3/23/10

Replacing the old snacks with the new energy fueled ones!

Try to take some time out to prepare your snacks for the week ahead. Pre-cut your veggies and keep them in tupperware containers in your fridge. This way you have them readily available for snacks and meals.

Pick and choose from these healthy snack ideas and have them on hand during your detox. Depending on your metabolism and your level of detoxing you may or may not need to snack. But you’ll want to have cleansing snacks available when and if you have cravings between meals so that you don’t reach for something outside of your detox plan.

The best things to consume between meals are filtered water (with lemon) and decaffeinated herbal teas. Drinking lots of water and tea in between meals will flush the toxins out of your system as well as well as ward off hunger. Often that will be enough. 

Note: Feelings of hunger often indicate mild dehydration and are relieved when you hydrate. Wait 5 -10 minutes. If you still feel hungry, then reach for a cleansing snack.

Cleansing snacks: should mainly include, fresh raw veggies, fresh raw fruit (fresh fruit should be consummed in the morning only), dried fruit, raw nuts ( make a trail mix), or any of the specialty detox snacks listed below.

Heart Healthy Cookies
These recipes are a life saver when you’re wanting to stay on track. Cookie cravings are no problem as long as you have a few minutes to throw a batch of these in the oven. They are all natural, loaded with protein and totally delicious!
1/2 cup coconut oil (room temperature)
1/3 cup agave nectar
2 cups raw nuts (use pecans, almonds, cashews, walnuts or any combination of these)
1 1/2 cups arrowroot powder
1/4 teaspoon himalayan salt
Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2) Cream together coconut oil and agave in a large bowl by hand or with an electric mixer. Make sure to get all the lumps out.
3) Coarsely grind nuts in a food processor.
4) Add the rest of the dry ingredients to the food processor and pulse a few times to mix.
5) Stir the contents of the food processor into the wet ingredients until well mixed.
6) Form into small cookies 1/2 inch thick on oiled cookie sheet and bake at for 10-12 minutes or until slightly brown on the edges.
Makes 2 dozen cookies


Banana Oat Muffins
These sugar free banana muffins is a great snack or dessert on your detox or anytime. It’s easy to make, delicious, full of nutrients and free of wheat, sugar and dairy.
Ingredients:

1/3 cup coconut oil (melted and cooled)
2 ripe bananas
1/4 cup agave nectar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 1/2 cup oat flour
1/4 cup arrowroot powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
dash of Himalayan salt
Approx. 1/3 cup water
1/2 cup crushed walnuts (optional)
Topping
1/3 cup crushed walnuts
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon agave nectar
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Melt coconut oil in a sauce pan on medium low heat and set aside to cool.
Mash bananas in a large mixing bowl. Add agave nectar and cinnamon and stir well.
Whisk in cooled liquid coconut oil.
Combine dry ingredients in a small bowl and add them to the wet ingredients. Stir well.
Stir in enough water (about 1/3 cup) to reach the consistency of a loose batter.
Stir in walnuts.
Oil the muffin tins (grapeseed oil)or use muffin liners and pour in batter.

Mix up topping and spoon it onto the top of the batter.
Bake at 350 degrees F for about 25 minutes. Test toothpick – it will come out clean when the muffins are done Makes 8-12 muffins


Bake-Free Cocoa Cookies
If you haven’t yet learned about the many health benefits of using dark cocoa in the place of refined and sugar-sweetened chocolate, you are in for a treat. This recipe is only one of the many ways to use chocolate as part of your lifestyle. As you become cleaner you will be more sensitive to the natural stimulating properties in cacao and you will need less and less of it to feel satisfied.
2/3 cups blue agave nectar or maple syrup
1/2 cup almond milk
1/2 cup coconut oil
3 cups quick-cooking oats
1cup flaked unsweetened coconut
6 tablespoons Dark cocoa
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:
1) In a large saucepan, combine the Agave nectar, almond milk and coconut oil; bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Boil for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat.
2) Stir in the oats, coconut, cocoa and vanilla. Working quickly, drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto waxed paper. Let stand until set, about 1 hour…

Hemp & Walnut Energy Bars
2 c dates
½ c dried fruit (ex.blueberries, gogi berries
1 c walnuts
½ c hemp seeds
¼ tsp himalayan salt
½ c rolled oats or kamut

Directions:

1) In a small bowl , pour hot water over dates and let sit for 15-30 min...drain. In a food processor, blend dates & remaining ingredients until mixture starts to pull away from the sides of the mixture and forms a dough. Flatten out on wax paper or saran wrap and put in freezer. Slice as desired

Granola Bars
Homemade Granola Bars are a great snack food. Keep them on hand to pack for lunch or grab on the run. Make a large batch ahead of time and stash them for later. Most granola bars sold in grocery stores are anything but healthy, despite what they claim. It’s always important to look beyond the marketing and really consider the ingredients.
Ingredients:
2 1/4 C Old Fashioned Oats
¾ C Sesame Seeds
3/4 c Flax seed meal
1 C Almonds, smashed into pieces (alternatively: cashews, pecans, pumpkin seeds, or walnuts)
1 tsp himalayan salt
1 C Honey
5 T Coconut oil
1 1/2 tsp Vanilla
1 C Dried fruit (cranberries, raisins, chopped figs, dates, cherries, pineapple)
Directions:
1) In a 9 x 12 pan: combine the oats, sesame seeds, almonds, and salt. Toast in the oven at about 350F for 12 minutes or until light golden. Stir every 4 min or so to prevent burning
2) While waiting for the good stuff to toast, combine the honey and coconut oil in a saucepan and heat until the two mix into a consistent liquid, stirring frequently. Then stir in the dried fruit, allowing them to soften and soak up some of the sauce.
3) Remove the oats, seeds, and nuts from the oven when they are nice and toasty. Remove the sauce from the heat and stir in the vanilla, then pour directly over the toasted mixture. Stir until combined and “ooey-gooey.” Press into the pan and allow to cool. (and try not to eat too much of the deliciously sticky mess)
4) When cool, cut into bars and enjoy!

4 comments:

  1. Wow! Hi Melissa! Thanks for these! Can you tell me more about arrowroot powder and how it compares to other non-white or non-wheat flour? I've never used it before.

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  2. Hi Melissa,
    What are your thougths on Larabars? I find them good for emergency situations when I'm underprepared or have to stay late at work. I'd like to know what you think about them, if they are okay during the clease.
    thanks!
    Leigh

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  3. Hi Alex,

    Great question! Arrowroot flour, the only starch with a calcium ash, is a nutritious food, obtained from the fleshy root stock of a tropical American plant. It is an easily digested food.In this regard, the calcium chloride, in the form of calcium found in arrowroot starch, is very important for the maintenance of proper acid and alkaline balances in the human body.

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  4. Hi Leigh,
    Thank –you for enquiring about larabars. Larabars are one of the few snacks out there, that are in there natural form. Sweet with no added sweeteners. Sustaining with no added fillers, supplements or flavorings and loaded nature's own minerals and vitamins. A fabulous snack to have. Enjoy!

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