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Tag: oats

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Date Oat Bars w/superfood Maca

These are simple, scrumptious and pack a wonderful nutrient punch. I’m always looking for that balance of sweet without added sugar, and a snack that both myself and my kids can enjoy! These are gluten free, and are sweetened with dates and some honey–(or can use agave if you want them to be vegan)…and the dates and oats provide a perfect hearty yet soft texture. You can bake the oats (optional) but the bars are no bake which also makes them a win in my camp. I made a double batch this weekend and it will hopefully last us through the week–for breakfasts for the school girls, snacking moments before workouts for me, and on-the-go snacking for my toddler. Wins all around, right?

So, about this superfood…Maca. It’s something that’s come into my kitchen (and awareness) only recently, and I love it for postpartum health, because it’s known to balance hormones, especially estrogen, and provide energy, vitality and clear-headedness. All things that mommas need, right?

Here’s a cool article about it if you’re new to the Maca trend.

The dates are another wonderful food for promoting a balanced and positive mood, and the oats are known for balancing and promoting healthy lactation.

Here’s the recipe! When you make these, comment below what you think of them, and where you ate them–ie, everywhere!:)

Ingredients
  • 1 heaping cup packed dates, pitted (deglet noor or medjool)
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup or agave nectar (or honey if not vegan)
  • 1/4 cup creamy salted natural peanut butter or almond butter
  • 1 1/2 cups rolled oats (gluten-free for GF eaters)
  • 1 heaping tablespoon Maca powder
  • 2 scoops chocolate Shaklee life shake (vegan).
  • optional additions: coconut flakes, chopped almonds, chocolate chips, dried fruit, nuts, banana chips, vanilla, etc.
Instructions
  1. Process dates in a food processor until small bits remain (about 1 minute). It should form a “dough” like consistency. You can add water to dates if you’re having trouble getting them to blend/process well.
  2. Optional step: Toast your oats (and almonds if raw) in a 350-degree F (176 C) oven for 10-15 minutes or until slightly golden brown.
  3. Place oats, protein, maca and dates in a large mixing bowl – set aside.
  4. Warm honey and peanut butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir and pour over oat mixture and then mix, breaking up the dates to disperse throughout.
  5. Once thoroughly mixed, transfer to an 8×8-inch baking dish or other small pan lined with plastic wrap or parchment paper so they lift out easily.
  6. Press down firmly until uniformly flattened – I use something flat, like a drinking glass, to press down and really pack the bars, which helps them hold together better.
  7. Cover with parchment or plastic wrap, and let firm up in fridge or freezer for 15-20 minutes.
  8. Remove bars from pan and chop into 10 even bars (or 9 squares). Store in an airtight container for up to a few days.

Cheers! I dare you to have just one…

…no guilt snacking since they are so darn good for you. #intuitiveeating

Adapted from this recipe over at Minimalist Baker; doesn’t include the Maca or Life shake.

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4 Quick ways to Declutter your schedule for joyful, grounded living

Photo by Andrew Galligan Photography.

This is a topic that is very close to home indeed.

I am converting from being chronically busy, over planner, over committed, running around lady…to someone who truly enjoys an afternoon at home with my kids, no plans, or a morning with space for peaceful strolls, errands, and a few work moments from my phone, but with ample time to explore new places or just let the kids be kids. I savor the slowness of some days, and still mix it up with energized out and about days…but overall, we’re chasing slow, as part of our move to a slower pace that happened 6 months ago.

It’s been incredible to watch a shift in the culture for many of us, as we wake up and realize that busyness has been glorified, we feel guilty, boring or unmotivated if we have space in our life? How and why did we let ourselves get so busy with individually good activities and commitments, and then over-whelmed by it, in a vicious cycle…to the point where we’re spending more time out of our homes than in it, or hours of carpool/drop offs? Or for single folks, how did work and other commitments mean that you have less than 7 hours a day in your own dwelling or for your own pursuits!

I’m learning from children.. life outside of a schedule.

You know how kids can go to a playground or out in the yard and play for hours; literally lose track of time? What a gift.

For someone like me, that’s challenging but a blessed reminder that our days are not just about checking off tiny boxes, but about expansive BEING in the moment. In each moment that is given to us.

So, clearing the schedule is like inviting magic back in, and letting yourself get curious, what will the day bring?

Potentially, you may get lost in an activity that you’re passionate about, you can, thanks to your newly prioritized life.

This is my first time writing out these new principles of living, so share your thoughts with me, and we’ll keep embracing this new life together, the life of “chasing slow“.

  1. This is one that’s helped me tremendously…to clear mental space and enjoy the days more: Menu Plan, and shop the plan. It doesn’t sound ground breaking and it doesn’t have to be fancy. For whatever reason, having that set up on Sunday when you go into the week, can change everything about the flow of Monday and the week ahead. I love a good menu planner/shopping list template, and I snatched up a similiar one at anthropology earlier this year, which helps us tremendously, to not only cut down on mental space, but on frequent pesky trips to the store…such a time suck!–but to also better use the things we get from the store. I also strategically use Blue Apron.
  2. Look at your schedule for the week, with potential obligations, and do 1-2 LESS than you had already committed to on each day (and I don’t mean flake out on people)…On the days when things are packed, even with the good stuff, we tend to enjoy it all less because we’re thinking logistics…getting from point A to B. It’s a luxury to be able to savor and enjoy each activity without having to think ahead or worry about squeezing things in. I’m learning this lesson, and it helps tremendously. I’ll look at my week ahead and slash or move things around in my planner to allow 30 min to 1 hours in btwn…does anyone else do this? It’s a true joy to not always be rushing.
  3. Batch your errands. This is like #1…so obvious but so helpful when implemented. If you have to run to the post office, do the grocery run then too, or wait and do all your errands on specific days and times of the week when you know it’s a lower productivity timeslot for you. You can take a great quiz here if you’re someone who has flexible work or just needs to figure out when they are most productive. Plus…we live in an era of online shopping, and I’ll share another post with my top 10 time-savers using sites, while also being able to indulge in local, conscious consumption
  4. Finally…while saying NO to over-scheduling, overwhelm, constant running around, you’re saying YES to meaningful moments with friends, and loved ones. Schedule in the social time as much as you schedule the other stuff. This is a large part of what we look forward to when looking at our planners, day by day, and, according to Blue Zones author Dan Beuttner, is an important indicator of how long we will live, and how healthy we will be.

What do you do to create space, peace and joy in your week? #slowisthenewbusy

 

I know for myself, as I’ve begun saying yes to less…I’ve thought alot about what I’m creating space FOR…and those priorities help drive the motivation for the rest of it to be simpler. We discuss that and so much more in my Life by Design course starting in the new year…I hope you’ll join us!

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Delicious Oatmeal date bars

 

These bars are scrumptious. I had a feeling they would be because my amazing friend Monica posted the original recipe on her foodblog, and I trust her, completely, with my taste buds. But, I had to use what I had on hand, and dried blueberries weren’t forthcoming in my very quick supermarket run (with 3 kids, I don’t do that too often, believe me:))

So, here’s  my adaptation, with my favorite protein source added in, and I’ll link to the original recipe at the bottom so you can compare and contrast:) Can’t EVER have too many bars around for snacking kiddos, although since my kids go to a nut free school, these are not lunch box acceptable…so we save for before and after school (they are great for breakfasts if you warm them slightly).

Oat Date Protein Bars

  • 2 scoops vanilla life protein
  • 1 1/2 cup oatmeal
  • 1 cup dried dates
  • 1/4 cup almond butter (I used the delicious maple almond from Justin)
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • Large dollop (1 tbsp) coconut oil
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 egg, whisked.

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease pan (I used good ol butter), and a pie pan just because I wanted them to come out that way; square pan 9-9 works well too.

Blend the dry ingredients together in a stand mixer.

Mix in the wet ingredients, starting with the almond butter, milk last.

Stir well (I might have overstirred but it gave them a nice light effect when cooked).

Bake for 25 minutes, or until bubbly on edges and slightly brown.

Enjoy!!! Especially with tea and some loved ones or friends. Good things aren’t meant to be kept to ourselves:)