Oatmeal Power Breakfast

Between picking up kids, working, girl scouts and hundreds of other errands...I often have to eat on the run.  This habit can not only be unhealthy but also help you gain weight.  So here is a recipe that will help you make your own healthy and quick breakfast to start the day right...enjoy!

Oatmeal Power Breakfast (Makes 1 Serving):

 

Total fiber = 5 grams

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup quick-cooking oats
• 1 tablespoon ground flax-seed
• 2/3 cup 1% low fat milk
• 1/4 cup blueberries
• 1 to 2 tablespoons chopped nuts, optional
• 1 teaspoon pure maple syrup, optional

Directions:

1. Combine the oats, ground flax-seed, and milk in a deep microwave-safe bowl and stir to combine.
2. Place in the microwave, uncovered, and heat on high for 90 seconds. Remove carefully and stir in the blueberries, and the nuts and maple syrup as desired.

Nutrition Information per Serving: 210 calories, 6g fat (1g saturated, 1.4g omega-3), 70mg sodium, 30g carbohydrate, 5g fiber, 10g protein, 20% calcium

Keep It Tasty!

Rebecca

 

Healthy Gluten-free Carrot Muffin Recipe

Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees F.

Grease 12 medium muffin cups.

Dry Ingredients

Sift together:

·        2 cups gluten-free flour (preferably whole-grain gluten-free flour)

·        1 tsp xanthan gum or guar gum ( if not using a pre-packaged mix that has it included)

·        1 tbsp flaxseed meal

·        3 and 1/2 tsp gluten-free baking powder

·        1/2 tsp salt (regular or sea salt)

·        1/2 tsp cinnamon

·        1/4 cup brown sugar (1/2 cup for a sweeter dessert muffin)

Wet Ingredients

Beat together:

·        1 egg

·        1 and 1/4 cup milk (or rice milk)

·        1/4 cup olive oil (or a preferred lighter tasting oil)

Add the liquid ingredients to the dry ingredients. Stir only until combined. Batter will be lumpy.

Fold in 1 cup of grated carrot. (If you want to make it very simple, you can use a jar of carrot baby food.) Folding in 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts or pecans is optional.

Fill muffin cups two thirds full. Slightly more for paper cups. Bake for 20 minutes.You may need to adjust the temperature and time for your own oven.

Alternative Ingredients for Apple Muffins

To create gluten-free apple muffins: substitute 1 cup of chopped apple or 1 jar of apple baby food for the carrot or carrot baby food. Apples have the health benefit of being high in soluble fiber.

Gluten-free Muffins For The Kids

If you have a child with a gluten allergy, serve these muffins with baby carrots or carrot sticks for a healthy snack. Children often enjoy gluten-free foods and products just as much as the more conventional choices

Keep it Tasty!
Rebecca

Carrot Scavenger Hunt

Your kids will not only love their vegetables, they'll seek them out.

Supplies:
-Orange construction paper
-Green construction paper
-Scissors
-Glue
-Snacks

Directions:
1. Cut out 20 carrots from orange construction paper and glue on the green construction paper tops.
2. "Plant" them all around the house--under sofa cushions, in the silverware drawer, or taped to the refrigerator door, for example.
3. Then send your kids around the house to gather all the carrots. Let them redeem their carrots for snacks, such as a small box of raisins, a pack of gum, a bag of pretzels, or a piece of carrot cake.

Another great twist is to let each child cut out their own carrot and green top, decorate it, write their name on it and then "plant" them. After all carrots are found, make sure each carrot gets back to its owner. This way, the party guests gets to make a craft and they have a great reminder of the fun they had to take home with them!

Rainbow Kebabs

You don't need to spend lots of time peeling and chopping to make these colorful fruit kebabs, and excellent first birthday idea for healthy food. Instead of purchasing whole fruits, you can buy a container of sliced or cubed fruit from the salad bar section of your supermarket. You'll need 6 to 8 pieces per skewer. Firm fruits such as melon, pineapple, kiwi, and oranges work well. For the skewers, you can simply use plastic drinking straws. To make each kebab, pinch the end of a straw and push it through a piece of fruit. Slide the fruit to the other end of the straw. Add more fruit to fill the skewer with a range of colors. Individually cover each kebob with plastic wrap and refrigerate till ready to use.

Always Have Fun!
Rebecca
Sr. Party Leader
Noah's Ark Animal Workshop