I love them in burgers, and I love black bean soup! Unfortunately, my family doesn’t share my love of the bean, so I don’t get to make this very often. But when I do, lookout! I’ll make this recipe, doubled so I can munch on leftovers for a couple days.
Beans are easy to grow in the garden.
They require little once they are started, other than weeding and watering, which makes them a great garden addition. They are full of protein and fiber with little to no fat, which makes them a perfect addition to your diet. There’s no much this amazing little bean can’t do! Try this soup and see what I mean!
You can freeze the leftovers, or if you are like me, munch them up for lunch the next day. This is also great to cook in a crockpot, just peel the sweet potatoes and cut into cubes. Add them to the crockpot with the black beans to cook all day on low, drain and proceed with adding the broth and seasonings. Enjoy!
Have you tried black bean soup yet? Be sure to pin this for later!
Original article and pictures take thehomesteadinghippy.com site
Full of 15 grams of protein, 15 grams of fiber with few calories and fat. Who knew this little bean had so many wonderful attributes? [source] Yet, in my home, it has magical powers as well. It can make my kids disappear faster than you can say, “Dinner’s ready”. They are not fond of the beans at all. They will eat them, when faced with the only other choice being utter starvation. Unfortunately, they have to think about that a while in order to make that decision, but I digress.
We have been searching for ways to incorporate other proteins into our diets and beans are a good source for us.
We can buy them in bulk rather cheaply, store them for longer periods of time, and we can even grow them in our garden. This makes it an easy choice to add them to our diet. Varying HOW we eat them is important, as I don’t want the kids to really get tired of them and balk even more at the thought of ingesting them. I have made them into delicious black bean brownies, beans and rice, hummus, black bean soup, and chili, but I needed something else to vary the bean intake.
So, I bring you the black bean burger.
I used my new WonderMix to make these and it was a snap! I loved the 900 watts of power that ground the beans up to the right texture in a flash. First, you start by soaking the beans overnight, just like any other bean. I used 4 cups of black beans and covered them with 10 cups of water. You’ll notice the water turning black as the beans soak. That’s what I get every time and I consider that normal. In the morning, drain, rinse and fill the pot with fresh, clear water. Set on high heat and bring to a boil, then turn down heat to a simmer. Allow to simmer for 3-4 hours, or until done. You can also cook them in a crockpot on low for 6-8 hours if you wish. Making them that way can allow you to make huge batches at once and freeze them into portions you need later.
Place 3 cups of the cooked beans into the blender.
A food processor will work well for this, too. I added 1 egg, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, 1 Tablespoon ground cumin, 1 tsp chili powder and the juice of one lime. Blend in enough olive oil in order to make a thick, hummus type texture, about 1 cup. (At this point, you could put it into a bowl and serve with veggies to dip. Black bean hummus is wonderful as well.) Place in a bowl and then add 1/2 cup cornmeal (if you need gluten free) or flour. Blend together to form a thick paste.
Grab about a baseball sized amount and form into a patty.
This is the sticky part of the whole deal, but easy to do. Heat 2 tsp oil of choice (I used coconut) in a skillet. Place the formed patties in the hot oil and fry 4-5 minutes, flip, then fry 4-5 minutes on the other side. Top with cheese if desired when you flip it, to allow the cheese to melt.
Add your favorite toppings, like you would any burger.
My kids love ketchup and mustard, but relish, sauerkraut, pickles, onions, mushrooms, anything you would like. Serve on buns or on a bed of fresh garden greens. Delicious! Although, my kids still would rather have beef burgers, they do enjoy these from time to time.
Need some help getting back into the kitchen and cooking from scratch? Try this delicious collection of easy to make recipes to get you started!
Original article and pictures take thehomesteadinghippy.com site
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Original article and pictures take dmb3ount55sfc.cloudfront.net site
It’s that time of year, leaves are starting to fall and the days are getting shorter and a little more crisp. Yep, it’s time for the kiddos to head back to school with the billions of germ that seem to congregate there. Thankfully, there’s lots you can do and here are my Tips forKeeping Kids Healthy!
These Tips Work!
Whether it’s in the classroom sharing supplies or on the bus home from school, germs are everywhere. Kids come in contact with millions of the little buggers everyday. The good news is that you can do some simple things to keep your kids from getting every little bug they’re exposed to.
While friends are missing school, my kids rarely get sick so I know these tips really work! This is saying a lot since I have four kids at four different schools, so there are a lot of germs waiting to come home with them ��
How to Keep Kids Healthy
WASHING HANDS
I know, I know we hear this one all the time, but I’m certain my kids forget and still need to hear it…even the middle schoolers who should know better! So, remind your child to wash their hands before eating and after using the bathroom, blowing their nose, or playing outside. We have a rule that everyone has to wash their hands as soon as they get home from school. No exceptions!
COVER THEIR NOSE AND FACE WHEN SNEEZING AND COUGHING
While out doing your shopping, grab some little packs of tissue. Give your child a package to keep in their desk, backpack or locker. Encourage them to cough or sneeze into the tissue, then put the tissue in the trash…and wash their hands. (See pervious item �� If it isn’t possible to reach a tissue in time, remind your kiddo to cough or sneeze into the crook of their elbow, not their hands. This will definitely keep kids healthy.
DON’T SHARE WATER BOTTLES, FOOD OR PERSONAL ITEMS WITH FRIENDS
If your child is little then offer them this simple rule — if you put the item in your mouth, keep it to yourself. You don’t want them sharing hats and coats either. That’s how other little creepy crawlies like lice can be spread.
EAT A HEALTHY DIETAND DRINK PLENTY OF WATER
Boost their immune system naturally. Offer your child a variety of healthy foods, and skip the junk food, so they get the nutrients they need to be healthy and strong. Superfoods like blueberries make a great lunchtime treat or after school snack. And make sure they drink plenty of water. We have water bottles that go to school with the kiddos everyday so they can drink as much as they want.
LIMIT SUGAR INTAKE
This one is getting harder and harder. Everyone is trying to hand kids sugar these days. Every kid event or celebration has some sort of treat involved. And not just any treat, super sized ones! Classroom parties. Sporting events. Even school. Or the one that really gets me, the substitute teacher handing out candy so the kids will “do their work”.
Sugar really is everywhere. Do do what you can at home and help your kids make good choices when they’re out. One thing I do is make PB&Js with this Strawberry Chia Seed Jam, which has no refined sugar – the kids love it!
GET PLENTY OF SLEEP
Getting enough sleep can be a problem for children of any age. With our busy, packed schedules, naps can sometimes be missed or bedtimes pushed back. Making sleep a priority for kids can keep them healthy, both physically and emotionally. This article outlines how much sleep kids really need at every age.
Other Useful Tips for Keeping Kids Healthy
Another great tip that can help keep your family healthy during cold and flu season is to help your child avoid anyone who has a cold or infection. Close contact with a buddy who’s contagious, such as at play dates or sleepovers, could lead to your child getting sick. Or worse, the whole family being ill! When one of us gets sick we say they’re “hot lava” and can’t be touched.
We use essential oils a lot during the winter months. Diffusing blends that help fight airborne germs is a great way to avoid sickness and get rid of those winter blues!
Tips for Staying Organized
Like being a prepared mom like me? Then read my Ultimate Back To School Guide! It shares tons of back to school tips and tricks for making things run smoothly around the house. It also shares easy recipes, clever organization hacks and cool school supply DIYs.
Also, if you’re a busy family like ours, then you have to read my Secrets To An Organized House. These tips have made life so much easier and less stressful. Or, if time is always an issue…needing more of it that is…then read Time Savers for Busy Families. Simple things you can do to get more time in your day.
Want more information about staying healthy? Try these:
A taste so unbelievable, you’ll think you’re eating the real thing! America’s Favorite Protein Bar:Quest Nutrition Protein Bar.
If you are serious about building muscle mass or sculpting your body you most likely supplement your diet with commercially available whey or soy protein powders (and possibly other supplements). No doubt within a short period of time you discovered that some protein powders may not be the best tasting drinks you’ve ever had. Despite this you try to stick with them because your goal is a better body and a supplement shake that doesn’t taste so great is simply a sacrifice you make. People find that the flavor of the protein shake powder they paid a good money for quickly gets boring. If you are taking your protein shakes two or even three times a day it can become a real chore. This is when people start to experiment a little by adding other ingredients to make their protein shakes taste a little better. You can soon turn your boring, often tasteless, protein shakes into mouth-watering bodybuilding or dieting delights! All you need to have to get started is a blender and a little imagination!
Choosing What to Put in Your Protein Shakes
Before rushing off to your refrigerator to blend everything in site, let’s go through some basic principles you will want to consider first. Not only do you want to create the best tasting shakes but you should also aim to make the most effective protein shakes for your dieting requirements. This is important because there is no point throwing full fat ice cream, chocolate sauce, peanut butter and full fat milk all together to create a wonderful tasting fat gaining shake! You need to be a little wise when choosing your ingredients! So what kinds of ingredients make good choices for your shakes? I recommend using the following tips when getting your ingredients from the supermarket or refrigerator: Try to keep as many of your ingredients as natural as possible. A good example of this is using natural peanut butter instead of regular peanut butter. The natural version has better protein content and also natural fats that are important in your diet.
Fruit contains the carbohydrates that will fuel your workouts and your day. The complex sugars in fruit are important to any diet (unlike the simple sugars in sweets, sodas, etc). Think about ingredients that will boost your shake’s protein content. For example, you could throw a handful of nuts into the blender for a little extra protein without making the shake much thicker. You could add a few raw egg whites (if you are worried about eating raw eggs you may be able to find treated egg whites in cartons at your supermarket). You could always simply dump an extra scoop of whey powder in there as well.
If you get a little too carried away you may discover your shake is easier to eat with a spoon then drink from a glass. When you first start creating your shakes it is a good idea to add your liquids (water, fat-free milk, low sugar fruit juices, etc…) in stages so that you get your desired consistency. Examine the nutritional information for each ingredient and consider the impact it will have on your dieting goals. For example, you may be opting for fat free (skimmed) milk if you aren’t trying to gain weight. Always know what your goal is and make your protein shakes accordingly. If you are trying to shed the fat you will be skipping the types of ingredients that add too many carbohydrates and fats while trying to increase the protein content. Think of how you might create a unique flavor. You can try things like: cinnamon, vanilla, honey, coconut milk, etc… Once you get the hang of this you will see the possibilities are endless!
Making Your Protein Shake
Once you have decided on the ingredients for your shake you are ready to start. It couldn’t be simpler and if you can make toast, you won’t have a problem. It’s a good idea to think about the order in which you will add your ingredients into the blender. Always add your main liquid source first so that everything else you add afterwards is easily blended. Following this, add your protein powder and give your blender a quick ‘burst’. Now you are ready to add the rest of your ingredients and blend until you get the right consistency. At this point you may want to add a little more liquids to tweak your shake’s thickness. Throw in five or six ice cubes to make your shake more refreshing!
Conclusion
Now you can let your imagination invent all sorts of bodybuilding and dieting concoctions that make your supplement shakes a great deal tastier! Don’t forget to share your creations with friends at the gym and people you come across with. You will also discover many ideas other people come up with to inspire you further! Visit websites and online forums for recipes where you can find even more inspiring ideas for your protein shakes!
Best Kid Friendly Recipes & Healthy Kid Food Ideas
I started My Kids Lick The Bowl because kid friendly recipes, healthy kid food ideas and nutrition for children is my passion. Feeding kids is what I know best. I studied human nutrition for five years, worked as a Dietitian and Nutritionist for 10 years and then went on to have three children.
Looking for kid friendly recipes?
You are in the right place. There are more than 100 kid approved healthy recipe ideas on my site, and new kid friendly recipes and healthy food ideas are added every week. Below you will find a selection of some of the most popular healthy recipes for children on my site.
Healthy snacks for kids
Apple Oat No Bake Bites
New Kid Friendly Recipe Ideas
If you would like healthy kid food ideas, and kid friendly recipes delivered straight to your inbox, then be sure to sign up to my email list.
Original article and pictures take mykidslickthebowl.com site
One might wonder how I could possibly know anything about the best gifts for teachers seeing as I am a homeschool mom and am, therefore, my own kids’ teacher.
Hmm. Kind of seems like my kids should be reading this post and buying me some coffee shop and restaurant gift cards as a thank-you for my daily devotion to their education. Am I right?
Any amount will do, Boys.
Truly, their love is all the thanks I need. No, really. (That and the fact that they clean our toilets, vacuum our floors, unload the dishwasher…)
Even as a homeschooling family, we have a list of teachers and coaches we try to bless with a little something at Christmastime. Bible class teachers, youth workers, church ministry staff, music teachers, basketball and soccer coaches, the list goes on.
Perhaps we should begin by sharing a list of what NOT to give a teacher. Just say no to adding to a teacher’s collection of coffee mugs and/or anything that says “#1 Teacher.” And don’t even think about combining the two (a coffee mug that says “#1 Teacher”). Do we or do we not love those who care enough to educate our young? So let’s move on to the actual good suggestions, brought to you mostly by my Facebook readers who were kind enough to share their best ideas!
Do these seem impersonal? I guess they could. But write a kind and appreciative personal note, then slide in a gift card that will provide your teacher with free dinner, free ice cream, free coffee, free shopping, or free anything fun from around your community. I personally love receiving gift cards and never think them impersonal!
Again, include a personal note of appreciation. Maybe a package of popcorn. Perfection. (I like that these come in a 3-pack!)
Who thinks of these things? Several on Facebook suggested that this was a hit. I love the idea!
5. Breakfast in the Break Room
Meredith shared this fabulous suggestion, “One year I brought in breakfast for the office staff of our elementary. We were newish to the school then, and I didn’t want to bring in homemade food that might make some uneasy, so I made up my own shortened (and with prices that fit in my budget per person) list of breakfast options from Panera and handed it out early with a date on it I needed to collect them. I brought in orange juice and iced coffee from the grocery dairy section and a chopped fruit bowl from the grocer (but bananas and oranges or apples would be good too, I was just really wanting everything to clearly be commercially prepared if that makes sense) to go with each person’s selections. Panera boxed all the other stuff up and I brought it in early before the kids arrived. It was about $6-7 per person and we have a small office staff. They really loved it!”
6. Maple Syrup, Honey, or Jelly and Homemade Bread
While I think it’s best to be cautious on the homemade food gifts we give teachers (they may be leery about eating it unless they know us well), a jar of homemade jam and a loaf of homemade bread is a real treat! Teresa suggested, “This year teachers will get a pint of maple syrup and a jar of strawberry jam from our farm. In the past I have done loaves of homemade cinnamon raisin bread, and those were well-received.”
Terra says, “I’m giving them local honey in little bears this year…helps with immune systems…so not the typical gift.” Kris makes homemade Biscotti. I love all these unique ideas for homemade goodies!
We all know I love jars! While I’m pretty sure my sons’ male basketball coaches wouldn’t appreciate this gift of manicure items, any female teacher or coach surely would! My friend Joy makes and gives these and emailed me with, “I love mason jars for gifts! Fun to dress up and make fancy then useful afterwards. But you already know that because you’re queen of mason jars! I include the wraps or polish or both with a nail file or care kit, cotton balls, personal lotion and of course, a few chocolates!”
Again, we should stay away from apple-shaped ornaments that say “#1 Teacher.” But April shared, “My favorite I ever did was a Christmas ornament with her family name on it.” Now this is a great idea!
As someone who constantly has a filthy vehicle, I like this idea very much!! Lyn said, “When the boys got into middle and high school and had so many teachers, I started getting gift cards for the local car wash (one or two washes each). Our local place runs a “20 for $100″ special each year. It’s inexpensive, different and they love them!”
Fill in the gaps! What are your favorite gifts to give teachers and coaches?
Some of these links are my affiliate links.
Original article and pictures take heavenlyhomemakers.com site
Best Diet Meals for Vegetarians (Best Clean Eating)
1
1. Avocado Tomato Open Face Sandwich
If you need a quick yet healthy lunch idea, this avocado and tomato sandwich is a fantastic choice. With avocado’s healthy fat and tomato’s multivitamins, the sandwich offers abundant nutritional value, and is easy to make. It’s a tasty diet meal that anyone can accomplish.
2. Vegan Cauliflower and Roasted Garbanzo Rice and Beans
This vegan lunch bowl deems impressive in both nutritional value and flavor. Adding protein-rich beans to antioxidant-rich cauliflower gives you plenty of energy to battle long afternoons.
3. Egg Plant with California Figs and Leek (by gFreeFoodie.com)
If you haven’t combined egg plant and fig, you must. Egg plant’s bitterness blends well with fig’s subtle sweetness. Both are soft in texture, making their union tender and melt-in-your-mouth bites.
Like what PaleoLeap.com‘s author said, this zucchini fritter recipe is the “perfect Paleo alternative” to sliders if you top fritters with pulled pork, chicken and such. Eaten alone, they’re equally delicious. I like them as both appetizer and snack. How about you?
Lightly seasoned with Tamari soy sauce and vegetable oyster sauce, this stir fry is both tasty and low in calories. It makes a great side for vegetarians and dieters, and is wallet-friendly too.
Tofu-lovers would love this simple, tasty meal. Just marinade according to recipe, which you can find here, toast in oven, and enjoy.
7. Sautéed Chinese Turnip
Chinese turnip contains abundant amounts of vitamins and antioxidants. It’s easy to make, and has a delicious and grassy flavor. It’s a preferred substitute for traditional salads.
This Chinese turnip stir fry requires little ingredients or time. You can find the recipe at Clean Eating Recipe – Chinese Turnip. I hope you like it.
8. Egg and Avocado Breakfast Wrap
Avocado’s vast nutritional value is incredible. It’s rich in Vitamins K, C, B5, B6 and E, as well as potassium, folate, fiber and carotenoids. It also contains healthy fat that lowers cholesterol and reduces the risk of heart disease.
Avocado is also an incredibly versatile cooking ingredient, used in a wide range of ways: condiment on sandwiches, baking ingredient, topping for salads, etc.
Today’s egg and avocado salad incorporates avocado as a basic ingredient. Wrapped with cheesy scrambled eggs, avocado serves as much-needed vegetable in this healthy breakfast recipe.
9. Garlic Snow Pea Stir Fry
Garlic provides anti-inflammatory properties that improve circulation and lower the risk of heart disease. It also tastes great and is used in many cultures’ cooking. Meal-makers all over the world add garlic to recipes for enhanced flavor.
Today’s Garlic and Snow Pea Stir Fry, a traditional Chinese dinner, is an everyday family meal. It’s easy, tasty and delicious. Most of all, it’s healthy.
Not only is this salad full of beta carotene, it’s naturally sweet too. With just a sprinkle of cheese on top–and letting cheese’s saltiness offset the vegetables’ sweetness.
Best Diet Meals for Breakfast Lovers (Best in Clean Eating)
1
1. Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate Melt
With peanut butter’s protein power and dark chocolate’s energizing ability, this breakfast sandwich is a great way to start the day. Though higher in calories, the sandwich fills you up so well that you’ll likely steer clear of unhealthy snacks until lunch.
Also, doesn’t (all-natural) peanut butter and dark chocolate morsels sound like a tasty combo?
2. Prosciutto, Fig Preserves and Goat Cheese over Whole Wheat Bread
This breakfast sandwich is creamy and sweet, with soft goat cheese, sweet fig preservatives and savory prosciutto combining to create a delicious breakfast sandwich.
Quinoa for breakfast? Yes please! Not only is quinoa easy to digest and full of nutrition, it tastes good too. I can eat quinoa for all three meals, but find this breakfast bowl extremely appetizing. If you agree, the try the recipe at Breakfast Quinoa Bowl.
This clean eating French toast tastes just as delicious as regular French toast–except healthier. Made with whole wheat bread and natural sweetener, it’s a healthier version of everyone’s favorite classic.
Muffins are also classic–and a favorite amongst many. But they’re full of carbs and calories, and most likely not clean. These muffins, however, are quite healthy. With eggs and spinach as main ingredients, they’re practically low-carb lovers’ dream.
