The YUM Factor of Nutrition & Wellness
/It’s that time of year when everywhere we turn, it seems there’s something tasty calling our name. It doesn’t take long before our taste testing leads to not feeling so well in more ways than one.
There’s plenty of research that shows we are what we eat and that nutrition has a direct influence on not just how we look, but also how we feel. I know personally, that when I’m not eating well, I tend to feel, tired, irritable, hungrier, and just all around blah. I have also noticed that not eating well takes a toll on my immune system as well and we all know how fun a stuffy nose and cough can be.
However, when I’m making healthier choices, I have more energy, my mood is more positive, I don’t feel as hungry and I’m able to get most of my to do list finished without feeling famished.
Before you stop reading due to the same old same old, hear me out. I would be lying if I told you that I’m never going to eat sweets again or anything else that I enjoy for that matter. However, I have found some ways to tweak those things I enjoy to make them healthier so that I can indulge more often. Simply using organic or more natural and gluten free ingredients, can make a world of difference and in many cases, taste does not have to be sacrificed.
For instance, you can make your own pumpkin ice-cream with just a few ingredients. You can use Breyer’s vanilla or any type of other organic ice-cream and mix in a few tablespoons of organic pumpkin for a healthier version of your favorite ice-cream store’s. You can replace regular refined flour for almond, gluten free, or organic. There are so many options available at places like Aldi and Wal-Mart that it also doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Today I made pumpkin protein bars from a recipe I clipped out of a magazine. I used organic ingredients I had on hand and substituted one ingredient for another and within 30 minutes, they were out of the oven and ready to be tasted. ☺
When I make healthier desserts by using agave nectar, raw honey, stevia, or organic sugar, I feel better and believe it or not, it TASTES better! At the bottom of this article, you will find the recipe for pumpkin protein bars. I hope you enjoy them as much as we do and that you adjust the recipe to what tastes good to you. Please feel free to share any feedback or questions, I’d love to hear from you.
Enjoy and as always, I wish you blessings, health, and happiness!
Joelle🍁🍂
Pumpkin Protein Bars
Preheat oven to 350. In a large bowl, stir together ½ cup +2 tablespoons of canned pumpkin, ¼ cup of agave nectar, two large eggs, and 2 tablespoons of creamy almond butter or peanut butter until smooth ( I used peanut butter).
In a separate bowl, whisk together 1 cup of Almond flour (or flour of your choice), ½ teaspoon of baking soda, ½ teaspoon of fine salt, and ¼ teaspoon each, of ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves (I did not use cloves as I do not like the taste).
Combine bowls and stir until well blended.
Pour into a greased 8 x 8” baking dish and bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until a tester comes out clean. Let cool and then refrigerate before slicing. You can store these in the fridge.
