Tag: snacks

Healthy Snacks; Grain free and full of healthy fats

Posted on Categories Gluten Free, i love making things, kids nutrition, Meals and snacks, Nutrition, Recipes, recipes your kids will love, UncategorizedTags , , , , , Leave a comment

Healthy Snacks Loula Natural 1

Healthy Snacks

Lunch boxes, after school, before dinner, pre/post work outs, 11’s, with a cup of tea/coffee, sugar slump at 3/4, friends over, picnics, or just because- snacks are in our lives. I used to snack badly. I would generally get so hungry I would be grabbing for something, normally high in carbs and low in fat.

Over the last few years I have completely reversed my attitude to fats (see my posts here and here) and grains. My body has had a huge amount of healing and shape changing to go through to compensate for the years of bad choices and bad information I have been subjecting it to.

5 ways fats can change your body shape Loula Natural

My metabolism and blood sugar levels were the pits and my moods and disproportionate stomach size completely proved it. Now I am more balanced and am finally becoming the shape I have always wanted. It has taken time, ups and downs and lows and highs, but one thing has helped me through it- snacking wisely!

I have also really helped my daughter to try and achieve balance by helping her to snack wisely too. Her days are better at school when she has eaten her fats, less good when she hasn’t (see here for why schools need to do more for our kids nutrition). Her energy is calmer and her mood swings much more moderate. Score for us all!!! She is also super lean and strong. She just got chosen to be her house female representative in running (proud mum moment!).

So, to lose weight, reduce inflammation, balance hormones, heal your digestive system, moderate your immune system, get some energy, build strong muscles, increase memory and brain function, balance mood swings, reduce joint pain and so many other benefits- INCREASE FATS and REDUCE GRAINS.

Snacking is great when done right…..

Savoury snacks; Not all of us have a sweet tooth apparently! One of my favourite snacks whilst cooking dinner is to throw my sweet potato or carrot peelings in an oven proof dish, cover with coconut oil and salt and in the oven for 10-15 mins to turn into crisps (or chips for you over the pond!)

Try some of these savoury snacks- great for lunch boxes too…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For those with more of a sweet tooth- try some of these.

Here are some energy balls. I find these so easy to make up and to add to boxes as travel snacks. Great on the go for all ages and are brilliant to keep the moaning at bay! Pretty much anything can be thrown into them so they can easily cater to all nutritional needs. Also the kids love to make them with you- a sure fire way that they will eat them!

Last one- in a rush- here are some smoothies to give you the same nutritional punch of healthy fats, proteins and nutrient rich carbohydrates.

 

Also check out this great list of fat bombs– featuring your’s truly too!!

Healthy Snacks Loula Natural Pin

Cinnamon Salty Sweet Popcorn

Posted on Categories Coconut, Gluten Free, i love making things, kids nutrition, Meals and snacks, Natural Alternatives, recipes your kids will love, sugar, UncategorizedTags , , , , , , Leave a comment

 Cinnamon Salty Sweet Popcorn Loula Natural

 My lovely friend Gemma shared her kid’s favourite snack in my Mama Up-Front Chambers’ Mama. Since then I have been making popcorn for me and the kids. We like ours with a little twist- Cinnamon!

I love Cinnamon because it helps the body to process sugar by helping cells to recognise Insulin when it knocks on the door. This is called insulin sensitivity. You may have heard Insulin resistance surrounding tummy weight gain and type 2 diabetes. Cinnamon is a nutrient that can reverse this. Naturally sweet in itself it can help you to reduce how much sugar you use. It then makes cells more insulin sensitive meaning that the sugar will actually be used rather then allowing it to be re-circulating which increases blood sugar levels. Whenever I use sugar you will almost always see me adding cinnamon.

Cinnamon also boosts the immune system and is a natural bacteria balancer as it also feeds bacteria we need in our body. As an anti-inflammatory it can also help heal some of the potential chronic inflammation which may be present in the body. It is nice and warming and the flavour of cinnamon also helps the palate and taste buds to be satisfied which helps us feel satiated (full up) quicker- thus playing another role in weight balance.

It is also totally delicious! Total winner! It adds a really nice flavour dimension to the popcorn too.

We also love a salty sweet popcorn so I add some pink salt right at the end. This also helps balance the palate and provides some nice nutrients necessary to digest and absorb sugar and the popcorn itself.

It is so important to use organic corn kernels as such a huge portion of corn production is GMO. These foods hugely increase inflammation, especially in the digestive system and have a huge impact on the immune system. Not food in my humble opinion! So definitely not going to nourish my children.

Cinnamon Salty Sweet Popcorn
Salty sweet cinnamon coconut sugar popcorn. Great snack and really delicious.
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Ingredients
  1. 1/2 cup coconut oil
  2. 1/2 cup organic popcorn
  3. 2 tbs coconut sugar
  4. 1tsp cinnamon
  5. Pinch himylayan pink salt
Instructions
  1. Add the coconut and popcorn in a saucepan with a lid.
  2. When the coconut oil starts to sizzle add the coconut sugar and cinnamon
  3. Keep swirling the kernels until they start popping.
  4. When they stop, pour out into a big bowl and add salt to taste.
  5. Eat!
Notes
  1. Store in an airtight container until you want to consume. Will last a couple of days
  2. Great in Lunch boxes!
Adapted from Chamber's Mama Popcorn
Adapted from Chamber's Mama Popcorn
Loula Natural https://loulanatural.com/
If you are searching for ingredients in Hong Kong iDetox has a great selection (they sell Cocobono) at good prices- otherwise iherb is the general consensus. Use code WJZ679 for $10USD off your first order, Cocobono Coconut Sugar and Coconut Oil is my favourite source of coconut products (Only available in Hong Kong)

Popcorn Collage Loula Natural

Kids lunch box approved

Other Popcorn recipes;

 

Cinnamon Salty Sweet Popcorn Loula Natural pin

Lemon, Ginger and Orange Curd

Posted on Categories Gluten Free, kids nutrition, Nutrition, recipes your kids will love, UncategorizedTags , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Lemon, Orange and Ginger Curd

Lemon, Orange and Ginger Curd Loula Natural

I love lemon curd- this is so easy to make- can’t believe I never made it before- its actually very healthy- full of protein and fats. I add it to my smoothies, chia porridge, toast, to frost cookies or simply off the spoon!

From this;

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to this!

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Lemon, Orange and Ginger Curd
I zesty and sharp but sweet twist on traditional Lemon Curd. Really nutritious.
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Ingredients
  1. 3 lemons (zest and juice so unwaxed organic if possible)
  2. 1 orange (zest and juice so unwaxed organic if possible)
  3. thumbnail sized piece of ginger grated.
  4. 100g unsalted butter
  5. 100g coconut sugar
  6. 3 Organic eggs
Instructions
  1. Put all the ingredients in a heat proof bowl and whisk over a bain marie.(Picture below.
  2. Keep on low heat whisking continuously so the eggs don't cook too quickly and scramble.
  3. Keep going till it thickly coats the back of a spoon and is glossy.
  4. Pour into large jar (makes about 500g) allow to let cool and then refrigerate.
Notes
  1. This will keep in the fridge for weeks. Spread it thick on toast, crackers or add to baking. I also use it as a frosting for cookies!
  2. Can also be had straight off a spoon!
Loula Natural https://loulanatural.com/
Here is the bain marie set up;

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Frosting cookies with it;

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Banana, Almond and Flax crackers

Posted on Categories Meals and snacks, Recipes, UncategorizedTags , , , , , , 2 Comments on Banana, Almond and Flax crackers

My daughter’s kindy has a no nut policy for snack time. It makes sense, however suddenly I am lost as to what to give her other than fruit and cut vegies. Normally I will also have a pot of nuts or I make bars for her with nuts and seeds. However I found a recipe for flax crackers and have tweaked it a bit (although for her ones at school I will just make 100g flax half whole half ground). These have the perfect balance of carbohydrate, protein and essential fats. Can be for snacks or spread with nut butter for breakfast. Also go very well with my Lemon, ginger and orange curd.

80g flax seeds(half ground half whole)

20g ground almonds

1 medium (browned or extra ripe) banana.

Mash the banana with a spoon until its creamy with few lumps. Add the flax seeds, almonds and mix. Keep mixing till it completely combines. Let it sit for 20 mins.

Grease a baking sheet with olive oil cooking spray, drop 1 Tsp drops and press flat.

Bake for 15-20 minutes on 300C or until the edges are brown and the tops are hard.

Nurturing Nutrition

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Getting organised  for the impending birth of my son, I wanted to go over my snacks list to make sure I have them here if I want them. It occurred to me that they are great snacks for anyone and for all the family. What else would you add, or have you used?

Labour and post labour Snack Ideas: (for him and her!)

  • Frozen grapes, mango and coconut icelollies. Honey ice cubes
  • Banana smoothie (all my smoothie recipes are here): banana, oat milk, mango, Pumpkin seed protein powder, nut butter and cinnamon (can also be frozen like an ice-lolly or in drinks bottles to thaw on route.) A common breakfast in our house.
  • Vegetable crisps. Homemade in the dehydrator or use a peeler to get nice thin layers and bake in the oven till crispy with a little olive oil or coconut oil.
  • Dried apricots, blueberries, apple, banana chips, prunes, dates, papaya, mango
  • Nuts; almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, pecans, cashews
  • Coconut water (fresh- here is my coconut milk and coconut yoghurt recipes also- how to open a coconut here)
  • Crystallised ginger
  • Protein bars, energy balls, homemade bounty bars (chock full of coconut!) fat bombs like vanilla fudge and chocolate fudge, homemade chocolate and this homemade rocky road.
  • Oatcakes and jar nut butter. Or nut butter with slices of apple and pear. Or a personal favourite in the groove of celery.
  • Raw chocolate! Or at least 70% cocoa
  • Straws for drinking through
  • Carrot and celery and hummus/white bean dip (already cut in fridge ready to grab)
  • Water melon to help restore electrolytes (can also be blitzed and frozen in drinks bottles)
  • Falafel (to eat with hummus)
  • Iced raspberry leaf, nettle and peppermint tea with lemon and honey to taste. (of course can be hot too or made into ice cubes) Can also use tulsi tea. (holy basil) can chill you out during labour. Also can add rescue remedy.

Recipe idea:

HIGH PROTEIN SUGAR FREE ENERGY BAR

• 250g desiccated coconut
• 200g ground almonds (can use pumpkin seed protein power for allergies)
• 100g sesame seeds
• 1 tsp of cinnamon
• approx 14 dried pitted dates, chopped
• 2 eggs (can use egg replacement for allergies)
• 2 tbs pure organic coconut oil, which is solid at room temperature.

Melt coconut oil over very low heat until it is liquid. Do not cook or
boil.
Chop dates and mix together with dry ingredients (coconut, ground
almonds, sesame seeds), and cinnamon.
Add 2 beaten eggs and mix till mixture is moist.
Pour in melted coconut oil and mix with fork or hands
Spread into a shallow tin lined with baking parchment.
Bake in a moderate oven (gas mark 4) for 30 minutes. Remove when top
is golden.
Cut into slices while still warm and soft.

Enjoy, I know we do!

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