Clean Recipe - Chocolate Goji Berry Benefits

Clean Goji Berry Recipe and Benefits

Goji Berries are a pleasant new addition to my diet. I had been seeing them included in recipes, read many articles and seen a few documentaries that mentioned that goji berries are considered a superfood and that they are highly beneficial for multiple reasons. Being that I am constantly on the hunt to expand the selection of clean natural foods in my pantry I decided to pick some up at my local health food store. Goji berries are about the size of a raison and, as seen in the above photograph, are a beautiful rich reddish-orange color. When eaten on their own they are sweet with a slight bitter quality. I have been experimenting with them over the past few weeks sprinkling them on smoothie bowls, salads, adding them to trail mixes and most recently I modified my Raw Chocolate Energy Bar recipe to include goji berries. I have enjoyed them every way I have tried though I do prefer them as and addition to other foods rather then on their own. Here are just some of the suggested benefits of adding goji berries to your daily diet.

"A remarkable concentration of antioxidants that help combat premature aging, with 10 times more antioxidants than red grapes and 10 to 30 times the anthocyanins of red wine.

A synergy of monounsaturated (healthy) fats, dietary fiber and phytosterols to help promote cardiovascular and digestive health.

An almost perfect essential amino acid complex in conjunction with valuable trace minerals, vital to proper muscle contraction and regeneration.

The fatty acid content in Goji berries resembles that of olive oil, and is rich in monounsaturated oleic acid. Oleic acid is important for a number of reasons. It helps omega-3 fish oils penetrate the cell membrane; together they help make cell membranes more supple. By keeping the cell membrane supple, all hormones, neurotransmitter and insulin receptors function more efficiently. This is particularly important because high insulin levels create an inflammatory state, and we know, inflammation causes aging."

For more detailed information on goji berry benefits visit this site: http://www.gojiberrieshealthbenefits.com

                          And now for the recipe:

Ingredients

12 pitted organic Dates

2 Tbsp Flaxseed Meal

1 Tbsp Goji Berries

4 tsp organica Cacao Powder (+ additional 2 tsp for topping)

3 tsp Maca Powder

2 tsp Carob Chips or Cacao Nibs

2 tsp raw organic Honey

2 tsp organic Coconut oil

Blend all ingredients together in a food processor. Roll a full tablespoon of dough into a ball. Sprinkle  2 tsp cacao powder on cutting board and roll balls until fully coated. (this last step is optional but I it is a great way to add more superfood qualities and helps the balls to not be so sticky when storing and holding them) Store in refrigerator for up to a week and Enjoy!!

            

 

Raw Recipe - Chocolate Energy Bar

Raw Chocolate Recipe

Im sure by now it has become apparent to those who have visited my site before that I have a major sweet tooth. Im constantly trying to find new ways to get cure my sweet tooth and ensure that my body is still fed with the proper nutrients it needs to look and feel its best. I love baked goods. Brownies, cakes, muffins, mmmmm. But the longer I go sticking to a mostly clean diet the harder it is for me to eat the versions of those things I can find in a store. So instead I make my own. These bites (which can also be made into a bar) are close to being a 100% raw food, gluten free and are infused with several superfoods! They taste as though I rolled brownie batter into a ball, The perfect healthy sweet tooth cure that can be eaten as a snack or dessert. Best part is they only take 10 minutes to make and are ready to eat immediately!

Ingredients

12 pitted raw Dates

3 Tbsp Cashews

3 Tbsp raw un-sweetend Coconut Flakes (2 for batter, 1 reserved for topping)

1 Tbsp Coconut Oil

4 Tsp raw Cacao Powder

4 Tsp raw Maca Powder

2 Tsp raw organic Honey

Place all ingredients into a food processor.

Once all ingredients are well blended together (dough will be coarse and have small chunks) take a full tablespoon full of dough and squeeze and roll into a ball using your hands.

Once all dough is rolled sprinkle the remaining coconut flakes on a cutting board and roll the balls in it until well coated (optional step)

Yields about 12 balls.

Store in refrigerator for up to a week.

Clean Recipe - Overnight Oats - Peanut Butter and Jelly

Overnight Oats Recipe - Peanut Butter and Jelly

If you have yet to try overnight oats, I highly recommend you remedy that real soon!! :)

Overnight oats have become a standard addition to my refrigerator. Once you try them it is easy to tell why these are my go to breakfast. With no more then five minute of prep time, endless flavor possibilities, and the ability to "grab and go" overnight oats will quickly become a busy body's best breakfast companion!

This recipe is a great standard base for overnight oats. You can add just about any fruit or flavor addition and it will taste delicious.  The other morning as I was running out the door to a hike I grabbed a jar of the peanut butter oat base, added banana slices and a drizzle of honey.... All I have to say is Yum!

Oat Ingredients:

1 cup Organic Rolled Oats

1 cup Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk

1 cup Plain Greek Yogurt

2 tbsp Fresh Nut Butter (or 2 tbsp PB2)

2 tsp Honey

2 tsp Maca Powder

Place all ingredients in a medium jar stir well and store overnight or up to 5 days in refrigerator. Makes 2 Servings

Jelly Ingredients:

1/2 cup Strawberries

1/2 cup Frozen Rasberries

Puree together add to oats and Enjoy immediately!

Want to try other delicious overnight oat recipes? Here are more of my favorites.

Lemon Chia Overnight Oats Recipe

Simple Overnight Oats Recipe

Clean Eating Recipe - Lemon Chia Overnight Oats

Lemon Chia Overnight Oats

I am a sucker for anything lemon or chocolate flavored! I really wanted to get some chocolate into this dish but I wasn't brave enough. That will have to be an experiment for another day ;-)

These overnight oats were so refreshing, they just tasted clean zesty. The best part was they left a great sweet after taste in my mouth. They would go well with just about any berry, I can't wait to try them with blueberries!

Recipe

1 Cup Organic Rolled Oats

6 oz Lemon Flavored Greek Yogurt

2 Tsp Chia Seeds

3/4 Cup Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk

1 Tsp Fresh Lemon Zest 

*optional for extra strong lemon flavor squeeze the juice out of half a lemon in to mixture

Mix all ingredients together in a jar store in refrigerator overnight and serve with your favorite berry!!

Makes two servings. 

Hope you enjoy your  Lemon Chia Overnight Oats!!

Clean Recipe - Chia Seed Pudding

Clean Eating Recipe - Chia Seed Pudding

Do you want to eat a Superfood for dessert?! Well here on is!

Chia seeds are considered superfood. The main health benefits of chia seeds are that they are loaded with antioxidants (antioxidants can help prevent signs of aging and also known to aid in the prevention of cancer), and they are a great source of omega-3.

Here is a quick and simple recipe that you can use for breakfast a snack or dessert!

Ingredients:

3 Tbsp Chia Seeds

1 Cup Unsweetened Almond Milk

1 Tsp Honey

1/8 Tsp Cinnamon

1/8 Tsp Vanilla Extract

Place all Ingredients into a jar stir well and store in refrigerator at least 8 hours before serving.

*makes 1 to 2 servings 

This Chia Seed Pudding Recipe tastes delicious with fruit added to it.

Enjoy!

Clean Eating Recipe - Peanut Butter Cups

Clean Peanut Butter Cups Recipe

With only 3 ingredients these little nuggets are quick simple and absolutely amazing!!

I should mention though these are absolutely addicting and not 100% clean.  My choose to make the recipe quicker by using a chocolate bar for the chocolate layer instead of making my own chocolate sabotaged me from being able to classify this as fully clean ;-). However, I will note, the higher the concentration of cacao in your chocolate bar the higher the chances are of it being clean. I used a Scharffen Berger 82% Cacao bar so I guess I can say these are at least 82% clean! There are definitely times when shortcuts are worth it. When getting chocolate in my belly is a result of a shortcut, I am all for it! (I will be posting a homemade clean eating chocolate recipe soon that you can use as the chocolate here as well, stay tuned!)

Ingredients

1 cup fresh nut butter (I used fresh almond butter)*

2 Tbsp organic coconut oil melted

Dark chocolate bar

*In most health food stores such as Whole Foods, there are machines located in the bulk food bin section that you are able to put your choice of nuts in and turn them into fresh nut butter.

**Want a lower calorie treat there is a modified nut butter cup located at end of post :-)

In a medium bowl mix peanut butter with coconut oil. Once mixed well, split up the dough and place into each hole in a mini muffin tin. Press well into the bottom of each tin hole. Place in Freezer.

 Now melt your chocolate in a double broiler. Take tin out of freezer, using a spoon, place 1 to 2 spoonfuls of melted chocolate on top of peanut butter. 

Return to freezer for about 10 minutes or until chocolate hardens. Take a thin knife and press between peanut butter cup and tin. This should pop each cup out of their hole. Storing in the freezer is recommended.

**For lower calorie less clean version follow this ingredient list **

1/2 cup fresh peanut or almond butter

1/2 cup PB2

1/4 cup water

2 Tbsp coconut oil

Dark chocolate bar

Mix PB2 powder with water in a medium bowl, then add fresh almond butter and coconut oil. The rest of preparation and storage recommendations are the same as above.

Enjoy your Peanut Butter Cups!!

Clean Smoothie Recipe - Carrot Cake - Easter

Carrot Cake Smoothie Recipe

With Easter just a round the corner I was inspired to find a tasty healthy alternative to my favorite spring time dessert, carrot cake. Here is my recipe for a clean carrot cake smoothie. Tastes like I stuck a piece of frozen carrot cake in a blender!! Haha!

Ingredients

4 medium carrots cut into small pieces

1 frozen banana

6 dates

1/2 cup organic rolled oats

1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk

1/4 cup plain greek yogurt

2 Tbsp chopped walnuts

2 Tbsp organic shredded coconut

1/4 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 tsp cinnamon

handful of ice

Place all ingredients in blender. Blend. Pour. Sip and Enjoy!!

(makes 2 servings)

carrot cake smoothie recipe