Category: Breakfast
Creamy Cardamom Oatmeal
Do oats make a regular appearance on your family table? If not, I encourage you to welcome this nutritious grain into your family meal plan.
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Spiced Granola
I must admit I've usually bought granola, thinking it's too complicated to make on my own, but boy was I wrong! Homemade granola is so easy to whip up and so much more nutritious and delicious when you play around with add ins yourself. Not to mention the irresistible aroma that floods your kitchen when its baking. It also makes for a thoughtful gift for a friend and is ideal for travel. I am sure this will become a breakfast and snack staple in your household just as it has in ours.
Spiced Carrot Muffins
Baking with vegetables is a genius idea for three wonderful reasons - added nutrition, natural sweetness and moisture. Carrots, in particular, are the perfect addition to cakes, muffins and breads. I created these whole grain, omega-3 fatty acid-rich, refined sugar-free, spiced carrot muffins to make my mornings less stressful, more nutritious and delicious.
Cinnamon Maple Overnight Oats
Overnight oats are what the moniker implies - oats soaked in a liquid of choice overnight until they are softened into a pudding-like consistency, presenting themselves as the perfect canvas for additions and toppings like fruits, nuts, sweeteners and spices! The most fun aspect of this dish is getting your kid to make breakfast with you the night before. Talk about serious skin in the game.
Chocolate Cinnamon Energy Bites
Magnesium is an incredibly important mineral and most adults and kids today don’t get enough. To help your family get their magnesium in the most delicious way, I created these Energy Bites. One nom and you'll wonder how something that tastes so good can be so good for you! Each ball contains 33 mg of magnesium or 41% of the recommended daily intake for 1-3 year olds! My 4 year old and the rest of the family, for that matter, are absolutely addicted.
Chocolate Cardamom Energy Balls
This past rainy weekend brought with it an intense chocolate craving and my stash was out. In a moment of desperation, I whipped up these ‘laddoos’ or energy balls with the only chocolate I had on hand - raw cacao . I wasn't expecting fireworks but boy oh boy were these AMAZING. Packed with protein, iron, calcium, fiber, anti-oxidants and a host of other nutrients, these cardamom chocolate energy balls have become toddler's favorite snack.
Healthy Cinnamon Pancakes
Science Corner
Cinnamon has a plethora of science-backed health benefits like anti-diabetes, cholesterol-lowering, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-cancer, anti-Parkinson's and female hormone balancing activities - all in once spice, that's pretty darned remarkable. Oats contain a special kind of fiber called beta-glucan which has been shown to lower cholesterol, prevent heart disease, boost immune function, stabilize blood sugar and even prevent breast cancer. Bananas are an excellent source of potassium which is critical for heart function. Creamy and naturally sweet, they contain fiber to promote digestion and are a 'PREbiotic' - food that feeds the good bacteria in your digestive tract. All of these nutritional powerhouses join forces with omega-3 and calcium-rich chia seeds in this delicious and decadent breakfast that is a delicious, energizing and nutritious way to start your tot's (and your) day.
Spiced French Toast
Science Corner
As discussed in a previous post on the science-backed health benefits of cinnamon, this miracle spice can temper the effect of sugar on the body. Studies on type II diabetics have shown that even less than 1/2 a teaspoon a day of cinnamon for 4 months reduces blood sugar levels. There is evidence that cinnamon improves the function of insulin, the hormone that coaxes our cells to soak up blood sugar and use it for energy. Rice pudding flavored with cinnamon spikes blood sugar less than bland rice pudding. It's no wonder then that we encourage the use of cinnamon in any carb-heavy, sugary treat and this delicious French Toast is no exception!
Cinnamon Chocolate Chip Pancakes
As you know, I am obsessed with healthy pancakes - spelt, oat, buckwheat - so I was rather taken aback one Sunday when hubby asked for "regular pancakes" and toddler chimed in "with chocolate chips!". To prove that I too can be fun (sometimes), I whipped up these fluffy, buttermilk pancakes but, of course, added the miracle spice cinnamon to keep the blood sugar spike in check.
Coconut Chia Pudding
Nutrition
Chia means 'strength' and chia seeds are a superfood for good reason. They are high in calcium - 2 tablespoons contain 180 mg of calcium, the same as 4oz of milk! They also have plant-based omega-3 fats, quality protein, fiber and anti-oxidants. They are a great addition to smoothies, salads, breakfast bars and puddings. Here, they marry beautifully with coconut milk and fiber, protein and calcium-rich rolled oats for a decadent pudding that takes seconds to prepare.
Meet the spices
