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Granola Bars: Homemade and Amazing

April 16, 2014

inFood, Health, Lisa, Minerals, Nutrients, Nutrition, Recipes, Vitamins

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I have referred to my daughter’s cooking in past blogs and I can’t resist sharing her latest treat with everyone. These granola bars with blueberries (or any berry of your choice) and yogurt drizzle are not only healthy, but incredibly delicious. They are a good source of protein, omega-3, biotin, vitamin E, magnesium, iron, vitamin C, vitamin K and fiber. I never considered making my own granola bars until I tasted these and I have a feeling you will agree.

There is only one caveat – resist the urge to eat the entire batch at once. We wrap them individually and keep them in the refrigerator so we don’t finish them off as fast as we make them.

Note – the yogurt drizzle contains sugar (the only non-healthy item in the entire recipe) so you can choose to skip it altogether as we sometimes do, or just lightly drizzle the bars with it. As an additional note, the directions below will make much more yogurt coating than we have ever needed or used.

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Ingredients for the bars:

2 cups rolled oats

1/2 cup brown rice krispies

1/4 cup whole roasted almonds, roughly chopped

2 tablespoon chia seeds

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup peanut butter or almond butter (I typically use peanut butter)

1/2 cup honey

1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1 (rounded) cup fresh blueberries or 3/4 cup dried blueberries

Ingredients for the yogurt drizzle:

1 tablespoon water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon gelatin
1/4 cup greek yogurt
1 tablespoon honey
pinch of salt
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Directions for bars:

Skip this step if using dried blueberries. Roast fresh blueberries in 350 degree over for 30 minutes or until they pop and shrink. Best to coat baking sheet with parchment paper – then blueberries won’t stick
In a large bowl combine the oats, rice krispies, almonds, chia seeds and salt.
Combine almond or peanut butter with honey and microwave for about 40 seconds or until mixture is pourable
Add vanilla to warm honey mixture
Add honey mixture to the dry oat mixture and combine – it will be thick!
Add dried blueberries
Coat a 9 X 13 pan with parchment paper and pour mixture into pan and press down evenly and until tightly packed
Place in freezer for one hour, then cut into bars
Bars should be stored in refrigerator to keep fresh and hold their shape better.

Directions for yogurt drizzle:

Combine water, vanilla and then whisk gelatin in and let thicken for about 5 minutes
In another bowl, combine yogurt, honey and salt
Microwave yogurt mixture for 15 seconds, mix and repeat till warm, but do not let it boil
Add gelatin mixture to yogurt mixture and whisk together
Add in powdered sugar and whisk until thick, but pourable
Drizzle bars with the yogurt
The bars will be sticky now – we usually just wrap them (one or two together) with plastic wrap and store in the fridge for later eating. The yogurt will harden in the refrigerator.

Enjoy!

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Vitamins and Minerals: What, Why & How Much?

March 19, 2014

inFood, Health, Lisa, Minerals, Nutrients, Nutrition, Supplements, Vitamins

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Vitamins and minerals are micro-nutrients, part of the 6 Essential Nutrients, required for your body to turn food into energy. Whole foods are the best source of vitamins and minerals, but it sometimes difficult to figure out if you are getting enough from the foods you eat. Below is a list of the most important vitamins and mineral women need and suggestions as to the best food sources. Note: Recommended daily allowances (RDA) listed below are for an average 45 year-old female. Healthy-Nutrition-For-Optimal-Tennis-Fitness

Calcium:

Why you need it: The body uses calcium to build and maintain strong bones and teeth, to help muscles and blood vessels contract and expand, to secrete hormones and to carry messages through the nervous system. Women start to lose bone density in their twenties which can lead to osteoporosis over time. Calcium is one of the best defenses against bone loss.
Where to find it: Milk, cheese, yogurt and dark green leafy vegetables such as broccoli and kale.
How much you need: 1000mg. Do not exceed 2,500mg.

Iron:

Why you need it: Iron carries oxygen in the body, aids in the production of red blood cells, supports immune function and cognitive development, and is essential for cell growth.
Where to find it: Lean red meat, chicken, turkey, fish, cereals, whole-grains, beans and dark leafy vegetables. Also remember that vitamin C rich foods enhance absorption of iron.
How much you need: 18mg. Do not exceed 45mg.

Magnesium:

Why you need it: Magnesium is needed for more than 300 biochemical reactions in the body, including maintaining normal muscle and nerve function, keeping heart rhythms steady, supporting a healthy immune system, regulating blood sugar levels and promoting normal blood pressure.
Where to find it: Leafy green vegetables, whole grains, almonds, cashews and other nuts, avocados, beans, soybeans and halibut. Note that a diet very high in fat may cause less magnesium to be absorbed.
How much you need: 320mg. Do not exceed 350mg in supplement form.

Vitamin A:

Why you need it: Vitamin A ensures proper development and function of eyes, skin and immune system and may prevent some types of cancers.
Where to find it: Leafy green vegetables, orange and yellow vegetables, tomato products, fruits, dairy, liver, fish and fortified cereals.
How much you need: 2,310 IU. Do not exceed 10,000 IU.

Folate (Vitamin B9):

Why you need it: Folate helps to produce and maintain new cells. It is necessary for proper brain function for mental and emotional health, and helps protect against birth defects.
Where to find it: Leafy green vegetables, fruits and beans. It is also often added to cereals, breads, pasta and rice.
How much you need: 400 micrograms. Do not exceed 1,000 micrograms in the synthetic form.

Vitamin C:

Why you need it: Vitamin C facilitates normal growth and development, and repairs bodily tissue, bones and teeth. It is used to produce collagen, functions as an antioxidant to block some of the damage caused by free radicals and boosts the body’s immune system.
Where to find it: Most fruits and vegetables especially citrus fruit, red peppers, broccoli, tomatoes and strawberries.
How much you need: 75mg. Do not exceed 2,000mg.

Biotin:

Why you need it: Biotin plays an essential role in energy production and the metabolism of sugar and fats. It is also believed to aid in healthy hair, nails and skin.
Where to find it: Nuts, eggs, soybeans, cauliflower, fish, avocados and berries.
How much you need: There is no RDA, but generally 30 to 100 micrograms.

Other B Vitamins:

Why you need them: The B vitamins help the body convert food into fuel for energy. They contribute to healthy skin, hair, and eyes and also help to maintain muscle tone, metabolism, nervous system functions and memory.
Where to find them: Fish, poultry, meat, eggs, dairy products, legumes, and many fortified cereals and whole grains.
How much you need:
- B1 (Thiamine): 1.1mg. No upper limits have been set.
- B2 (Riboflavin): 1.1 mg. No upper limits have been set.
- B3 (Niacin): 14mg. Do not exceed 35/mg in supplement form.
- B6 (Pyridoxine): 1.3 mg. Do not exceed 100mg.
- B12 (Cobalamin): 2.4 mg. No upper limits have been set.

Vitamin D:

Why you need it: Vitamin D regulates the absorption of calcium and phosphorous in our bones and it is needed for bone and cell growth. It also helps to reduce inflammation.
Where to find it: Fortified mils and cereals, eggs yolks and fish. The body can make Vitamin D from exposure to sunlight.
How much you need: 15 micrograms. Do not exceed 100 micrograms.

Omega-3:

Why you need it: Omega-3 assists in proper brain function, helps reduce high blood pressure and calms inflammation.
Where to find it: Fish, especially salmon, tuna, sardines and mackerel, flax seeds and walnuts.
How much you need: There are no standard doses for Omega-3. Check with your doctor to find out your specific needs.

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Virginia • March 19, 2014

Great information!
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The Rise of the Egg

March 11, 2014

inFood, Health, In The News, Lisa, Nutrients, Nutrition, Vitamins

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The egg’s fall from grace began over two decades ago and corresponded to the rise in concern over cholesterol levels. A single large egg contains 185 grams of cholesterol and the American Heart Association only recommends 300 mg of cholesterol per day – so 2 eggs puts you over their recommendation. However, these simple numbers don’t paint the whole picture because studies have shown that the cholesterol you eat, has very little impact on the amount of cholesterol in your blood. Why?

First: There are two types of cholesterol: dietary cholesterol and blood cholesterol. Both are important. Dietary cholesterol is found in certain foods, such as meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, and diary products. The second type (blood cholesterol, also called serum cholesterol) is produced in the liver and floats around in our bloodstream. Blood cholesterol is divided into two sub-categories: High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL), and Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL). LDL cholesterol is considered bad because it sticks to artery walls.

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Many scientists are now discovering that consuming food rich in dietary cholesterol does not increase blood cholesterol, but instead foods high in saturated fats may be to blame. Again – back to eggs. They contain primarily unsaturated fat.

Second: Cholesterol happens to be one of the most important nutrients in your body. It is a fat like substance found in every living cell in the body. It’s a requirement for growth (in infants and adults). And it’s required for the production of many hormones.

Results: Researchers have looked at the diets of hundreds of thousands of people and they have found that consuming eggs every day is not associated with cholesterol problems or heart disease. In controlled trials — the best kind of research — people were instructed to eat up to three eggs per day while on a weight loss diet. These people lost weight, had decreased inflammation and either maintained or improved their blood cholesterol levels.

So the end result is, unless you have diabetes or a rare genetic disorder, eating eggs is not only not bad for you, but good for you.

What’s in an egg.

One large egg has 6 grams of high-quality protein which means it is highly digestible and may provide better satiety (keeping you fuller for longer), which helps weight management.
Eggs are a complete protein which means they contain all the essential amino acids
Eggs “biological value” — a measurement used to determine how efficiently a protein is used for growth — is 93.7. Milk, fish, beef, and rice respectively have a bio value of 84.5, 76, 74.3, and 64.
Good source of Omega-3 fatty acids
Eggs contain over 11 essential vitamins and minerals
Egg yolk is one of a few foods that contain Vitamin D
One egg contains between 66 an 84 calories depending on the size
Eggs also contain biotin (a B-vitamin), calcium, cephalin and lecithin (both help brain function)
Each egg has 5 grams of fat of which about 3 grams are from healthy polyunsaturated and monounsaturated.

Buying Eggs. As you may have noticed, there are a dizzying number of choices when buying eggs. Use the chart below to help you understand the differences..

eggs

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