Category: Healthy Snacks and Fuel Food
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Iced Oat Bars
Craving a sweet treat? For as long as I can remember, I have always reached for something sweet at the end of a meal. It has definitely been a time-honoured tradition in our family to enjoy dessert and it is a habit I have never considered giving up. However, what has changed over time is the type of treat that I find will satisfy the sweet craving and it no longer needs to be something full of refined sugars, saturated fats and processed ingredients.
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Vegan Chocolate Marble Milk Bread
If I could only eat one food for the rest of my life, there is no doubt that bread would be high on my list. My favourite types of bread have always been the heavier loaves such as pumpernickel, multigrain and soda bread. So, in complete contract, when I recently discovered Japanese Milk Bread with its soft, light texture, it was a surprise to find it so appealing.
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Orange and Lemon Sweets (Vegan and GF)
When you think of oranges and lemons, what comes to mind? More than likely it is a vision of a couple of citrus fruits characterized by their leathery rind, white pith and juicy segments! Not at all surprising as these fruits are a common ingredient in baking and cooking and can have many uses for both sweet and savoury dishes. However, when I think of oranges and lemons something quite different comes to mind.
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The “Happy Pear” Flapjacks
Although these treats are definitely unlike any flapjack I have ever tasted, the appeal of this healthy treat is that you can be creative with the ingredients and mix up the fruits and nuts as long you keep approximately the same volume of ingredients. I modified the original recipe replacing some of the walnuts with pistachio nuts and adding sunflower seeds in place of some of the pumpkin seeds to add colour and texture.
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Raw Ginger Bites (Vegan and GF)
Ginger is one of my kitchen staples and I appreciate its versatility as a kitchen spice for both savoury and sweet dishes. Not only is ginger valued for the bite it adds in the kitchen but, historically, ginger has also been used as a preservative, a tonic to treat common ailments and is renowned in both Eastern and Western medicine as a digestive aid. After the holiday season, which can involves eating more rich foods than normal or, in general day-to-day eating, ginger can serve as a natural remedy to assist with the digestive process.
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Triple Layer Tahini or Caramel Bars (Vegan and GF)
Traditionally, treats have been considered unhealthy as they tend to be processed foods, high in calories with little if any nutritional value. They can also contain harmful levels of added sugar, sodium and fat. In some ways, this “unhealthy” aspect of treats seems to defeat their intended purpose if the rituals of celebrating, rewarding or consoling includes eating potentially unhealthy ingredients. Even though a lot of the WFPB treats contain healthy and nutritious ingredients, they still need to be consumed in moderation especially if they are part of a weight loss plan. However, there is no doubt in my mind that all treats are not created equal so next you are looking for food to treat yourself, why not give one of these healthy and nutritious WFPB treats a try?
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Apricot and Peanut Recovery Bars
After any endurance event the body needs time to recover so it can reenergize itself for next time. For the body to recover more quickly, another important piece is choosing the right foods. This is one of the challenges I face as I often don’t feel like eating after strenuous activity. However, these tasty apricot and peanut butter bars provide a great mixture of healthy ingredients that I find appealing even right after a workout to help kickstart the recovery process.. If you are not athletically inclined, the good news is that recovery bars are not just for after sports! There are lots of situations in life that involve recovery and the one most of us experience at some point is stress. Much like a workout, the “fight or flight” response of stress can impact the body leaving it needing recovery. As this can come in the form of time, rest and healthy sustenance, these decadent bars make a great recovery treat for even the worst of days!
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Oat and Apple Biscuits (Vegan and Gluten Free)
What comes to mind when you think of a biscuit? My guess is that it probably depends on where you live! Having grown up in one country and then lived most of my adult life in another, I have found there are several words that are used quite differently in each country. One of these is the humble biscuit!
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Double Blueberry, Lemon and Almond Granola
There is nothing quite like the sweet taste of a fresh, ripe blueberry. These small, plump berries with their deep, rich color are amazingly versatile and their fresh, fruity flavour can serve to enhance many foods as well as being a delicious addition to a variety of dishes including pancakes, pies, tarts, muffins, sauces and cakes. This double blueberry, lemon and almond granola is vegan and gluten free and full of wholesome ingredients and by making your own, you can control the amount of sugars, fats and overall ingredients to suit your preferences.
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Sweet Potatoes and Yams – What is the difference?
Sweet potatoes are a popular ingredient in whole foods plant-based cooking. The names of sweet potato and yam have been used interchangeably but it turns out they are two of the most confused root vegetables. What’s in a name .. it turns out quite a lot!
The Dragon's picnic 