Friday, February 13, 2009

HEALTHY OATMEAL COOKIE SNACKS

By Sara Snow

Here I took an oatmeal cookie recipe and adjusted it to make it a healthy breakfast or afternoon snack.. I cut the sugar and fat and added natural fiber, protein and fresh fruits. Use organic ingredients whenever possible.

INGREDIENTS

  • 2 cups whole wheat flour
  • ½ cup ground flax seed
  • 1 t baking soda
  • 1 t salt
  • 1 t cinnamon
  • ½ t nutmeg
  • ½ t cardamom
  • ½ cup (1 stick) organic butter - room temperature
  • ½ cup natural cane sugar
  • 2 organic eggs
  • ½ cup honey
  • 1 t vanilla extract
  • 1 small apple, peeled and chopped
  • ½ cup goji berries or raisins or craisins
  • ½ cup chopped dates or apricots
  • 1 cup chopped walnuts or almonds (optional)
  • 1 ½ cups coconut
  • 3 cups old fashioned organic oats
  • 1/4 cup applesauce

INSTRUCTIONS

  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • Stir together dry ingredients (flour, salt, baking soda and spices).
  • In a mixing bowl, beat butter and sugars. Add in honey, eggs and vanilla. Slowly add in dry mixture and beat together. Stir in oats, applesauce, coconut, fruit and nuts.
  • Drop spoonfuls onto baking sheet.
  • Bake 12-14 minutes at 350.

Makes 2 dozen

Thanks Jennifer!

Goals!

The topic of our discussion on Monday was goals.  Specifically what are our long term goals and how are we going to start this week to make them happen.  For example my goal is to run a 5k this summer.  My goal this week is to go to the gym MWF for a cardio workout and TTh for a strength workout.  How will we help each other keep our goals:
  • we will be meeting once a week to discuss various topics of nutrition and fitness
  • As more people come we will divide into groups or pairs so we can motivate one another
  • we will make group goals and personal goals for each week
Our group goal for this week is to get rid of junkfood and unhealthy snacks and replace them with healthy snacks.  If you have a favorite healthy snack please share it with us.

Jennifer brought some yummy cookies that had lots of healthy stuff in them.  I will post the recipe ASAP.

I showed everyone some easy training exercises that you can do on nikewomen.com.  You can do these exercises on those days when there is just no way you will be able to make it to the gym.  Just go to nikewomen.com and click on training and you will be able to sign up for an exercise plan.  You can also create a widget with you exercise goal to put on your blog.

So our meeting next week will be same place same time.  If you can get a health journal to bring with you so you can record your goals and what we talk about.  I think that will be really helpful.  We had lots of fun at our first meeting and look forward to having more people come. 

Monday, February 2, 2009

Just so you know...

yes, I am a strict vegetarian (vegan), but I promise I will not be trying to convert anyone. Any links on raising vegetarian children, vegetarian eating, or any comments that are made are only to help those who want to add more vegetable and grains to their diet not to convince you to stop eating meat. Most of the links have really good recipes and information on helping children (and husbands) eat vegetables and that sort of thing. If you would like to know more about becoming vegetarian or have questions about the information that is in the links posted let me know and I will be happy to talk to you about it. Let me know if there are any links that you want to have posted that have healthy recipes, I don't know to many that are not vegan so I would love some suggestions. Thanks.

Welcome!

I will be e-mailing everyone about a meeting time. You can leave comments I have to moderate them before they are put on the blog.