Nut-Free Chickpea Blondies

Nut-Free Chickpea Blondies

by | Sep 18, 2020 | Recipes

Coconut Chicken Curry with Zoodles

A “blondie” might not seem like a healthy snack, but when you take a peek at these ingredients, you may be surprised to see how nutrient dense, yet decadent, they really are! This recipe makes a great snack for kids’ lunch boxes or a healthy dessert for the whole family to enjoy!

Chock full of nutrients, the star of this blondie is the nutty, buttery chickpeas. With both soluble and insoluble fibre they really pack a digestive punch. The soluble fibre, raffinose in chickpeas, gets broken down by the good bacteria in your gut – which means easier and more regular bowel movements. This is great news for all of us, but especially for kids returning to school, as the added stress and change in routine can often lead to constipation in children.

Sunflower seeds are the perfect pairing, providing plant-based protein and fat to keep energy up and blood sugar levels balanced. Sunflower seeds are also a great source of vitamin E, which helps keep hair, skin and nails looking good while protecting your cells from free radical damage. Unfortunately, approximately 60% of North American’s are not consuming adequate amounts of vitamin E daily. Emerging research suggests vitamin E may have a role in regulating allergic airway disease (like asthma)(1) , so adequate vitamin E consumption may be an important preventative in pediatric nutrition.

Lastly, coconut oil provides more healthy fats. The type of saturated fat in coconut oil, medium chain fatty acids, is shuttled to the liver to provide a quick and useable energy source. For adults, eating coconut oil regularly has been shown to support increased metabolism and help promote fat burning, as well as raise HDL (good) cholesterol, which lowers the risk of heart disease. In children, coconut oil provides fuel for the brain to help keep them focused during learning.

This blondie recipe combines good fats with fibre and protein all while keeping the sugars low! There’s just 1 tsp of maple syrup in each blondie making these a solid lunch box addition or a super after school snack and best of all they’re NUT FREE!!

They’re quick and easy to mix together in the food processor, and lining your pan with parchment will make clean up a snap! And because it is so easy to make your kids can make it with you.

 

  1. Joan M. Cook-Millsand Christine A. McCary. Feb 3 2012. Isoforms of Vitamin E Differentially Regulate Inflammation. PMC3271790.

Nut-free Chickpea Blondies

A “blondie” might not seem like a healthy snack, but when you take a peek at these ingredients, you may be surprised to see how nutrient dense, yet decadent, they really are!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 16 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tsp Coconut Oil plus more for greasing pan
  • 2 cups Chickpeas cooked
  • ½ cup Sunflower Seed Butter
  • ¼ cup Maple Syrup
  • 2 tsp Vanilla Exctract
  • ½ tsp Cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp Sea Salt
  • ¼ tsp Baking Powder
  • ¼ tsp Baking Soda
  • 1 tsp Lemon Juice
  • ⅓ cup Unsweetened Shredded Coconut

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350ºF. Grease an 8 x 8 baking dish with coconut oil. Set aside.
  • Add all ingredients to the bowl of a food processor with an S-blade. Process until smooth. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to ensure even processing.
  • Spread the batter evenly into the pan. Bake for 20 -25 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the middle of the pan comes out clean.
  • Once cooked, remove from oven and let cool for 20-30 minutes. Cut into 16 equal squares and enjoy!

Notes

Nutritional information per serving:
Calories: 112
Carbs: 9g
Fibre: 2g
Sugar: 4g
Protein: 3g
Fat: 7g

Green Monster Muffins

Green Monster Muffins

by | Sep 11, 2020 | Recipes

Coconut Chicken Curry with Zoodles

Do you ever have trouble convincing your kiddies to eat their vegetables? Do they turn their noses up at vegetables?

Then these muffins are your new best friend! They’ll help to get some greens into your kids’ diet.

Spinach was a superfood before superfoods were cool, providing too many health benefits to list. Most people have heard that spinach is good for the eyes, and muscles, but did you know it’s also good for your immune system? Spinach is an excellent source of Vitamin K which acts as a cofactor for some proteins used in immune response, including Natural Killer cells – the ones that help fight viruses.

Whole grain oats contain a soluble fibre called beta-glucan. This slowly digesting fibre also make you feel fuller, longer by delaying stomach emptying. Beta-glucan fibre only partially dissolves in the gut making a thick, gel like solution that is a friend to your good gut bacteria – and we all need as much immune support as we can find these days! For the adults in the house, oats can reduce LDL (bad cholesterol), reduce blood sugar, and may also improve insulin sensitivity.

Naturally sweetened with both dates and bananas, these muffins provide a solid dose of the essential mineral potassium. In one Canadian study potassium intakes were far below the “adequate Intake” level for all age groups. The European Respiratory Journal found that bananas could decrease wheezing and improve lung function in children with asthma, possibly due to their antioxidant and potassium content. What a simple way to support our respiratory system!

We understand busy families need something quick to prepare. If you’re feeling really keen add some eyes and a smile with a few stevia-sweetened chocolate chips before serving. You can now watch your kids eat their veggies while munching on this delicious Green Monster Muffin.

 

Green Monster Muffins

Do you ever have trouble convincing your kiddies to eat their vegetables? Do they turn their noses up at vegetables?
Then these muffins are your new best friend! They'll help to get some greens into your kids' diet.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 12 muffins

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tsp Coconut Oil
  • 2½ cups Baby Spinach
  • 1 Banana ripe
  • ½ Avocado
  • 2 tbsp Vanilla Protein Powder
  • 4 Medjool Dates
  • ¾ cup Organic Coconut Milk
  • 2 Eggs large
  • 2.5 cups Oats rolled
  • 1 tsp Baking Powder
  • 1 tsp Baking Soda
  • 2 tbsp Lemon Juice

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 350ºF. Line 12 regular muffin holes with parchment paper liners.
  • In a blender container, add coconut oil, baby spinach, banana, avocado, protein powder, dates, and coconut milk. Blend until smooth.
  • Add the eggs, oats, baking powder and baking soda to the blender container. Blend again until a batter is formed. Quickly blitz in lemon juice.
  • Scoop the muffin batter into the lined muffin holes. Bake for approximately 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the middle of a muffin comes out clean.
  • Remove from oven. Remove muffins from muffin holes while still warm to prevent sticking. Let cool and enjoy!

Notes

Nutritional information per serving:
Calories: 157
Carbs: 22g
Fibre: 3g
Sugar: 7g
Protein: 6g
Fat: 6g

Black Bean Brownies

Black Bean Brownies

by | May 22, 2020 | Recipes

Two Glasses with Detox Green Smoothie

Who doesn’t love a good brownie? Well, these ones have all of the fudgy taste you want in a brownie with none of the sugar crash!

Thanks to the black beans and eggs, each serving has 7 grams of protein! The addition of protein-containing ingredients to a brownie recipe helps to balance blood sugar levels and ensure that it sustains your energy levels. 

In addition to the protein content, black beans also contain lots of fibre to help keep you fuller for longer and to support gut health. As indicated by their deep black colour, they are also full of antioxidants, which are the pigments responsible for their colour. Antioxidants help protect the body from a wide range of conditions ranging from infections to some cancers.

Xylitol is the sweetener used in this recipe, and is a healthy swap out for regular sugar! Xylitol is a sugar alcohol, so it provides a sweet flavour without spiking blood sugar levels. As opposed to regular sugar which contributes to dental issues, xylitol is also protective for the teeth.

Of course, the chocolatey flavour of the brownies is all thanks to cocoa! Cocoa is one of the richest dietary sources of the mineral magnesium. Magnesium is needed as a cofactor for over 300 enzymatic reactions in the human body, but it’s most well-known for being a relaxant. Additionally, magnesium helps to balance blood sugar levels (1), which is especially important when consuming sweet treats!

Next time you’re in the mood for a delicious, chocolatey brownie… we hope you’ll give these ones a try! Happy baking!

References
1. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/is-magnesium-good-for-my-blood-sugar-levels-if-i-have-diabetes#1 

 

Black Bean Brownies

Who doesn’t love a good brownie? Well, these ones have all of the fudgy taste you want in a brownie with none of the sugar crash!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Dessert
Servings 12
Calories 249 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups Black Beans cooked
  • 3 Eggs
  • 1/4 cup Coconut Oil melted
  • 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
  • 1/4 tsp Sea Salt
  • 3/4 cup Cocoa Powder
  • 1/4 cup Xylitol
  • 1/4 cup Apple Sauce or plain coconut yogurt
  • 2 tbsp Almond Butter
  • 1/2 tsp Baking Powder
  • 100 grams Organic Dark Chocolate 75% chopped and divided
  • 1/4 cup Sliced Almonds
  • ⅛ cup Roasted Cashews chopped

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350ºF. Line an 8 x 8 baking dish with parchment paper.
  • In the bowl of a food processor, add the cooked black beans and eggs and begin to process while slowly pouring in the melted coconut oil. Process until the beans are very smooth.
  • Add vanilla, salt, cocoa powder, xylitol, apple sauce and baking powder to the black bean mixture. Blend until well combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
  • Add half of the chocolate chunks to the brownie batter and pulse approximately 5 times, just until mixed.
  • Using a spatula, transfer the batter to the prepared baking dish and smooth the top out evenly. Sprinkle the rest of the chocolate chunks, the sliced almonds, and the roasted cashews evenly on the top of the batter mixture.
  • Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out with just a few moist crumbs.
  • Let the brownies cool completely at room temperature, then move them to the fridge for at least 4 hours before cutting into squares.
  • Enjoy!

Notes

Nutritional information per serving:
Calories: 207
Carbs: 20g
Fibre: 6g
Sugar: 3g
Protein: 7g
Fat: 13g