Protein Snacks

Went out to the track this afternoon..these snacks came in handy when we were finished with our C25K and interval training.

Everyone seems to have a recipe for Protein balls, bars, snacks, etc... This recipe came from Bodyrockers.tv They have some really great workouts, recipes, community following, so check them out if your into fitness. I stumbled across them through a suggestion on a forum post and I'm glad I did!

I couldn't resist trying out their recipe for protein balls (you will have a laugh at their description of them). What I love about this recipe is it's a quick, easy and nutritious snack. If I'm on the go I can grab one out of the fridge, if it's after a workout I can get in some extra protein and a pick me up. They are convenient, basic and healthy..what more could I ask for! :)

The basic ingredients...


I've experimented with the recipe, adding or removing ingredients, but the three basic ingredients stay the same (peanut butter, coconut and protein powder).

In this batch...

Here are some idea's of what you could add to your batch:

+Natural almond extract
+Natural mint extract
+Pumpkin puree
+Different spices (Cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, etc...)
+Dried cranberries, dried peaches
+Chocolate protein powder
+Plant based protein powder
+Spriulina powder for extra nutrition (took some getting used too! lol)
+Cacao nibs! (YUM!)

Thinking about adding your favorite dried fruits, nuts, extracts and spices can really make this recipe your own little favorite!

Enjoy! :)

What's your favorite ingredients to add to a protein snack?

Flowers & Granola

I've been busy the past couple days enjoying my flowers and trying out some different bluberry recipes.

Here are a few pictures of what's been happening in my kitchen...

Blueberry-Orange GranolaBlueberry-Orange Granola Bars
Blueberry-Orange Donut Bits
I made three food options from the same recipe, which makes this recipe super versatile. The granola is delicious with milk, the bars are great for on the go, and the donut bits are just a healthy treat!

Here's the recipe:

(The Dry Mix)
1 cup sunflower seeds
1 cup pumpkin seeds
1 cup almond
1 cup oats
1 cup buckwheat groats
2 tbsp pumpkin pie spice (mixture of cinnamon, allspice, cloves, nutmeg)

Blend everything in your food processor separately, except for the spice. This makes it easier to ensure that the seeds, oats, groats or nuts have broken down into small pieces. Add everything into a bowl. Add the pumpkin pie spice and mix.

*Note: If you don't have all these ingredients, use whatever you have in your cupboards. That's what I did! I'm sure these would be great with pecans or walnuts, or maybe some coconut!

(The Wet Mix)
1.5 cups dates
Orange Juice from 2 large oranges
2 tbsp vanilla
2 cups blueberries
Blend the dates, orange juice, and vanilla in the food processor till smooth. Add to the dry ingredients. Then blend the blueberries in the food processor and add to the dry. Mix everything!

Either form into little balls and place into the fridge. I let them harden for a 2 hours in the fridge and they were ready to eat! My lil one really enjoyed them this way :)The granola and the bars both need to be dehydrated for about a day or so. I knew my granola was done when it was crunchy and had very little moisture. I took the bars out at the same time and am storing them in the fridge since they do have a bit of moisture left in them. This makes them chewy and delicious :) As for the granola, it's my favorite way to eat this recipe. It's so good with milk and berries!



Give granola a try, it's much easier to make than I thought it would be. Hope everyone is having a great week!

And if you havn't checked out Bitt of Raw then you should because she is having an awesome giveaway! The deadline is August 27 to enter and believe me you want to enter for a chance to win!

Energy Bars!

I'm baaaack! The past week or so my little family has been feeling under the weather. I fought pretty hard to not get it, but it attached itself to me anyway since I was taking care of the boys. I did notice that since I've been eating a very high living food diet my symptoms from a cold or flu are definitely not as horrible as they were before I ate this well.

A few days before we were sick we made some delicious energy bars! Well I didn't make them, I came home to a surprise in my freezer. My guy made up this recipe based on the fact that he loves chocolate and needs to consume more calories. I am so impressed by his creativity and the outcome of these bars. They are delicious! I sliced 1 bar into 4 little pieces for a taste, that way I am not consuming a lot of calories. I also let about 5 other people, who are not eating a high living food lifestyle, try a taste of these bars and everyone was impressed. I've even been asked by a couple friends if my guy could make more to bring on our future hiking trips. My guy was also gracious enough to share the recipe so everyone can enjoy!

My Guy's Energy Bars

1/2 cup Almonds

1/2 cup Cashews

1/2 cup Walnuts

1/3 cup Goji Berries

1/2 cup Cacao Powder

1.5 cup Dates

1/2 cup Cacao Butter (liquid form/melted)

1/2 cup Agave

Blend all the nuts, berries and cacao powder in a food processor until powdery (small chunks visible is okay) and begins to stick. Then add the dates, cacao butter and agave to create a sticky, dough like texture. Spread evenly onto a 9inch pan and pop into the freezer.

My guy is so sweet, he even calculated the nutritional information for anyone interested. Based on a 16 bar yield, each bar contains roughly:

342.88 Calories

16.67 g Fat

38.69g Carbs

5.28g Protein

This of course will vary on thickness of bar and size differences in cutting your bars. It gives you a basic idea though, for those interested in a raw energy bar.

Enjoy!

~Maggie