Eating Clean on a Budget: Snack Time!

While I try to feed my boys substantial nourishing meals, they are somehow always hungry in between meals! One of my boys has this internal clock and he always asks for a snack at 2pm. I am always looking for simple economical and healthy snack for my boys! I wrote a post on snacks two and a half years ago, but our diet has changed from gluten free to grain free since then. If you can eat grains, you may enjoy some of the granola and gluten free homemade cereal bars.  My new favorite granola is Young Living's Einkorn granola!

Many of our current snacks revolve around fruits, veggies, seeds, beans and nuts. We also love frozen snacks for 100 degree South Carolina summer afternoons!

NUTS & SEEDS

While there are many foods we avoid, we are thankful that we an eat all nuts and seeds... a couple of my guys are crazy about peanut butter! A simple snack for my boys is a bowl of cashews or another type of nut. My 4 year old likes to add raisins to his cashews and my 9 year old adds sunflower seeds to his cashews for a "trail mix".

Roasted pecans are a crunchy sweet snack!  I mix unrefined coconut oil and honey (3:1) and add a pinch of pink salt, 2 drops YL Cinnamon Bark EO. I toss with a couple cups of raw pecans and baked 45-60 minutes (stirring occasionally) at 275 degrees. 

Roasted pumkpin seeds are a great sweet or salty snack! We use coconut oil instead of butter in this recipe. We also roast cinnamon pumpkin seeds with the same recipe as pecans.

Stove top popcorn is a classic afternoon snack! We add yummy healthy twist to our popcorn with EOs. I pop 1/2 cup organic popcorn in 3 TBSP of coconut oil. After popped, I add Thyme and Rosemary EO infused olive or coconut oil (2 drops each EO to 4oz EVOO), pink salt, and 1-2 TBSP nutritional yeast (gives it a cheesy flavor). I've served this at oils classes and to my hungry boys... always a hit!

Homemade Lara Bars are a huge hit and family favorite! Our favorite recipes are Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and Snickerdoodle. I can't wait to try Pecan pie and Peanut butter and jelly flavors!

DIPS

Whether we're dipping veggies, chips, or a spoon... dips are a great snack! My three and four year olds will grab a bowl of guacamole and eat it with a spoon! I make a super simple version of guacamole with a smashed avocado and my seasoning blend (pink salt, pepper, granulated onion & garlic, cayenne pepper). When entertaining, I add a few more ingredients to guacamole.

Hummus is another easy dip that goes great with veggies, sweet potato chips or organic blue corn chips. This fun "pink hummus" is a cool twist on hummus!

Slow cooker refried beans are a great snack or meal!

FRUITS & VEGGIES

My boys go to snack has always been fruits & veggies. They know they can always grab an apple or a tomato on their own (my oldest eats tomatoes like apples:) When our spring/summer garden is growing, out boys eat sugar snap peas right off the vine.

Peanut butter (or cashew butter) logs with celery, banana or apple are a great protein and fruit paired snack.

 COOL TREATS

We love to cool off in the hot summer with a frozen treat! While we stay away from the sugar and artificial colored/flavored store popsicles, we have several great recipes my boys LOVE at home! The "Pina Colada Popsicle" is our most used recipe and we almost always have a stash of these in the freezer.  Here are several Paleo popsicle recipes.

Strawberry Limeade Slushies are another wonderful HEALTHY treat! My boys love the taste and I love the health benefits! 

This NingXia Red Slushiue recipe is great as a slushie or frozen into push up pops!

my boys LOVE NingXia push up pops! Look closely for the little one trying to snag big brother's pop!

Here's another fun variation on antioxidant rich NingXia popsicles!

SWEET TREATS

Unrefined coconut oil is a wonderful healthy fat and is great for supporting metabolism! I try to get at least 1-2 TBSP of this good oil daily! This wonderful chocolate recipe helps our entire family get our daily servings!

I spoon Skinny Chocolate into lined mini muffin tins, add a dollop of peanut butter and freeze. I pop out and store in the fridge. We enjoy getting a serving of healthy unrefined coconut oil in this sweet treat!

I also enjoy a peppermint twist on Skinny Chocolate!

I LOVE cooking with my Young Living essential oils! They are labeled dietary supplement and the ONLY EO brand that I trust to ingest. If you're interested in learning more about essential oils, leave me a comment or get started here!

https://www.youngliving.com/vo/#/signup/start?sponsorid=1678655&enrollerid=1678655&type=member

What happened when our family of 6 cut out SUGAR completely...

About 2 years ago, I finally admitted that my weight and health had gotten out of control. I had skin issues, chronic, pain, was constantly tired, and couldn't honor God or my family in the way He had created me to live. Our family of 6, decided to cut sugar completely. Two years later and we are amazed at all the health benefits for our entire family!

1. Weight loss

Most of my life my weight would fluctuate up and down, based on the AMOUNT I was exercising or eating. I learned that exercise is NOT the healthy way to lose weight. My doctor explained that exercising when your body is unbalanced just tears down your health and does not help. She taught me how to balance my body by eating REAL food. As someone who got caught up in "diet foods" as a teenager, this style of eating and not dieting, has been very freeing! While my boys don't need to lose any weight, my husband and I dropped several sizes and pounds. I went from 170 to 120lbs and dropped from a size 14 to a size 4! 

2. No more cravings!

I didn't realize how addictive sugar was, until I was freed from the addiction to sugar and food! It feel wonderful to no longer be a slave to food cravings!! Sugar feeds the bad bacteria in our digestive systems and causes our bodies to crave it. Many "picky" kids are actually playing out their addiction to sugar as they refuse to eat anything but breads/cereals. 

3. No more pain and inflammation! 

For about 7 years, I had "tendonitis" or chronic pain in my feet. My joints were super stiff every time I got up from sitting for even the shortest time period. I had started to associate it with my age, but 35 years old was just too young! After cutting dairy, grains and sugar, and adding probiotics, my foot pain resolved COMPLETELY and has not returned! 

4. Healthy immune system!

Did you know that sugar weakens your immune system and leaves you susceptible to illness? My oldest son used to get ear infections often. We finally noticed that he would get sick the day after consuming sugar (even just 1 cookie). Our health has significantly improved since cutting sugar, dairy and grains. 

Maintaining an alkaline diet, also helps protect our bodies from cancer, which can not thrive in an alkaline environment.

There is no moderation with sugar consumption, it always causes health problems. It breaks my heart to see moms talk about how their kids and family are constantly sick. Many don't make the connection with diet & health, but they're completed connected. 

5. ENERGY and Mental Focus

After having 4 boys, my sleep patterns were off balance and I was completely exhausted most of the time. I relied on sweet tea (my source of sugar and caffeine) to get me through the day. Did it work? NO! I would crash shortly after finishing a glass of tea and just crave more to give me energy. Since cutting sugar, I realize how the sugar was CAUSING the fatigue and exhaustion! I now have tons more energy, feel so much better and can think clearly without the brain fog from sugar! I drink 1-2oz of NingXia Red (an antioxidant drink with no caffeine or sugar) daily for immune support. 

6. Digestive health 

Several members of our family have digestive issues and food intolerances. Since cutting sugar, dairy and grains, and adding probiotics and food enzymes, our tummies are much happier (less gas, bloating, and other issues). I found that I don't feel "full" or bloated after meals. I didn't realize how terrible carbs and sugar made me feel! My husband suffered from terrible reflux and esophagus problems that caused difficulty eating and swallowing food. Meal times for him were not pleasant! Since cutting sugar, dairy and grains, my husbands digestive issues are completely better! No medicines necessary! Also, my son's eczema has also cleared up and everyone is sleeping better:)

7. Skin Health

The dermatitis that I had struggled with for years, magically disappeared! My son's eczema also got better! We learned that problems on the outside of our body are just symptoms of problems on the inside. Thankful for healthy skin!

How did we do this??

Because wheat and processed foods turn straight to sugar in our bodies, we also cut those foods. Due to gut health imbalance, we completely cut dairy, grains and sugar. We follow this simple meme...

We eat local, organic meat, vegetables, fruits, seeds, beans and nuts. We shop the perimeter of the grocery store, shop farmer's markets, grow our own food and buy meat from local farmers. Here's a post on where we get our food. 

I drink this incredible drink daily and it helps support my lymphatic system and really helped when detoxing from sugar! 

GGMS - 1 quart of water + 1 TBSP Apple Cider Vinegar + 1-2 drops Citrus oil + stevia to taste

Drinking kombucha and other fermented foods has greatly increased our digestive health and cuts sugar cravings.

My doctor and nutritionist teach that our bodies need a Protein + Fat + Healthy Carb for a balanced meal and complete fuel for your body. Trim Healthy Mama is an awesome plan that understands this concept also. The sisters who created THM explain that our body can only burn one fuel at a time (FAT or CARBS) and if you consume both, one of those is stored as fat. You also always need PROTEIN for your body to use those fuels. In my effort to lose weight, my meals consisted of [PROTEIN+FATS] OR [PROTEIN+HEALTHY CARBS], but not fats and carbs combined. 

Once I hit my weight goal, I began combining Protein+Fat+Healthy Carbs (in healthy amounts) to maintain a healthy weight. My 4 boys have always eaten all three together, to support their growth and development. 

Here are a couple simple meals I cooked for my family...

Roasted chicken with sweet potatoes and sauteed green beans

Stir fry made with local beef, coconut aminos and tons of veggies (including beet greens)

Lemon broccoli chicken quinoa... we eat healthy carb quinoa at least once a week!

Who's ready to cut sugar??

I know it's a little after "New Year's Resolutions, but I made several natural changes two years ago, this month, and I'm so happy I did!

** Disclaimer: I'm just a mom sharing from our research and experience.  

This is not intended to treat, diagnose or cure any illness. 

My favorite kitchen appliance

As many of you probably know, I love to cook! Out of all of my kitchen gadgets and appliances, I would have to say my bread machine ranks among my favorites! I enjoy making homemade breads and goodies for my boys. My Sunbeam bread machine helps me bake all of these goodies, while saving bundles of time! Several of my favorite recipes for my bread machine are pizza dough, french bread, Italian bread dough, our best sandwich bread, hamburger buns, and yummy cinnamon rolls. Truth: I only use the machine for the dough cycle. I like to bake my bread in the oven and don't like the rectangle shape of the bread from the machine.

best sandwich bread

Our bread machine has also helped with meal planning on a budget. I can whip up a meal based on one of these recipes. Throw some marinara sauce, cheese, possibly a few other toppings, and my boys are happy for pizza night! A loaf of french bread can be a great addition to soup night, or can be the start of a sub sandwich meal.

hamburger buns - I will never eat store bought buns again!

One of our new dinner favorites is making Stromboli with my best sandwich bread recipe. I make the dough, roll the dough out into rectangle, line with ham (or favorite deli meat) and cheese, roll up and place in greased loaf pan. Bake 30 minutes at 350 and you have dinner!

If we manage to still have some of the bread left a few days after baking, I throw together one of my family's favorites... French Toast! My Granny would make french toast for my sister and I when we spent the night at her house as kids... loved her french toast and think of her when I make my own. I dip the bread in a mixture of eggs, almond milk, and a dash of cinnamon. Cook in cast iron skillet with hot coconut oil and serve hot with powdered sugar or syrup---yummy!!!

Check out my Pinterest board for more bread recipes!

Muscadine Jelly... my first canning experience!

 

One of my hubby and boys' favorite treats is Muscadine jelly, made by Grandma in Georgia. On our Saturday morning trip to the ASU Farmer's market, I was pleasantly surprised to find muscadines in Arkansas!! I bought a gallon of muscadines, received some instruction from the kind lady who sold me the muscadines, and decided to try out this jelly making and canning process:)

fresh muscadines

crushed muscadines--thanks to my strong hubby:)

I boiled the crushed muscadines in a couple inches of water for 25 minutes and then strained them.

Muscadine juice (about 4 cups) after boiling and straining (with colander and strainer or cheesecloth)

I brought the 3 to 4 cups of juice to a boil for 5 minutes, added about 6 cups of sugar and boiled for about 5-10 minutes. I added 1 packet of SureJel and boiled 1 more minute.

After all of the boiling, I poured hot jelly into prepared jelly jars.

I boiled the sealed jars for about 5 minutes.

 One of the things I am most passionate about is... cooking! However, I have never attempted the whole process of canning. I usually freeze our garden veggies and soups, instead of canning. I learned that canning is definitely not as difficult as it looks, and I'll be doing this project again soon!

Finished product!!