Coconut oil is one of those things that, at least in my opinion, is weird until you try it for yourself. White and almost flaky in its' solid form and clear and oily in its' liquid form and smelling sweet and, well, coconut-y, coconut oil packs a nutritious and practical punch. With websites galore touting its' abilities and uses, there is no reason not to have it in your pantry!
With medicinal, nutritional and cosmetic uses, coconut oil is extremely versatile. Cook with it, slather it on baby's bottom to prevent diaper rash, bake with it, remove your eye makeup with it, put it in your coffee, use it as a sunscreen, even use it to alleviate allergies! Coconut oil is being called a "super food" and it appears to be an apt title.
Coconut oil has what are called Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCTs). MCTs are a fatty acid that the liver uses for energy. They are also turned into "ketone bodies" which can help alleviate symptoms of, or possibly help prevent, brain disorders. Cultures in which coconut oil has been consumed for thousands of years are said to be healthier and suffer from fewer diseases than the Western world. Whether this is tied directly to coconut oil consumption or if there's a third-party correlation (i.e., less fast food, less tobacco, and the like) I'm not sure, but I think it's safe to say that coconut oil doesn't hurt!
It has been stated that coconut oil can help lower cholesterol. Studies have shown that the high levels of saturated fats in coconut oil, previously thought to be harmful but now are being shown to be helpful, help raise the "good" cholesterol level (HDL) and lower the LDL, or "bad" cholesterol. Having healthy levels of cholesterol can help prevent heart disease.
Omega 6 fatty acids have been shown to help regulate metabolism. Coconut oil is a great source of omega 6! Consuming fat to help burn fat is a strange idea to some. The difference lies in the type of fat you consume. The word "fat" has a bad reputation that it really doesn't deserve. Without fat in our diets, we'd all be dead. Period.
The way I like to consume coconut oil is in my coffee. Put a cup of coffee and 1-2 teaspoons of coconut oil in the blender and voilá! The coconut oil froths up and makes me believe, for a second, that I'm drinking something from Starbucks. So good!
Sources:
http://coconutoil.com
http://authoritynutrition.com/top-10-evidence-based-health-benefits-of-coconut-oil/
http://wellnessmama.com/5734/101-uses-for-coconut-oil/
Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Friday, January 15, 2016
10 Tips For Reducing Your Grocery Bill
Who doesn't love to save money? Seriously! Between household bills, taxes, house/car payments, grocery bills, insurance and fees for everything under the sun, it's getting harder and harder to save money.
My family is certainly no exception to this. With preschool on the horizon for my daughter, it forced us to reevaluate our budget and see where we could cut costs.
This lead me to doing some research on how to minimize grocery costs. Here is a list I compiled from all that I read!
My family is certainly no exception to this. With preschool on the horizon for my daughter, it forced us to reevaluate our budget and see where we could cut costs.
This lead me to doing some research on how to minimize grocery costs. Here is a list I compiled from all that I read!
10 Tips For Reducing Your Monthly Grocery Bill
1. Buy store brands. Most grocery stores offer their own brand. At Fred Meyer it's Kroger. At Safeway it's Safeway Kitchens. At Thriftway it's Western Family. At Target it's Up & Up. And so on. It's no secret that the store brands are usually cheaper. I remember reading somewhere that even chefs will buy store brands - in fact, chefs were more likely to purchase store brands than non-chefs! So unless the brand item is on sale for cheaper than the store brand, nix it. They're usually the same product, or at least close enough that you won't be able to tell the difference.
2. Set a budget. If you set yourself a budget before you enter the store (and come armed with a calculator or your phone to add up as you go) then you are less likely to just toss something extra in your cart without much thought. .
3. Have a list. Seems like a no-brainer, right? Most people have a shopping list. But go the extra mile and meal plan before you make your list. Every Sunday, I sit down and plan out dinners for the week. Then I go check the freezer and pantry and see what I already have and what I need. This keeps me from wandering around the store trying to figure out what I'm going to make for dinner tomorrow and the next day and the next day. Also, it's a good idea to know the general layout of the store you're going to. That will keep you from having to wander around, seeing tempting things, until you find what you're looking for.
4. Frozen is your friend. While there is nothing quite like biting into a fresh apple or inhaling the scent of fresh cut beets, when it comes to steaming veggies for a side dish, your nose won't care if it was fresh or frozen beforehand. Buying frozen veggies to use as side dishes at dinner or to throw in your scramble in the morning can save you money. For one thing, it is usually cheaper to buy a one pound bag of frozen broccoli than to buy a pound of fresh broccoli. Secondly, it is easy to forget fresh produce in the crisper. I can't even tell you how many times I've had to throw away a poor, pathetic, slimy head of lettuce or shriveled up blueberries. Money down the garbage disposal. Frozen produce doesn't go bad for a long time, giving you more chance to use it and get your money's worth out of it.
5. Milk your money. If you can swing it, sometimes it's cheaper to buy your milk from a drugstore instead of a grocery store - up to 23% cheaper! Sometimes, if I know I have to go to the drugstore and the grocery store in one day, I'll buy all my groceries at the grocery store and then just buy the milk when I'm at the drugstore. Milk can cost up to five or six dollars a gallon, depending on the brand, and that can push you over your budget.
6. Shop less often. One thing I noticed was happening to us was that I was finding it necessary to go to the store several times a week. Some times I even went three or four times! Usually it was just for one or two things, but then I'd think of something else we needed and the bill would just get higher and higher. By being more conscious of how quickly we were going through things, I was able to make them last a little longer. Now I only go twice per week - once for a big haul and once for the perishable things we run out of quickly like fruit, veggies and salad mix.
7. Plan it out. Earlier, I mentioned meal planning. Taking time to plan out meals (or at least dinners) can save you so much hassle, time and money at the store. You don't have to wander around and around trying to figure out what to make. But you can plan other things too. Here's an example: I am pretty much the main fruit-eater in my family. My daughter will eat bananas and pears, as will my husband, but when it comes to things like apples and avocados, it's all up to me. I know that I like to have at least 2 pieces of fruit per day, so I buy accordingly, plus a few extra in case anyone else wants some. Yes, I usually end up having to go back to the store once per week to buy more fruit, vegetables and salad mix (what can I say? I like my produce!) but it keeps me from having to go every other day!
8. Pay with cash. To go along with the budgeting tip above (#2), try leaving your debit/credit card at home and bringing only cash with you. If you know you have literally $50 on your person with which to pay, it will definitely make you think twice about tossing extra stuff into your basket. It will also cause you to bargain shop, which leads me to the next one.....
9. Compare. When doing research on this topic, I was elated to discover that I had not been scrutinizing the price labels enough and that there was actually more information on there than I had realized. Most grocery stores actually list the number of cents per ounce on each price tag. So I started checking that too. For example, one box of Cheerios was something like 28 cents per ounce, but the 2-Pack of boxes (same size boxes, too) was like 23 cents per ounce. Those numbers aren't exact but it was something like that. Two boxes was more expensive than one, sure, but less expensive than two separate boxes would have been I know that we will use up those Cheerios, so I was happy to pay a few dollars extra in order to get more for my money. The take-home point here: check the price label!
10. Make your own coffee. This tip isn't about lowering your grocery bill per se, but it involves the grocery store and saving money so I decided to include it. Last April, I bought us a new coffee maker on sale for $49.99. Seemed like a lot, but man do we use that thing! I buy a pound of ground coffee about every week and a half (or two weeks sometimes) for about $9. My husband and I each have about 3 cups of coffee a day (shush, we're tired!). That's about 30 cups of coffee per pound of coffee, or $0.30 per cup. Try finding a price like THAT at a coffee shop! It will add a little bit to your grocery tab but will save you money in the long run - especially if you're a habitual coffee-drinker like me!
Grocery stores are full of bargains. But they are also full of unnecessary, temping items. Planning ahead, staying focused and moving with purpose will help keep you (and your wallet) happy by the time you arrive at the check stand. Happy shopping! :)
5. Milk your money. If you can swing it, sometimes it's cheaper to buy your milk from a drugstore instead of a grocery store - up to 23% cheaper! Sometimes, if I know I have to go to the drugstore and the grocery store in one day, I'll buy all my groceries at the grocery store and then just buy the milk when I'm at the drugstore. Milk can cost up to five or six dollars a gallon, depending on the brand, and that can push you over your budget.
6. Shop less often. One thing I noticed was happening to us was that I was finding it necessary to go to the store several times a week. Some times I even went three or four times! Usually it was just for one or two things, but then I'd think of something else we needed and the bill would just get higher and higher. By being more conscious of how quickly we were going through things, I was able to make them last a little longer. Now I only go twice per week - once for a big haul and once for the perishable things we run out of quickly like fruit, veggies and salad mix.
7. Plan it out. Earlier, I mentioned meal planning. Taking time to plan out meals (or at least dinners) can save you so much hassle, time and money at the store. You don't have to wander around and around trying to figure out what to make. But you can plan other things too. Here's an example: I am pretty much the main fruit-eater in my family. My daughter will eat bananas and pears, as will my husband, but when it comes to things like apples and avocados, it's all up to me. I know that I like to have at least 2 pieces of fruit per day, so I buy accordingly, plus a few extra in case anyone else wants some. Yes, I usually end up having to go back to the store once per week to buy more fruit, vegetables and salad mix (what can I say? I like my produce!) but it keeps me from having to go every other day!
8. Pay with cash. To go along with the budgeting tip above (#2), try leaving your debit/credit card at home and bringing only cash with you. If you know you have literally $50 on your person with which to pay, it will definitely make you think twice about tossing extra stuff into your basket. It will also cause you to bargain shop, which leads me to the next one.....
9. Compare. When doing research on this topic, I was elated to discover that I had not been scrutinizing the price labels enough and that there was actually more information on there than I had realized. Most grocery stores actually list the number of cents per ounce on each price tag. So I started checking that too. For example, one box of Cheerios was something like 28 cents per ounce, but the 2-Pack of boxes (same size boxes, too) was like 23 cents per ounce. Those numbers aren't exact but it was something like that. Two boxes was more expensive than one, sure, but less expensive than two separate boxes would have been I know that we will use up those Cheerios, so I was happy to pay a few dollars extra in order to get more for my money. The take-home point here: check the price label!
10. Make your own coffee. This tip isn't about lowering your grocery bill per se, but it involves the grocery store and saving money so I decided to include it. Last April, I bought us a new coffee maker on sale for $49.99. Seemed like a lot, but man do we use that thing! I buy a pound of ground coffee about every week and a half (or two weeks sometimes) for about $9. My husband and I each have about 3 cups of coffee a day (shush, we're tired!). That's about 30 cups of coffee per pound of coffee, or $0.30 per cup. Try finding a price like THAT at a coffee shop! It will add a little bit to your grocery tab but will save you money in the long run - especially if you're a habitual coffee-drinker like me!
Grocery stores are full of bargains. But they are also full of unnecessary, temping items. Planning ahead, staying focused and moving with purpose will help keep you (and your wallet) happy by the time you arrive at the check stand. Happy shopping! :)
Tuesday, December 22, 2015
Recipe - Mason Jar Oatmeal
You want to know one of my favorite oxymorons? Here it is: Breakfast Time.
At my house, mornings are usually anything but leisurely. After getting up, getting myself ready, feeding the dogs, letting them out to potty, making coffee, getting my daughter up, dressed and fed and making sure my husband hasn't forgotten anything on his way out the door, I almost never have time to make a real breakfast for myself. Usually it's a quick-grab-a-banana or hey-where-are-the-granola-bars kind of event for me. If I even manage to grab anything at all on my way out the door to teach fitness classes.
That doesn't work so well for me. Teaching fitness classes on an empty stomach = sluggish instructor. Sluggish instructor = sluggish students. Sluggish students = bad workout. Bad workout = unhappy gym members. Capiche?
So.... I needed to figure out a way to get some real food in me before I rush off to teach. Enter MASON JAR OATMEAL!!!! Easy breezy. You can prepare a bunch of them and then just use them one by one. They can be all the same or all different! So many options!
1. Start with mason jars.
Wash them. Let them dry. And you're ready to begin!
2. Add oats.
Just oats. That's it.
3. Add dry toppings.
This is the point where you put in things that you like to flavor your oatmeal. These are some of my favorites (not all together obviously. Although you could....)
4. Store them!
Easy to stack in a pantry or on the countertop for easy access.
5. Add water.
Add boiling water, cover, and let stand for 10 minutes or so while you finish getting ready or loading the dishwasher or doing whatever you do in your morning routine!
6. Add any extra toppings you want.
This is where I like to add my "fresh toppings" as I call them. Such as blueberries, bananas, yogurt or milk. Stir to incorporate.
7. Grab a spoon!
Dig in! YUM! Bon Appetit!
Healthy, easy, fast, and versatile. What more you could ask for in a breakfast? Have fun! :)
Monday, December 14, 2015
13.1 - The Holiday Half
Yesterday was RACE DAY! I was so excited! It was a very early day (and resulted in a nap in the afternoon - a rarity for me!) and 13.1 miles is a long way but it was amazing and terrible and fun and I can't wait to do it again!
Check out my other blog, The Haunted Crow, to read a more detailed description of the race! Click HERE to read the blog post.
HAVE A GREAT WEEK!!!!
Check out my other blog, The Haunted Crow, to read a more detailed description of the race! Click HERE to read the blog post.
HAVE A GREAT WEEK!!!!
Thursday, November 19, 2015
Top 6 Nutrition Tips & Tricks
With Thanksgiving coming up fast here in the United States, you are bound to see tons of articles, posts and videos about how to cut calories, slash fat and/or burn off everything you eat this holiday season with the newest fad in exercise. Given that this is a health blog, you might expect to find that here too. But I have news for you.....
...YOU WON'T!
That's right! I am not going to tell you to cut calories, slash fat and/or burn off everything you eat. Why? Because that takes all the fun out of eating Thanksgiving dinner! It's called THANKSgiving, not GUILTgiving! I am perpetually frustrated by the negativity permeating this holiday, and not just because I'm working toward recovery from an eating disorder. In my opinion, it negates what the holiday is all about in the first place!
So instead of telling you to make your mashed potatoes healthier and to nix the gravy, I'm going to tell you to eat it and enjoy it. Give thanks for it. Savor it. Smile.
I'm also going to tell you that I think the best plan of action is to be healthy and eat healthy ALL THE TIME, not just during the holidays! Here are my Top Six Nutrition Tips & Tricks:
1. Make friends with salad. Salad can be your best friend and your worst enemy. Dressings, cheese, meats and croutons can add serious fat and calories to your otherwise-healthful entree. If you're a dressing fan, try a lower calorie or fat-free dressing option. Or just have your dressing on the side and dip your fork tines in it before spearing your next bite. If you're a meat-on-salad type, opt for leaner meats like chicken, turkey or shrimp. Use cheese sparingly (but don't skip it, it's delicious!) and try to go easy on the croutons. Experiment with other toppings. Change it up! Salad is one of the most versatile foods around and is fun to play around with. My favorite salad toppings are peas, avocado, tomatoes and black beans!
2. Skip the sweeteners. We've all heard that artificial sweeteners are the devil. It's not literally true but they are bad for you. Some studies have shown that artificial sweeteners actually contribute to weight gain and other nasty things by tricking your body into thinking that it needs sweet things, thereby causing you to crave more sweet things. Try using natural sweetening agents such as honey or Stevia (the liquid kind) in your coffee or tea, and experiment with putting fruit in your oatmeal instead of brown sugar. It'll take some getting used to but your taste buds will adjust and you won't miss all the chemicals you used to be ingesting!
3. Protein up! It's no secret that protein is an essential part of a healthy diet. Protein keeps you feeling satiated and helps build muscle! I've found that having some lean protein at each main meal helps me stay alert, energized and even-keeled. I don't get as many blood sugar crashes when I've had my protein! Eggs or Greek yogurt are great to have at breakfast or lunch and turkey, chicken or white fish are my go-to foods for dinners. Nuts, legumes and dairy all can provide protein too. There's lots of choices, have fun!
4. Hydrate. Sometimes, when we think we are hungry, we are actually thirsty! If you've eaten what you think is an appropriate amount but are still feeling peckish, try drinking a big glass of water. Then wait twenty minutes. If you still feel hungry, then you probably are. Staying hydrated helps keep all our systems running properly. Dehydration can cause headaches and other yucky sensations, not to mention it can majorly mess up our bodies! Make sure you drink enough water every day. One source suggests the following as a guide for how much water you should drink per day: your weight divided in half = the number of ounces you should aim for. So if you weigh 100 pounds, you need about 50 ounces of water. If you feel thirsty, water is the best choice!
5. Carbs for cardio. This one is totally a personal preference, but I absolutely cannot cut out carbs/grains! As a fitness instructor and runner, I am the Cardio Queen. My husband mainly adheres to the Paleo diet, which eliminates grains, and I cannot do it. I have tried. But for the amount of cardio I do, my body needs grains for energy. Without them I am unbelievably sluggish! So when I need a carb/grain fix, I go for whole grains. Whole grain bread and whole grain pasta are my favorites and without oatmeal I might starve! Some people do just fine on a grain-free diet, some don't. If your body tells you it needs something, listen to it! But that doesn't mean you should give it the unhealthy version. Do your research and find out what your body is asking for!
6. Be mindful. As a person working toward recovery from an eating disorder, being mindful is one of the hardest things for me when eating. I tend to want to distract myself from what I'm doing - read a book, watch TV, read blogs on my phone, etc. But I've been trying really hard lately to bring myself back to what I'm doing. Focus on my food. How does it taste? What does it look like? Does it taste the way it smells? What's my earliest memory of eating this food? These questions keep me present and focused on what I'm doing which, let's face it, can be really uncomfortable at times. But I have found that I've felt more satisfied with my food when I am actually paying attention to it. The natural sweetness of an apple is so much more enjoyable when I actually notice it! Take the time to honor your food for the nutrients it is giving you, and honor yourself for taking them in!
This Thanksgiving holiday, enjoy your food. Don't hate on it. Savor the flavors and know that you can always have leftovers. You don't have to eat it all in one day. And besides, you can have pumpkin pie in June! There is no reason that this food can only be consumed on Thanksgiving! So enjoy it and rest assured that it's not the last time you'll ever see it. Moderation, moderation, moderation. And perhaps a little whipped cream. ;)
...YOU WON'T!
That's right! I am not going to tell you to cut calories, slash fat and/or burn off everything you eat. Why? Because that takes all the fun out of eating Thanksgiving dinner! It's called THANKSgiving, not GUILTgiving! I am perpetually frustrated by the negativity permeating this holiday, and not just because I'm working toward recovery from an eating disorder. In my opinion, it negates what the holiday is all about in the first place!
So instead of telling you to make your mashed potatoes healthier and to nix the gravy, I'm going to tell you to eat it and enjoy it. Give thanks for it. Savor it. Smile.
I'm also going to tell you that I think the best plan of action is to be healthy and eat healthy ALL THE TIME, not just during the holidays! Here are my Top Six Nutrition Tips & Tricks:
1. Make friends with salad. Salad can be your best friend and your worst enemy. Dressings, cheese, meats and croutons can add serious fat and calories to your otherwise-healthful entree. If you're a dressing fan, try a lower calorie or fat-free dressing option. Or just have your dressing on the side and dip your fork tines in it before spearing your next bite. If you're a meat-on-salad type, opt for leaner meats like chicken, turkey or shrimp. Use cheese sparingly (but don't skip it, it's delicious!) and try to go easy on the croutons. Experiment with other toppings. Change it up! Salad is one of the most versatile foods around and is fun to play around with. My favorite salad toppings are peas, avocado, tomatoes and black beans!
2. Skip the sweeteners. We've all heard that artificial sweeteners are the devil. It's not literally true but they are bad for you. Some studies have shown that artificial sweeteners actually contribute to weight gain and other nasty things by tricking your body into thinking that it needs sweet things, thereby causing you to crave more sweet things. Try using natural sweetening agents such as honey or Stevia (the liquid kind) in your coffee or tea, and experiment with putting fruit in your oatmeal instead of brown sugar. It'll take some getting used to but your taste buds will adjust and you won't miss all the chemicals you used to be ingesting!
3. Protein up! It's no secret that protein is an essential part of a healthy diet. Protein keeps you feeling satiated and helps build muscle! I've found that having some lean protein at each main meal helps me stay alert, energized and even-keeled. I don't get as many blood sugar crashes when I've had my protein! Eggs or Greek yogurt are great to have at breakfast or lunch and turkey, chicken or white fish are my go-to foods for dinners. Nuts, legumes and dairy all can provide protein too. There's lots of choices, have fun!
4. Hydrate. Sometimes, when we think we are hungry, we are actually thirsty! If you've eaten what you think is an appropriate amount but are still feeling peckish, try drinking a big glass of water. Then wait twenty minutes. If you still feel hungry, then you probably are. Staying hydrated helps keep all our systems running properly. Dehydration can cause headaches and other yucky sensations, not to mention it can majorly mess up our bodies! Make sure you drink enough water every day. One source suggests the following as a guide for how much water you should drink per day: your weight divided in half = the number of ounces you should aim for. So if you weigh 100 pounds, you need about 50 ounces of water. If you feel thirsty, water is the best choice!
5. Carbs for cardio. This one is totally a personal preference, but I absolutely cannot cut out carbs/grains! As a fitness instructor and runner, I am the Cardio Queen. My husband mainly adheres to the Paleo diet, which eliminates grains, and I cannot do it. I have tried. But for the amount of cardio I do, my body needs grains for energy. Without them I am unbelievably sluggish! So when I need a carb/grain fix, I go for whole grains. Whole grain bread and whole grain pasta are my favorites and without oatmeal I might starve! Some people do just fine on a grain-free diet, some don't. If your body tells you it needs something, listen to it! But that doesn't mean you should give it the unhealthy version. Do your research and find out what your body is asking for!
6. Be mindful. As a person working toward recovery from an eating disorder, being mindful is one of the hardest things for me when eating. I tend to want to distract myself from what I'm doing - read a book, watch TV, read blogs on my phone, etc. But I've been trying really hard lately to bring myself back to what I'm doing. Focus on my food. How does it taste? What does it look like? Does it taste the way it smells? What's my earliest memory of eating this food? These questions keep me present and focused on what I'm doing which, let's face it, can be really uncomfortable at times. But I have found that I've felt more satisfied with my food when I am actually paying attention to it. The natural sweetness of an apple is so much more enjoyable when I actually notice it! Take the time to honor your food for the nutrients it is giving you, and honor yourself for taking them in!
This Thanksgiving holiday, enjoy your food. Don't hate on it. Savor the flavors and know that you can always have leftovers. You don't have to eat it all in one day. And besides, you can have pumpkin pie in June! There is no reason that this food can only be consumed on Thanksgiving! So enjoy it and rest assured that it's not the last time you'll ever see it. Moderation, moderation, moderation. And perhaps a little whipped cream. ;)
Monday, October 12, 2015
Training
Sorry for my absence! I'm training for a 10k on the 25th and a half marathon in December. Training has kind of eaten up my free time! But the good news is, I'm running about 6 miles with little difficulty (without the jogging stroller. Moderate difficulty with the jogging stroller!)
Thank goodness for the Map My Run app! I would be lost without it.
Thank goodness for the Map My Run app! I would be lost without it.
Sunday, September 20, 2015
Recipe - Banana Oat Raisin "Cookies"
Happy Sunday, and a belated Shana Tova to those who celebrate. :)
I'm sure a great many of you have seen this recipe circulating around on social media. Maybe you've tried it. Maybe you've been meaning to. If you fall into the latter category, my advice is get crackin'! These cookies are GOOD!
I made a few little modifications to the recipe and it came out even better, if that's imaginable. Here is the recipe as I made it:
Ingredients
-3 mashed (ripe) bananas
-1/3 cup applesauce
-2 cups oats
-1/4 cup almond/coconut milk mixture (Almond Breeze makes a great unsweetened one)
-1/4 cup dried cranberries
-1/4 cup raisins
-1/3 cup shredded coconut
-1 tsp vanilla
-1 tsp cinnamon
Directions
-Preheat oven to 350F (175C)
-Mix mashed banana, applesauce, almond/coconut milk, raisins, cranberries and vanilla in large bowl, set aside
-Mix oats, coconut and cinnamon in a separate bowl, add to banana mixture
-Stir well
-Spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray
-Drop dough by tablespoonful onto cookie sheet
-Bake 15 minutes
-If not done, bake in 2 minute intervals until cookies are solid
-Transfer to wire cooling rack
No added sugar, no oil or butter, sweet enough and totally delicious. Enjoy!
I'm sure a great many of you have seen this recipe circulating around on social media. Maybe you've tried it. Maybe you've been meaning to. If you fall into the latter category, my advice is get crackin'! These cookies are GOOD!
I made a few little modifications to the recipe and it came out even better, if that's imaginable. Here is the recipe as I made it:
Ingredients
-3 mashed (ripe) bananas
-1/3 cup applesauce
-2 cups oats
-1/4 cup almond/coconut milk mixture (Almond Breeze makes a great unsweetened one)
-1/4 cup dried cranberries
-1/4 cup raisins
-1/3 cup shredded coconut
-1 tsp vanilla
-1 tsp cinnamon
Directions
-Preheat oven to 350F (175C)
-Mix mashed banana, applesauce, almond/coconut milk, raisins, cranberries and vanilla in large bowl, set aside
-Mix oats, coconut and cinnamon in a separate bowl, add to banana mixture
-Stir well
-Spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray
-Drop dough by tablespoonful onto cookie sheet
-Bake 15 minutes
-If not done, bake in 2 minute intervals until cookies are solid
-Transfer to wire cooling rack
No added sugar, no oil or butter, sweet enough and totally delicious. Enjoy!
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