The post Protein Packed Nut Butter Bites appeared first on Day2Day Joys.
]]>
Written by Contributing Writer, Kari at Living Strong, Health & Wellness
Snack time!
Personally, I’m not a big “snacker”. I can go meal to meal without needing any extra food to keep me going. Although, having a family, I need to have a plan on hand for our meals and snacks and then I need to make sure they are ready and available to eat!
My kids, on the other hand, seem to need a snack every 30 minutes. I can understand why since they are on the go, non-stop, active kids. This can present a problem when you are wanting to feed your family healthy foods that nourish the body. Unfortunately, the quick and convenient, grab and go processed options you find on the grocery store shelves don’t make the cut for me. It’s hard enough to make sure they have nourishing and healthy lunches everyday – then to add in snacks to mix, that means more creative ideas are needed!
I know it would be easier to go this route, but I’ve spent too many years building a strong foundation of health in my family, this is one area I don’t want to skimp on. This means I need to be creative in the kitchen when it comes to snacks.
I have a long list of snacks that we rely on, but one of our favorites are these Nut Butter Bites! The kids love helping with them as well – which I think makes them even more enjoyable. Kids love helping and being a part of creating the food they eat.
These amazingly healthy bites are a great snack for my active kids and only a couple are needed for them to feel satisfied. Packed with protein from the nut butter, a healthy source of energy from raw honey, good and healthy fat from the coconut and extremely low in sodium – you can ‘t go wrong with these delicious treats! They are more like a dessert than a snack. That’s always a plus!
To top off these already great nut butter bites, roll them in sucanat (unrefined cane sugar), shredded coconut, cocoa powder or mini chocolate chips (we like Enjoy Life! allergen-free brand). Hands down, these are healthier than any overly processed and refined ‘snack’ you can get off a shelf.
Sure, there’s a few minutes of time involved, but isn’t your family worth it? Of course they are!
Along with many other healthy snacks, appetizers, beverages, main dishes and desserts, this recipe can be found in my cookbook, Real Food. Real Kitchen. So Good! I hope you and your family enjoy these as much as we do!
- ½ cup organic natural peanut butter (no added ingredients, just peanuts) or nut butter of choice
- ½ cup organic raw honey
- ½ – 1 cup organic unsweetened coconut, finely shredded
- ⅓ cup organic mini dark chocolate chips, soy-free (we like Enjoy Life! brand, allergen-free)
- sucanat (unrefined sugar) for rolling the bites (other options: you can roll them in coconut, chocolate chips or cocoa powder)
- In a medium size bowl, mix the peanut butter and honey until combined thoroughly.
- Add the chocolate chips. You can add more or less according to your taste (I always add the larger amount).
- Add the coconut in ¼ cup amounts until the consistency reaches a thick, yet semi-sticky state.
- You don’t want it so sticky that you can’t roll it, but you don’t want it so dry that it wont hold together. Find the happy medium.
- Once you are able to roll them and they still have some stickiness to them, roll into balls and then roll in the sucanat.
- Place on wax or parchment paper on a baking sheet or plate.
- Refrigerate for a while so they can harden up a bit, transfer to a glass jar and keep in the fridge.
What is your favorite healthy snack?
The post Protein Packed Nut Butter Bites appeared first on Day2Day Joys.
]]>The post Honey Health Benefits appeared first on Day2Day Joys.
]]>
I must admit I have a slight addiction to honey…At least twice a day I have a cup of green tea with honey and rice milk. It’s like holding a little cup of heaven…mmm. Makes me feel so warm, cozy and content. I have tried other natural sweeteners, but honey always wins!
Besides being tasty in a cup of tea, honey has a long list of amazing health benefits. Awhile back I shared that one of those is healing eye allergies and pink eye with a simple Honey Eye Wash.
So what else can we use this amazing natural product for?
1. Maintain blood sugar and energy
With another year of school starting, we can all use an energy boost! Honey contains glucose and fructose so it gives a quick energy boost and maintains it unlike the crash of regular sugar. It is absorbed quickly into the bloodstream and is more easily digested than regular sugar.
2. Immune booster
Honey can act as an immune booster, especially when using local honey. Local pollen will be in the honey making it a natural immune booster. Even if it is not local, honey contains antioxidants to strengthen your immune system.
3. Clear and soften skin
A skin mask of pure honey left on for 15-30 minutes can soften and clarify the skin. Wash off with warm water and feel the difference, instantly. To lighten and brighten the skin, mix a honey and lemon mask. Or for irritated skin mix a honey and milk mask. Check out this Holiday Honey Face Mask great for your skin as well as an frugal homemade gift.
4. Hair conditioner
A simple mix of honey and water worked into the hair conditions and cleanses. It can also lighten dark hair roots. Mix 1 tablespoon of honey with 6 tablespoons of warm water and coat hair. Rinse with warm water after 15-20 minutes.
5. Soothe an upset tummy
Drinking a warm cup of water with about 2 tablespoons of honey can calm an upset tummy. Antimicrobial properties in honey can kill bacteria and infection.
6. Soothe cough and sore throat
A spoonful of honey coats and soothes the throat. For cough, mix 1 tablespoon of honey in 1/2 cup of grape juice.
7. Cleanse and heal cuts, scrapes and burns
The antiseptic properties of honey clean out the wound and promote healing. Dab honey directly on the affected area. Mix with a small amount of olive oil if desired.
The antifungal, antioxidant, antimicrobial and antiseptic properties of honey make it such a powerful natural remedy! Remember, the darker the honey, the better. Never give honey to an infant under the age of one and be cautious about using raw honey under the age of three.
What is your favorite honey remedy?
*this post is linked to: Encourage One Another, Titus 2sdays, and WFMW*
The post Honey Health Benefits appeared first on Day2Day Joys.
]]>