Snacks

Snacks

Lightened Up Date Shake

Living in Southern California my entire life, I grew up going to Palm Springs every Easter with my family. Every trip to palm springs always included a quick stop by the date gardens in Indio to get a date shake. Since you guys know I love “healthifying” comfort foods, today is the day for a Lightened Up Date Shake. Traditional date shakes consist of full fat vanilla ice cream, whole milk, and dates. My recipe still consists of 3 ingredients, but adds up to nearly a fraction of the calories! Plus it’s vegan, gluten-free, lactose-free, paleo, and low-fat!

A traidtional date shake adds up to:
Calories: 626
Fat: 25.3g
Sugar: 77.5g
Fiber: 4.5g
Protein: 13.2g

And my Lightened Up Date Shake totals:
Calories: 330
Fat: 1.25g
Sugar: 57.5g (all natural unrefined sugar)
Fiber: 8g
Protein: 3g

Not all sugars are created equal. Say a candy bar (refined sugar) has the same amount of sugar as a banana (natural sugar). They process through your body completely different. Whole fruit has a lot of fiber, which actually slows down your body’s digestion of glucose, so you don’t get the crazy insulin spike (and crash) that candy causes. That also means your body has more time to use up glucose as fuel before storing it… as fat.

That’s the #1 reason why I love using Medjool Dates as a sweetener in baking and other recipes versus regular table sugar!

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Lightened Up Date Shake
Serves 1

3 Natural Delights Medjool Dates, pitted
1 frozen banana
1/2 cup unsweetened original almond milk
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Remove pits from dates. Blend blend blend until smooth and creamy!

Tip: To make this more filling as a meal replacement, try adding 1/4 cup of dry rolled oats to the blender!

Huge thank you to Natural Delights for supplying the dates for this recipe!

Spinach Chips

Hoppy Monday everybunny!
I am so excited to announce that I am taking over the Natural Delights Medjool Dates Facebook page this week! I have a special recipe for tomorrow and I’m hosting a live chat this Thursday (1/9) at 12pm (noon) PST! The live chat will take place on the Natural Delights Facebook page, so if you have any questions about cooking or weight loss, be sure to join me!

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This could be my new favorite recipe. I’m calling it right now, Spinach Chips are the new Kale Chips. Actually, I’m probably way late to this party since I remember a few readers mentioning spinach chips before haha. But man oh man are they good! They literally melt in your mouth. I’m pretty sure you’re going to LOVE these. They’re super easy to make, have a short baking time, and only 4 ingredients! What’s not to love? They’re the ultimate healthy snack!

My friend Anna Marie and I just ate the entire batch of them, so I’m not sure how well they store if you have leftovers. Pretty high change you will eat these in one sitting, but no shame or guilt, they’re actually good for you! Completely gluten-free, vegan, low-calorie, and awesome! Not to mention, packed with vitamins and minerals!

Spinach-Chips96 Facts About Spinach:

  • Filled with powerful antioxidants such as vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, manganese, zinc and selenium, which combat the onset of osteoporosis, atherosclerosis and high blood pressure.
  • One cup of spinach contains over 337% of the RDA of vitamin A that protects and strengthens “entry points” into the human body, such as mucous membranes, respiratory, urinary and intestinal tracts.
  • One cup of spinach has nearly 20% of the RDA of dietary fiber, which aids in digestion, and curbs overeating.
  • The abundance of vitamin K contributes to a healthy nervous system and brain function.
  • Contains two anti-inflammatory epoxyxanthophylls; Neoxanthin and violaxanthin.
  • Packed with magnesium, folate, iron, calcium, vitamin C, vitamin B2, potassium, and vitamin B6, and a great source of selenium and niacin.

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Spinach Chips
Serves 1-2

2 large handfuls of spinach (I used about 1/2 the bag)
1 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 Tbsp Italian herb seasoning  (I use Frontier & sometimes McCormick)
1/8 tsp sea salt, or to taste

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Massage oil into spinach until all leaves are completely coated.  Add italian seasoning and salt, combine until evenly dispersed. Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place leaves on the parchment paper so that they aren’t overlapping (this will allow them to cook evenly). Bake for 9-12 minutes until crispy.

Simple Green Smoothie

So this smoothie has been my absolute obsession recently. I’ve been drinking this every morning to give me energy and strengthen my immune system during cold season. The best part is that it’s sooooo easy to make and fastest great with just about any tropical fruit or citrus added in!

I’ve been posting it all over my Instagram and Facebook page and it;s gotten great reader feedback. It’s a must try!

Other reader suggestions:
Blueberries
Pomegranate
Cocoa Powder

Let me know what your fav combo is in the comments!

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Simple Easy Green Smoothie

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Simple Green Smoothie
Serves 1

2 small oranges (or 1 large), peeled
1 frozen banana
1 huge handful of spinach
1/2 cup of ice

Blend blend blend until creamy and smooth.

Don’t like bananas?
Try 1 cup of frozen peaches, pineapple, or mango!

Don’t have a high powered blender?
Try adding some almond milk for a creamsicle flavor, or try pineapple or apple juice for an all alkaline smoothie.

‘Cheesy’ Kale Chips

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So how do you make vegan ‘Cheesy’ Kale Chips without the cheese?
Nutritional Yeast!
Don’t let the name scare you, it might sound funky, but it’s really good, and really good for you! Nutritional yeast is popular with vegans & vegetarians and those who are health-conscious. As a reliable source of vitamin B12 (important for brain and immune system functions), nutritional yeast is often used as a dairy-free substitute for cheese because of its similarities in taste.

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Health Benefits of Nutrtional Yeast Include:

  • Kosher & gluten free
  • Dairy free
  • 18 different amino acids, making it a complete protein, with 8 grams of protein per serving (2 tbsp)
  • Only natural animal-free source of the all-important B vitamins
  • Helps maintain ideal intestinal ecology
  • Helps improves blood production
  • Helps in maintaining optimum cholesterol levels
  • Helps improve liver health and function

Including Nutritional Yeast in Your Diet:
Besides the awesome health benefits of nutritional yeast, it has a nutty and cheesy taste, making it a popular diary cheese replacement for vegans.  Here are some creative ways in which nutritional yeast can be included in your everyday diet:

  • Topping for popcorn, instead of butter and salt
  • In on your scrambled eggs
  • Nutritional yeast “cheese” can be made to adorn a vegan pizza or lasagna
  • Add to soup to give it a creamy texture without adding milk
  • On baked or in mashed potatoes
  • Can be used as a cheesy pasta sauce
  • Mix with vinegar and oil for a salad dressing

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KAL Nutritional Yeast Flakes 22oz & Bragg Premium Nutritional yeast Seasoning
(Both purchased at Whole Foods)^

Buying Nutritional Yeast:
Most health stores (I buy mine at Whole Foods and Sprouts) and some grocery stores carry nutritional yeast. At times it can be labeled as ‘savoury yeast flakes.’ It’s sold in canisters, packages, shakers, and sometimes bulk bins.

* Nutritional yeast is not brewers yeast – it’s a deactivated yeast with texture similar to cornmeal that is often used by vegans as a good source of B vitamins and as a complete protein. (Complete proteins have all essential amino acids – this is hard to get for those who don’t eat animal proteins.) It gives a “cheesy” feel in this recipe. Find it in the supplements section of most health food stores.

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Cheesy-Vegan-Kale-Chips-4‘Cheesy’ Kale Chips
Serves 4

1 bunch of curly kale
1 cup cashews + water to soak
1/2 Red Pepper, seeds removed
2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup nutritional yeast*
1 tsp agave nectar
Salt + Pepper (to taste)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place cashews in a bowl and cover with room temperature water for at least 2 hours. After cashews have soaked, strain the water and discard. Rinse and dry the kale. Remove the kale leaves from stems and tear into chip sized pieces. Combine all ingredients in a food processor and blend until the sauce becomes smooth and creamy. Pour the sauce mixture over kale and massage into kale and toss with your bare hands, coating each leaf. Place kale a baking sheet covered with aluminum foil (sprayed with nonstick or olive oil cooking spray). Bake for 20 minutes. Check chips after 15 minutes of baking to ensure they’re not burning.
Note: The chips may need to bake for a shorter or longer period of time depending on how much “cheese” sauce is on them. Timing is crucial for these chips: If they are undercooked they will be soggy, but if overcooked they can easily burn, so be sure to check on them frequently.

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Juice Pulp Crackers

Hi everybunny!

I hope you guys are having a great week so far!
I wanted to start by saying THANK YOU for your support with my last post. There are so many times that I struggle with body image and/or eating and just want to crawl into my bed and lock myself in my room because I’m ashamed, upset, and flat-out sad… but time and time again you guys have shown me that I am most definitely not alone, and have nothing to be embarrassed about. Your comments were so empowering and I appreciate your vulnerability and honesty. You are all so strong and seriously beautiful writers! I love you guys so much. My readers make me so incredibly happy each and every day. Expect a giveaway this week, to show my love and appreciation!

So I just found out this week that my “advertise” contact form has not been working. Ahhhh! This is the WORST! I apologize to anyone who has messaged me in the past few weeks and not gotten a response. I feel so unprofessional and cannot even imagine how rude people must think I am. I am working with my web host to get my contact form working again. In the meantime, if you have a professional inquiry please email me at: Screen Shot 2013-11-18 at 11.12.39 PM.

I also wanted to say sorry for being MIA last week! I was in Texas for a wedding and then in Arizona visiting my friends at Natural Delights and judged the recipe contest at the 2nd Annual Yuma Medjool Date Festival! There will definitely be some new Medjool date recipes coming up and possibly a giveaway for you guys!

Finally, here is the recipe I promised!
Sorry for the delay : ( and thank you for your patience!

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Don’t you hate seeing food or nutrients go to waste?

Although most of us use juice pulp for compost or unfortunately throw it away… many people don’t realize that they are leaving behind all of the great fiber that the fruits’ and veggies’ skins contain.

Fiber serves a very important role in our diet. When eating whole fruits and vegetables, the natural fiber helps to slow down the process in which the body breaks down and releases sugar, which prevents blood sugar from spiking and crashing. Fiber can also help you feel fuller longer and keeps your digestive system running smoothly and efficiently.

Bottom line, there is value in this often-neglected pulp!

Next time you make a juice, think twice before tossing the pulp!
It’s easy to transfer your fibrous juice pulp into hearty and delicious Juice Pulp Crackers.

Juice-Pulp-Crackers-9I love slathering hummus on my Juice Pulp Crackers!

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Juice Pulp Crackers
Makes about 25-30 crackers

2 cups juice pulp
1/2 cup ground flax meal
1 tsp sea salt
2 tsp thyme (I used dried)
1 tsp black pepper
1/4 cup water

*Make sure that all inedible seeds and skin are removed from produce before juicing if you intend to use the pulp for crackers!
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine all ingredients in a food processor. Slowly add water until the mixture is well combined but still sticky (The amount of water may vary based on how watery your pulp is). Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper and spread the mixture out very thinly (you want this as thin and even as possible). You will want this to be as thin as possible or your crackers may turn out bready versus crunchy. Bake for 30-40 minutes until crispy. Remove from oven and cut into 1.5 inch squares.

Note: Like kale chips, these don’t store very well, so they are best to eat the same day they are made!
Dehydrating: If you have a dehydrator you can spread the mixture evenly onto a teflex or “fruit leather” dehydrator sheet. Set dehydrator to 115 and for 5-6 hours, flip the cracker over, and dehydrate for an additional 4-5 hours until crunchy.

The pulp for these crackers was from my Glowing Green Juice so I thought that thyme, salt, and pepper was a great addition, but feel free to experiment with different spices and seasonings! Cayenne would give a ice kick to your crackers!

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