Learning that food affects our ability to fight off disease has really become mainstream and everyone's aware now. But how do we translate that into everyday choices? And what can we do to make healthy eating fun?
Since today is my oldest child's birthday, I'm naming these for her, as I'm using what I have in my kitchen and adapting from Dr William Li's recipe from How to Eat to Beat Disease.
Obviously we want to select the cleanest ingredients we can: organic, wild or locally-sourced as starters. Aim for unsweetened dried fruit. Then add new or better ingredients as you're able. Since we live in a small city, we have learned to do the best with what we have.
Since I love adding essential oils wherever I can, I'm giving these some extra punch by using On Guard blend with big antioxidant guns like clove, cinnamon and wild orange. Plus it tastes great too! Be sure any oils you use are food-grade, safety-tested (each batch), ethically and sustainably sourced because it matters.
Chocolate Birthday Bars
Chop into desired size pieces and mix together in a bowl:
2 Cups (500mL) Rolled oats
1/4 tsp (1.25mL) Sea Salt
1/4 Cup (125mL) Raw Walnuts
1/4 Cup (125mL) Raw Almonds
1/2 Cup (125mL) Dried Mangoes
1/2 Cup (125mL) Dried Cranberries
1/2 Cup (125mL) Dark Chocolate-covered blueberries
Mix in Blender until smooth like applesauce (add warm water if needed):
1/2 Cup Dried, pitted Dates
1/4 Cup (62mL) Maple Syrup
4 drops On Guard essential oil blend
Add date blend to dry ingredients and mix well to coat evenly.
Press down firmly into a lined square 9” (23cm) pan.
Bake 350F (175C) 15-20mins until edges start to brown.
Let cool 2-3 hours before cutting. It will be hard to resist, but this is important!
So after letting them cool and then refrigerate a few hours, the mixture was very crumbly and broke apart easily, leaving behind a trail of crumbs I am lovingly going to call "Birthday Granola Sprinkles". Some formed (although pretty ragged shapes) they were very rustic-looking Lol. But the flavor was good and I will happily use as toppings on yogurt, oatmeal, or even over baked fruit cobblers. Also thinking we can eat it cold with some milk as a cereal too. What other ideas can you think of?
RATING is 4/5 for ease of preparation, but 2/5 for result because it wasn't as expected, but 5/5 for repeating because I will want to play with the ingredients and method to see if I can improve! Give these a try and see what you think!
