond milk. Oh baby. 

Gluten-Free Maple Glazed Granola

(Please try and use all organic and as local of ingredients as possible for optimal nutrition)  

3 cups gluten free oats

1/2 cup chopped nuts and seeds (any you like, I used pecans and sesame seeds) 

3/4 cup unsweetened coconut (I used coconut flakes, but shreds would work as well)

1/4 cup coconut oil

1/3 cup pure grade B maple syrup 

1 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp pink Himalayan sea salt 

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Mix oats, nuts and seeds and coconut together. In a separate bowl melt coconut oil until liquified, add syrup, cinnamon, and salt and whisk together until mixed. Add the wet ingredients to the oat mixture and spread onto a large glass baking pan.  

Bake for 10 minutes, then flip mixture over as good as you can. Bake another 10 minutes and flip again. Bake for another 5 minutes and take out of oven to let cool. Once cool store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks. 

Nutritional Benefits 

•oats-contain a certain type of fiber which helps lower cholesterol. Antioxidant compounds unique to oats, called avenanthramides, help prevent free radicals from damaging LDL cholesterol and reduces your risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke

•pecans-excellent source of lowering cholesterol and provides a great source of omega 3 fatty acids crucial for helping to regulate heart rhythms. High in protein, fiber, and vital minerals for optimal health

•coconut oil-because coconut oils properties and benefits are so astonishing; here is a link to a fellow blogger who has wrote an excellent article on why you want coconut oil to be apart of your every day diet:  http://wellnessmama.com/2072/benefits-of-coconut-oil/

•maple syrup-this God made sweetner is so delicious and when used in moderation provides some crucial vitamins and minerals. It is high in antioxidants helping to combat inflammation throughout the body as well as cancer damaging free radicals. This awesome food also contains compounds that inhibit enzymes associated with type 2 diabetes. 

•cinnamon-the best cinnamon to use is Ceylon cinnamon; it is cinnamon in its purest form. It has many health benefits but the biggest one is it's ability to help regulate blood sugar. 

 

Kid approved Green "ice cream" Smoothie

Do you have trouble getting your kids to eat their greens? Maybe you yourself have trouble. 

Smoothies are an absolute excellent, delicious way of getting your daily amount of greens. You should have fresh, raw greens with every meal. In reality, that would look like a heaping dinner sized plate full every day. For most of us, myself included, eating salads gets boring and mundane. 

To provide your body with optimal nutrition, getting a variety of raw greens is ideal. Some great options are spinach, kale, collard greens, sprouts, dandelion greens, Swiss chard, and so many more! 

Another benefit of smoothies is you can easily add Superfoods for extra nutritional benefit. I recommend you try and incorporate 1 or more superfoods with each meal. 

This recipe provides enough for 2 large smoothies or 4 small ones. 

Creamy Green Smoothie

(Use all organic and locally sources when possible for optimal nutrition and less chemicals) 

1/2 bunch of Swiss chard

2 large handfuls spinach 

2 frozen bananas

1 cup of frozen pineapple

2 tbs baoab fruit powder (superfood)

2 tbs sprouted chia seeds (superfood)

1 cup of coconut water

1 cup of unsweetened almond milk

Combine all in blender and blend until a creamy, smooth consistency. Enjoy! 

My kids love this one! They call it their "green ice cream drink". It really does have an ice cream flavor. 

Nutritional benefits:

•swiss chard-blood sugar regulator, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and detoxification support. 

•spinach-good source of protein, anti-inflammatory, and cancer reducer

•banana-high potassium fruit providing energy! Because of its high potassium content it's great for cardiovascular support, kidney health, eye support and digestive support. 

•pineapple-provides a natural sweetness to smoothies. On top of its sweet flavor it has anti-inflammatory properties and digestive support, high source of vitamin C providing beneficial immune support and also providing heightened eye function

•baoab fruit powder-3 times amount of vitamin C as an orange and one of the latest superfoods in helping to regulate blood sugar

•chia seeds-great source of protein with little to no fat. Helps cardiovascular function, fights against cancer cells and provides a beneficial amount of omega-3s.

•coconut water is great to use in smoothies because it is like a natural Gatorade by helping regulate electrolyte function. Plus combining it with pineapple gives your smoothie a tropical flavor