Raw, Recipes, Snacks, Toast Tuesdays, Treats, Vegan, Vegetarian

Cherry Chia Jam

Happy Toast Tuesday!
I decided to change things up a weeee bit for this week’s Toast Tuesday by posting a toast related recipe! This recipe if from one of my favorite blogs: Eating Bird Food! Brittany has some really fantastic healthy recipes and she is basically a chia genius. She is super creative with her recipes & ingredients and gives the term “bird food” a whole need meaning!

Brittany’s Easy Chia Seed Jam used strawberries, but since I am allergic to berries (with the exception of raspberries), I decided to go for cherries. It can be really tricky to find yummy jams and jellies other than orange marmalade and grape, so once I saw Brittany’s super simple recipe I was pumped to make my own! You will not believe how easy this recipe is. Only three steps stand between you and some fresh homemade jam! It is so delish, you could actually enjoy this jam as a vegan Jello-O snack which counts as 1 serving of fruit, and one serving of plant based fat!


Cherry Chia Jam
Makes about 1 cup of jam

1 cup black cherries (I used frozen pitted)
1 Tbsp chia seeds
1 Tbsp water

Defrost the cherries under warm water until thawed and remove pits if necessary. Place the cherries and 1 Tbsp of water in a blender and pulse until cherries are mashed, but not completely pureéd. Transfer the mashed cherries to a jar and stir in the chia seeds. Refrigerate for about 60 minutes until chia seeds expand and turn the content into a thick jam.

| 54 Comments
Contests & Giveaways, Desserts, Raw, Recipes, Snacks, Treats, Vegan, Vegetarian

Raw Brownie Bites + Natural Delights Medjool Dates Giveaway

A few weeks ago, I was sent a a 12 pound package from Bard Valley Natural Delights™ Medjool Dates! Inside this delightful box (no pun intended) was a combination of twelve packages of delicious Medjool Dates and Date Rolls from Bard Valley! Natural delights sent me some of their amazing Date Rolls, which included 3 different flavors: almond, pistachio, and coconut. I had never tried date rolls before, but they are pretty addicting! Coconut was my favorite, so much sweet chewy goodness in one bite! Along with a generous amount of date rolls, they also sent me some whole Medjool dates which were fantastic. I go through tons of dates in my kitchen because I love using them in place of refined sugar for baked goods & desserts, and love nibbling on them when I am craving something sweet.


I saw this quote on the Natural Delights website and had to share it with you guys! It’s perfect haha
“Once the fruit of kings. Now the king of fruits. The mighty, majestic Medjool.”

“Known as the “Fruit of the Kings,” caramel-like Natural Delights Medjool Dates are considered the best-tasting, most luscious dates in the world. In addition to being a good source of fiber, they contain no added sugar, are high in antioxidants and offer important vitamins and minerals including Potassium, Copper, Magnesium, Vitamin B6, Niacin, Calcium, Iron and Vitamin K.” -Natural Delights

Natural Delights also sent me some excellent information explaining why Bard Valley Natural Delights Medjool Dates are a nutritional powerhouse!

  • They are naturally sweet Medjool dates are naturally sweet and contain no added sugar, making them an ideal alternative to artificial and processed sweeteners.
  • They help protect against cancer Medjool dates are filled with polyphenols, powerful antioxidants that help protect the body against the oxidation and inflammation of cells that can lead to cancer. Medjool dates contain more antioxidants than blackberries, plums and apples.
  • They help stabilize blood sugar levels Medjool dates rate low to low/medium on the Glycemic Index (GI). A low-GI carb diet keeps glucose and insulin levels stable, helping maintain sustained energy and a healthy weight.
  • They make you feel fuller for longer Medjool dates are loaded with dietary fiber. Just one-quarter cup of Medjools provides 12 percent of the daily requirement of fiber and helps satisfy between-meal cravings.
  • They can reenergize Rich in potassium, manganese and other important minerals, Medjools help balance blood sodium levels and release energy from protein, fat and carbohydrates.
  • They are a healthy snack Medjool dates are a no-fat and no-cholesterol treat, making them ideal for snacking.
  • They help fight against “bad” cholesterol Medjool dates help lower LDL cholesterol levels, which decreases the risk of diabetes, heart disease and stroke.
  • They can ease labor and deliveries in pregnant women A study in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology indicated that pregnant women who consumed six Medjool dates for four weeks prior to their estimated delivery date had easier labors with fewer complications.
  • They help lower blood pressure Medjool dates are also dense in copper, Vitamin B6, niacin, calcium, iron and Vitamin K, making it the perfect addition to the DASH diet, which is proven to lower blood pressure.
  • They have a long shelf life Medjool dates have a shelf life of 30 days when stored at room temperature – making them ideal for travel and enjoying at work, home or play.

With an abundance of fresh dates, I knew it was time for a new dessert recipe! Mmmm my fav! This is an adaptation of my favorite Vegan Chef, Chef AJ’s Raw Brownies!


Raw Brownie Bites
Makes 12 servings

1 cup pitted Medjool dates
1/2 cup unsalted sunflower seeds
1/2 cup walnuts
3 Tbsp raw cacao powder (or 4 Tbsp cocoa powder)
1/2 tbsp pure vanilla extract

Blend the sunflower seeds and walnuts in a food processor or high powered blender until finely ground but not a nut butter consistency. Add the cacao powder and vanilla extract and blend again until mixed evenly. Remove pits from dates. Add the the dates and process until a dough like mixture is formed. You should be able to sculpt the dough without crumbling. Using a 1 Tbsp measuring spoon, scoop the dough and roll into 12 balls. Keep in the refrigerator for 1 week or freezer for up to 1 month. Enjoy!

If you’re looking for a post workout snack or a healthy dessert, turn your Raw Brownie Bites into a Brownie Batter Milkshake with this super simple recipe: 



Brownie Batter Milkshake
serves1

2 Raw Brownie Bites
1 frozen banana
1 cup unsweetened almond milk (or milk of your choice)

Combine almond milk, banana, and 2 Raw Brownie Bites in a blender and blend until smooth.

In collaboration with Bard Valley Natural Delights™ Medjool Dates, I am hosting a giveaway! One lucky RFFMBT winner will receive: 3 packages of Fresh Medjool Dates, 3 packages of Almond Date Rolls, 3 packages of Pistachio Date Rolls, and 3 packages of Coconut Date Rolls!

For your chance to win:
  • Leave a comment on this post “Raw Brownie Bites + Natural Delights Medjool Dates Giveaway” saying what you would do with your Medjool dates!
  • All entries must use a valid email address.
  • Open to U.S. residents only.
  • All comments must be posted by Thursday, July 19th at 11:59pm (PST).
  • 1 winner will be randomly selected and announced on Friday, July 20th.

I have complied a list of some RFFMBT recipes that also include Medjool Dates:

Chocomole 
Raw Bites
Chocolate Chip Chickpea Cookies
Chickpea Cookie Dough Dip
Healthy Vegan Banana Bread
Black Bean and Spinach Brownies
Hail To the Kale Salad Dressing

For more information about Bard Valley Natural Delights™ Medjool Dates visit their website and Facebook!

* The giveaway has ended, and the winner will be announced on Friday, July 20.
** Congratulations to the winner: Kristi E. from CO.

| 317 Comments
Restaurant Hop, Tips

Restaurant Hop: Panera Bread

Hi Everybunny!

Thank you so much for your support about my thyroid health dilemma that I mentioned yesterday! I really appreciate all of the positive comments, vibes and stories from readers who have dealt with similar healthy issues. You guys are the best!

Today I am starting a new little feature for my blog! One of my brilliant little bunnies Lidia commented on a post with a fabulous question which turned into an awesome idea: RFFBT Restaurant Hop!

“I was wondering, is there anyway you could do a post about some healthy but tasty foods to eat when necessity dictates eating out?” –Lidia

I love hopping around to different restaurants and trying different foods, but I can say that one year ago, it was a very different story. It can be so hard to go out to eat while you are trying to lose weight and stick with your specific eating/diet plan. When I was about halfway through my weight loss journey, I was so obsessed with getting to my goal that I cut myself off all social events that included eating. I stopped going to my friend’s birthdays and started avoiding any sort of social situation that centered around restaurants and food. My obsession with dieting and my all or nothing mentality led to a pattern of disordered eating, which I still struggle with today. I remember going to a restaurant with my friend in Houston and I had so much anxiety over the entire dining situation (what should I order? Is everyone going to watch me eat?, Will the waiter judge me if I have a super complicated order? What if I give in to the bread basked and “ruin” all of my hard work?) that I started crying while reading the menu and had to leave. It was a terrible feeling and it seems so ridiculous when I think back on these moments, but to me, going out to restaurants was harder than final exams in college. It took me a lot of time to get through my fear of dining at restaurants, but I learned to use my Rabbit Food Pyramid guidelines at restaurants to help me make better choices and stay on track.

I really loved Lidia’s idea because I (obviously) know how challenging it can be to make healthy choices at a restaurant, so I want to give you guys some ideas of meals that you can order at popular chain restaurants so you can enjoy the experience and be stress free when it comes to deciding what to order!

My first RFFMBT Restaurant Hop location is: Panera Bread!
Panera has tons of locations and some great menu items, and with a few tweaks, you can have a perfectly balanced RFFMBT friendly meal!

Here is what I had at Panera last night!

My Order: 1 full Fuji Apple Chicken Salad, no chicken, no pecans, dressing on the side and a whole-wheat baguette. THAT WAS EASY! Now let me show you the breakdown!

The Rabbit Food Pyramid Breakdown
Produce: mixed field greens, romaine, red onions, vine-ripened tomatoes, and apple chips
Whole Grain: ½ whole-wheat baguette
Protein: Gorgonzola cheese
Plant Based Fat: 1 spoonful (eyeball 1 Tbsp) of white balsamic Fuji apple vinaigrette (made with olive oil)

For an even more detailed description of my swaps, let me break it down a little more for you:

The original Fuji Apple Chicken Salad comes with:
All-natural, antibiotic-free chicken, mixed field greens, romaine lettuce, vine-ripened tomatoes, red onions, pecans, Gorgonzola, apple chips & white balsamic apple vinaigrette. A side of potato chips, 1 apple, regular baguette or whole-wheat baguette.

If you look at the ingredients, they list 2 proteins (chicken and gorgonzola) and two plant based fats (pecans and white balsamic – contains olive oil). Now, take your pick between what you would like as your protein: chicken or Gorgonzola? Since I am mainly vegetarian I opted for the Gorgonzola cheese for my protein serving. Next, choose your plant based fat: Would you like pecans, or white balsamic dressing? Since they don’t have a fat free dressing option (such as plain balsamic vinegar) I opted to keep the dressing and leave the pecans behind. When adding your dressing, note the amount that they provide you with. Restaurants usually load healthy salads with calorie/fat bombs of dressing which make some salads just as fattening as a cheeseburger. Try to eyeball 1 Tbs of dressing for your salad or dip your fork full of salad into the dressing to avoid too much plant based fat. Also note the size of your whole-wheat baguette. Panera tends to be very generous with their baguette portions, after all it is called Panera BREAD! I usually cut my baguette in half and give the rest to a friend or box it up right away so I am not tempted.

I know that some people look for the nutritional information (calories, carb, fat, etc.), but I have found that counting calories is just not a great match for me and my past all or nothing eating style. If you have been reading my blog for a while, you know that I stick to balanced portions from the 4 food groups in order to stay on track. If you need the nutritional value for this meal, you could always use the Nutrition Calculator on Panera’s official website.

For more tips on dining out, read my RFFMBT Dining Out Guide!
I cannot wait for my next Restaurant Hop! Suggestions for future restaurants are welcome!

| 46 Comments
Dinner, Lunch, Recipes, Tips, Vegan, Vegetarian

Pistachio Ice Cream Smoothie

Ok, so today was really… blah to say the least.
I have been dealing with some really crazy health issues recently; long story short my thyroid is out of whack and I have been in and out of doctor’s offices and getting pricked by way too many needles trying to figure out what is going on! So far they think I have hyperthyroid, but I am on a waiting list to see an endocrinologist. I am so exhausted from telling different doctor’s what is going on that I cannot even begin to tell you how I feel right now, so I will get to that in a different post when I have more energy! For now, I will just say that I have been feeling abnormally crappy and moody and have realized that the only thing that can actually make me feel better is by eating healthy. I’ve been trying all different variations of green smoothies to boost my energy and provide a quick dose of nutrients to my body and it has been making such a difference! When I eat clean ‘n’ green I feel sooo much better. I still don’t feel 100% fabu at the moment, but better! It’s amazing how the food we eat can have such a big impact on how we feel!

Since I have noticed how great I feel with the addition of green smoothies in my diet, I will be experimenting with some more super interesting (but tasty) green smoothies! This one is a little more “green” than my Thin Pint Protein Smoothie, but still delicious if you are looking to try something new! The ingredient list may look a little whacky, but quinoa was probably the best little addition. The quinoa gave my smoothie a super thick texture and a boost of complete protein! Win win.

Pistachio Ice Cream Smoothie
Serves 1

1 cup almond milk
1 cup kale -packed
1 frozen banana
1/2 cup cooked quinoa
2 Tbsp unshelled pistachios
1 Tbsp unsweetened shredded coconut
1 + 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 packet stevia if desired

Cook and refrigerate quinoa beforehand. Start by combining the kale and milk in a high powered blender and blend until it is completely smooth (to avoid grainy texture). Next add the pistachios and coconut and blend thoroughly. Add in the quinoa and blend completely to ensure a smooth texture. Next add the rest of the ingredients and blend away. Serve chilled.


The Rabbit Food Pyramid Breakdown
Produce: kale & banana
Whole Grain: quinoa
Protein: milk
Plant Based Fat: pistachios & coconut

| 73 Comments
Dinner, Lunch, Recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian

Cashew Ginger Rice Bowl

First things first: This is my 100th post on Rabbit Food For My Bunny Teeth! I cannot even believe it! Seriously? I have 100 recipes & healthy tips on my very own blog?! WOW! I really cannot believe how much my blog has grown and what it is turning into. I cannot thank my readers enough for visiting my blog every day. I love you little bunnies and I cannot wait to see what else is in store for the future of RFFMBT!

Second: Congratulations to my Physique 57 Giveaway winner Sam B! I cannot wait to hear how your complimentary class goes!

Third: Do you ever crave a certain type of food? America, Mexican, Chinese, Indian, etc.?
One of my favorite types of cuisine is Chinese, but sometimes it’s hard to find something tasty without all of the added oil and super salty elements. Ordering steamed veggies isn’t always the most exciting dish…

Today I have a healthy Vegan Chinese inspired lunch/dinner recipe for you! This brilliant bowl is filled with colorful veggies and plant protein to keep you feeling full and satisfied for hours.


 Cashew Ginger Rice Bowl
 Serves 1

1/2 cup cooked brown rice
1/2 cup shelled edamame
1/2 cup bell pepper
1/2 cup onion
1/2 cup celery
1/2 cup spinach
1/4 cup low sodium vegetable broth (I use Pacific)
2 Tbsp chopped cashews
1 tsp low sodium soy sauce or tamari
1/2 tsp fresh grated ginger

Cook brown rice to package instructions. In a separate bowl, whisk the vegetable broth, soy sauce, and ginger together and place in a pan over medium heat. Chop the bell pepper, onion, celery, and add into the pan along with the spinach. Cook the vegetables until they absorb most of the cooking liquid and become tender. Add in the unshelled edamame and stir until cooked. Add the cooked brown rice and gently mix into the vegetables. Top with chopped cashews. Serve hot.
Note: You could serve the veggies and cashews on top of the bed of rice or mixed in, whatever you prefer.

The Rabbit Food Pyramid Breakdown
Produce: bell pepper, onion, celery, spinach
Whole Grain: brown rice
Protein: edamame
Plant Based Fat: cashews

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