Granola for your Greek

My kids love yogurt and I can't help but want to swap in Greek yogurt for its higher protein properties.  There are a lot of options out there now, even ones that come with fruit, to sweeten up the more sour taste of plain Greek yogurt, but it's not usually the yogurt my kids want to finish...until now.  When I get both "I like this" and "I want more," I know I've got a winner.  I also love that I can control the ingredients and add in some of my hidden favorites like coconut oil and bananas for potassium. 

Baked the night before, it's sure to make my breakfast routine for the kids fast and protein-packed.

~Have fun and live healthy!

Granola for your Greek

1/4 cup coconut oil

1  1/2 cups old fashioned oats

3/4 cup chocolate chips

1/2 cup finely chopped pecans

1/2 cup shaved coconut

2 bananas

1 tsp vanilla extract

1) Preheat oven to 325 degrees

2) Smash bananas in a bowl and combine with all ingredients. There's no need to melt the coconut oil as it will soften as you stir. 

3) Line a cookie pan with foil and spread the mixture evenly across the surface.

4) Bake 50 minutes, remove, and cool. Crumble and use on your Greek yogurt.  Other great uses are additions to your favorite cereal, topping for ice cream, or a crunchy top to a smoothie.

Vitamin C U Later Sickness Smoothie

It seems like everywhere you turn this time of year, there's someone you hear about that has a cold or the flu.  And if you've got an earache coming on, you'll definitely want to try the audiologist recommended tip I've shared on melting coconut oil, placing a few drops in your ear and leaving it in your ear for 15-20 minutes- antifungal and antibacterial properties. 

My family was sick after the holidays so since then I've been pumping them up with Vitamin C with one of my favorite sources...Pineapple.  Not only does it have more Vitamin C than an orange, but it also is an anti-inflammatory, which helps you to recover faster from a workout and is why it's good for people with arthritis or gout.  Plus, there's no simpler way for me to get nutrients as smoothies, great for a meal replacement on the go or for the kids to get involved in the kitchen and eat up their vitamins in real food.

In addition to my love of Pineapple, you know there's going to be some coconut in there (because it's just a superfood) and if you remember from my Immunity Packed Pumpkin Smoothie, there's also going to be some of my other favorites.  There's another boost of anti-inflammatory from spinach, a great source of plant-based protein providing your body with energy.  I even get some omega 3s in there for heart health with ground flax seed.  I will give you a quick side note here before getting to the good stuff.  I interchangeably use chia seeds and flax seeds for heart and digestive health, but used flax seeds here for more of the aesthetic purposes. If you're looking at boosting protein, you should include chia seeds in your diet because they're a complete protein.

Last couple notes on the smoothie.  If you're lucky enough to grab a fresh pineapple and let it ripen, I definitely recommend that.  If it's not too ripe, you can always add a teaspoon or two of honey. Also, if you really wanted an extra boost of vitamin C, you should probably replace the spinach with kale, in which case I would definitely recommend the honey.  And finally, if you want something a little thicker, add some ice.  I wanted something my 16-month-old could suck up a straw, so it was a little on the juice vs. smoothie side.

~Have fun and live healthy!

Vitamin C U Later Sickness Smoothie

~Makes approx. 32 oz.

1 can Pineapple in juice

1 can Coconut milk

1 handful of Spinach

1 Banana

1 Tbsp Lime juice

1 Tbsp ground Flax seeds

Place all ingredients in the blender until combined.  Enjoy!

Pineapple Shave Ice

I was missing my favorite Oahu shave ice store the other day- their flavors are ono (delicious) and the ice is soft as snow.  But let’s face it, it’s an indulgence that is purely sugar. 

I had gotten a pineapple to make pineapple whip ice cream, but then I realized, I could substitute a few ingredients and get an all natural version of pineapple shaved ice that is packed with immunity boosting Vitamin C, because I use the core in the recipe as well.  Vitamin C also helps with arthritis, which some people might be feeling a little more with the change of seasons. 

It’s also got coconut water in it, which is high in potassium.  Low potassium leads to Charley Horses, which is common in pregnancy and in athletes.  So give your favorite pregnant mama or athlete this recipe for a sweet treat that’s good for the body.

The ingredients in the super simple pineapple shave ice mimic some of those in the Golden Pineapple Body Scrub, which people say smells so good you could eat it.  So, instead of eating the scrub, try this recipe.  If you don’t want to go through the hassle of shaving the pineapple goodness at the end, you could also freeze into popsicles, making it easier to distribute portions to hungry keikis (kids).

Pineapple Shave Ice

1 pineapple

Coconut water

1 T Honey

1)      Remove top, skin and any divots of the pineapple and cut remaining pineapple, including core, into blender manageable slices

2)      Add pineapple and 1 T Honey to the blender (Honey is mostly for pineapples that might be a little under ripe)

3)      Add coconut water as you blend to create a semi-thick consistency, approx. 4 ounces, but depends on the size of your pineapple

4)      Place blended mixture into a freezer safe container and freeze overnight.  My kids thought I was making a smoothie though, so it can also be enjoyed as a smoothie right away

5)      Once the mixture has frozen solid, get out a metal spoon and shave off desired amount into a bowl and enjoy 

Love making my family healthy food they like to eat.

~Have fun and live healthy!