Overnight Oats...

I love oats so much, I cannot even express how versatile, and wonderful they can be in the kitchen. I, sadly, cannot consume them too very often. They are not a food my body loves too terribly much, so I try not to overdo it. Nonetheless, they offer quite the nutritious punch, and I will enjoy them on occasion. Such an awesome source of fiber! I always purchase certified gluten-free and organic. Oats have been shown to be highly genetically modified so look for that organic label. Oats are often cross-contaminated with wheat, so it's important to tell someone with a sensitivity or allergy to wheat whether or you use certified gluten-free oats or not.

So I super love breakfasts that I can prepare the night before to make my life more simple in the morning. Well in walks in all the foodie bloggers rage...overnight oats, so appropriate. I wanted to share how I prepared them the last time. It was super yummy, so much so that I prepped the next day again to have them the same exact way in the morning.

I always soak my oats with water and apple cider vinegar the night before to increase nutrient absorbance potential as well as making them more digestible. Here's how I typically soak them. I love that with overnight oats you do just that except just a tad bit differently.

Overnight Oats Recipe

You'll need the following for your base...

1 16oz Wide Mouth Mason Jar
1/2 Cup Organic Certified Gluten Free Traditional Rolled Oats
1/2 Cup Organic Full Fat Coconut Milk
1/2 Tsp Fresh Organic Lemon Juice (helps with making oats more digestible)
4 Drops Organic Stevia (WE use Trader Joe's)
3/4 Tbsp Organic Chia Seeds

Mix the above ingredients in the jar. Then layer the following ingredients in this order. I do this every time I make them. What comes after this may vary.

Toppings...

1 Handful Frozen Organic Raspberries
2-3 Tbsp Raw Chunky Almond Butter (We use Trader Joes)

Top with dairy free yogurt. I used Kite Hill Greek Almond Yogurt. Place it in the fridge. In the morning drizzle with raw honey on top and add such fresh fruit like I did with the bananas.

You can get really creative and top them with all kind of yummy options.

Have you made overnight oats? What toppings do you like to use?

Helping you to be a good steward of your health,

Marie Brock, HHC

Pumpkin Pie Smoothie

I am so elated it is Autumn because of one word....Pumpkin! There are so many lovely varieties of this winter squash. It can be prepared in numerous fashions as well. What a joy to play in the kitchen!!! Pumpkins are so very nutritious in addition to being delicious! There is over half an ounce of fiber in one cup, 394 mg Potassium, 1.2 gr Protein, and 197% of the daily value of Beta-Carotene (precursor to Vitamin A). One handful of seeds is your zinc intake for the day.

Pumpkins are a versatile food. They can be eaten cooked or raw, savory or sweet. The seeds and flesh are edible. Getting our nutrition from our food, versus supplements is always a better route. There is not a supplement around, being an isolated portion of the food that will ever be just as good as the real deal.

Today I thought it would be fun to share a yummy recipe and video. Here is a great way to start your day...a Pumpkin Pie Smoothie! It includes "raw pumpkin puree." Watch the video to see how to make it!

Smoothie Ingredients:

1/2 Cup Raw Pumpkin Puree (organic canned will do)

1-2 inch Chunk Raw Ginger

1 Cup Whole Coconut Milk (homemade or organic BPA free canned by Native Forest) or Unsweetened Almond Milk (again homemade is best)

1/2 Tsp Raw Vanilla Bean Powder

1 Tsp Organic Allspice

1 Tsp Ceylon Cinnamon

1 Tsp Chia seeds

2-3 Tbsp Hempseeds

2 Medjool Dates

2 Cups of Ice

*Optional: 1 Tbsp Carob Powder

*Optional: 2 Tsp Maca (gelatinized)

Watch the video below to see how to make raw pumpkin purée!

Super Easy Healthy Popsicles!

When you are going the healthier, whole foods route some think you have to give up your favorite things. While that may be true with a few things for the most part there is a real, yummy, nutritious version of what you love to eat. Knowing what to substitute is exceedingly important when you have children!

We live in a society that makes it difficult to eat healthy and raise our children that way. I want my children to take care of the body the Lord has given them. 1 Corinthians 6:19 says, "Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own." We know not the day nor the hour when we will return with the Lord Yeshua, nonetheless preserving our health makes us good stewards so that we can be used at any time in any way.

Back to healthy choices, we simply cannot go around telling our children NO constantly. We have to pick our battles, and quite frankly should say yes if a request is within reason. A child's fond warm weather past time are Popsicles. Even I can remember as a child running for the ice cream truck. Knowing now what is in those cool desserts I gladly run in the other direction. Regardless, it doesn't take away the desire for a sweet treat.

Earlier this week I received my BPA Free Popsicle molds...I was so excited to try them out! So I figured I'd snap a few shots and share the process with you. I kept it fairly simple. I ordered the molds from Amazon.

Ingredients:

2 Cups Organic Frozen Mixed Berries

1 Can Native Forest Organic Whole Coconut Milk

2 Tbsp Coconut Secret Coconut Nectar

Next just put everything into your blender.

Depending on the speed of your blender make it smooth and creamy.

Then it is as simple as pouring into the molds. Truth be told this filled almost all of my molds completely. Just one was a tad short. I didn't feel like opening another can. I let them freeze for 3 hours.  

They turned out really well. Feel free to use any natural sweetener you like. Depending on the fruit you use you may be able to avoid it altogether. Tell me if you try them out! Be healthy, be blessed, and be a good steward!