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How Breastfeeding Benefits Mothers' Health: Scientific American

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Check out this article on the benefits of breastfeeding!

Energy Bars

I got these from another natural mama blog! They are a yummy little snack and very kid friendly! I got the almonds, pecans, walnuts, goji berries, cacao nibs, and dates from the bulk section of my local organic grocery store (Valley Natural) but they could also be found at Whole Foods.

1/3 cup raw almonds
1/3 cup raw pecans
1/3 cup raw walnuts

*Blend in a food processor until pieces are tiny. Then, pour into a mixing bowl and add:
1/4 tsp. Sea Salt
3 Tbsp. Goji Berries
2 Tbsp. Raw Cacao Nibs
1 tsp. vanilla

Then:
1 cup packed dates

*Blend in thefood processor until it is in tiny chunks, almost paste-like.
*Add to the mixture and mix together (I used my hands to get it blended well).
*Press the sticky mixture into an 8 x 8 bar pan and refrigerate for an hour or longer.
*Cut and serve (you could also cut them and place them in snack size ziploc baggies for easy on the go snacks!)

Enjoy!

Amazing (I mean, Coconut Bars)!!

I am on a huge sweets kick right now, so here's another sweet treat (not healing diet approved but still pretty decent).

Crust:
6 T melted organic butter
1/2 cup pecans
1/2 cup almonds
*I used a food processor to grind the pecans and almonds into small pieces
1/2 cup oats (ground into oat flour)
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 T raw organic honey

Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.

Filling:
2 Large Organic Free-Range Eggs
1/4 cup raw, organic honey (agave and syrup might also work)
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp sea salt
1 cup raw, unsweetened coconut flakes (Whole Foods has good ones)
1/2 cup 70% or darker chocolate chunks (again, Whole Foods)

Add filling to partially baked crust and bake for another 20 minutes. They are gooey and sweet! Yum!

Grain-Free Brownies (no sugar either)

For a long time, I have been skeptical of 'black bean brownies'. I refused to try them because I assumed that they would taste funny and not satisfy my craving. I was wrong!!! I have been on such a sweets kick for the past several months (I am blaming MN Winter) so I am trying to come up with ways to enjoy that sweet taste in a healthier way!

1 can black beans (no salt)-drained and rinsed well
3 organic eggs
1/3 cup melted organic butter or coconut oil (I used butter)
1/4 (or a bit more) cocoa powder
1/8 tsp. sea salt
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 cup raw organic honey

Add these ingredients to a blender and blend well until smooth (30-45 seconds).

2/3 70% or darker chocolate chips (or carob chips)
1/3 cup finely chopped walnuts (optional)

Add these in after blending. Batter will be a bit runny.

Place in a greased 8 x 8 pan and bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes. They are gooey and sweet and definitely good for a chocoholic (which my hubby is)! Enjoy!

Some favorite veggies

Now that Spring is here and Summer is approaching, I have been loving vegetables...on the grill, steamed, and just straight from the fridge! Try a few of these with your kids and see what they think. If they are picky with vegetables, try to have them help you choose and make them! Also, add them in soups, stews, and crock pot recipes (sometimes you need to trick them into eating them). Here are a few current favorites in our house:

Steamed Kale w/ lemon juice
Steamed Broccoli, Cauliflower, Carrots w/ lots of Sea Salt
Grilled Zucchini, Portabella Mushrooms, Eggplant
Raw Carrots, Green Beans, Snow Peas

I can't wait for Summer when the Farmer's Markets begin. I can almost taste all the fresh herbs, fruits, and veggies that we can enjoy this Summer! Yum!

Roasted ChickPeas

So, I often have cravings for salty snacks and I found this recipe for roasted chickpeas (or garbanzo beans). We actually had it with a dinner of grilled chicken sausages and grilled zucchini, very yummy combo! You could play around with seasonings to your liking.

1 can organic chickpeas/garbanzo beans, rinsed and dried in a towel
1/2 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. paprika
1/4 tsp. garlic powder/salt
Lots of Sea Salt
2 Tbsp. Coconut Oil or Raw Organic Butter-melted

Mix the melted oil/butter with all the seasonings. Add the chickpeas and toss to coat well. Pour seasoned chickpeas on a cookie sheet and bake for 40-60 minutes at 400 degrees, shaking the pan every ten minutes or so to mix around. Be sure to bake them until they are crispy all the way through so they are a crunchy, salty treat!

Spring Salad

I have Spring Fever big time!!!! Here is a quick, fresh salad I came up with that was perfect with some chicken on the grill, or it would be by itself for lunch!

1 can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
1/2-1 cup brown rice noodles (any shape)-prepare as directed
1 cucumber, peeled and diced
3-4 carrots, peeled and diced
1 pint grape tomatoes
1 avacado diced
Italian dressing (I bought a seasoning packet and mixed my own with organic apple cider vinegar and organic olive oil-read ingredients if you are buying packaged dressing, they are often full of bad oils and preservatives)
*You could also just do a simple mix of olive oil, lime juice, salt and pepper
*You could add/omit any other veggies

Toss all the ingredients together in the dressing and refrigerate while you are making the rest of dinner. It tasted fresh, and it made me feel like Summer really is right around the corner!