Healthy Camping Foods

Healthy Camping Foods

For the RV-ing or camping family, summer is a time of adventure, new places, old favorites and … lousy food. The good news is healthy camping foods are not as difficult as you might think.

By Danielle, Contributing Writer

Let’s face it, when you’re camping it is very tempting to eat junk. Marshmallows, hot dogs and processed snacks are so convenient for camping, but they aren’t good for us. Healthy camping food is not as difficult as you might think. But like anything worthwhile, it takes a little planning.

In the first few weeks of our summer camping it was fun to live on junk food, but we quickly realized that eating too much junk was affecting us in negative ways. I began to break out more than I did in high school and our son’s behavior was starting to show signs of too much sugar and food dyes. The break from prepping snacks and foods was nice, but a mother’s work is never done, even when you’re camping.

When you want to make healthy camping food at home you can prep ahead of time but what about an extended trip when you need to make food in the campsite? It can still be done! Here are some tips for preparing healthy camping food beforehand and at the campsite.

Before You Travel

Make and Take Foods

These foods are great to make at home and pack for both travel snack and campsite nourishment:

• Homemade Graham Crackers
• Homemade trail mix

Before Travel Prep

If you’re cooking over the fire there are things you can prep at home:

• Brown burger meat
• Prepare taco meat (here’s a great homemade seasoning recipe)
• Cut veggies
• Scramble eggs
• Mix dry ingredients and bag (this is great for pancakes, brownies, etc.)

Buy Local

A perk to camping is exploring new or different locations.

Buying local fruits and veggies when you reach your destination is good for the wallet and the belly. Many times you can find roadside stands, and if they are mom and pop run the items may be less likely to imported or heavily treated with chemicals. If you’re super opposed to chemicals ask around for local organic markets and do your fruit and veggie shopping there.

Healthier Campfire Foods

Healthy camping foods over the campfire can be fun for everyone. You’re not at home so the prep and cooking are different from the normal routine. Children young and old can help prepare and cook foods on site. Of course, use your judgement when allowing children to cook over an open fire and be sure to discuss fire safety with them beforehand.

Here are a few great campfire recipes that are low prep yet healthy.

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Seasoned Snow Peas

1. Cut two 14-inch pieces of heavy-duty foil and place one atop the other. Grease lightly with butter, coconut oil or olive oil. Arrange peas in the center and top with mint and salt (if desired). Drop butter pieces evenly on the top of the peas.
2. Wrap the foil around the food. Be sure to seal the pack well.
3. Place on the grate 15-20 minutes, turning halfway through cooking. Cook until desired tenderness is reached.

Another one of our favorites is cheesy burger and potatoes. You can find that recipe here.

Healthy camping food is not hard. You can enjoy foods within your dietary needs even over the fire. If you are looking for some basic campfire instructions, be sure to grab this free fire starting printable.

What are some of your favorite healthy camping foods?

Original article and pictures take thehumbledhomemaker.com site

Healthy Berry Smoothie

Healthy Berry Smoothie

On most days, you can hear a smoothie being made in this house. It’s a refreshing and healthy drink that changes up the usual of just grabbing a fruit. Even my kids love their smoothies, my oldest oftentimes makes one for herself and her twin sisters.

So, for ease and simplicity, I usually like to make the easiest smoothies I can. You know, one that can be made in only a matter of a few minutes – that! This is because more often than not, we make smoothies when we are too time-crunched to have a sit-down breakfast. Yet we do have just a few minutes to make a healthy and nutritional smoothie before we run out the door in the morning.

We love this particular recipe for Healthy Berry Smoothie. Really, it’s as simple as it gets yet is packed full of berry-goodness. Plus, this time of year is when you see berry prices dropping, so while we use frozen in the winter – it’s great to start buying fresh again.

Here’s the recipe we love to make time and time again, from our kitchen – to yours!

Enjoy!

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What do you like to put into your simple yet nutritious smoothies?

Original article and pictures take www.myorganizedchaos.net site

healthy and fun kid snacks

healthy and fun kid snacks

Oh summertime, how I so LOVE you!! I love no schedules, no homework, no getting up early, no violin lessons, scouts, tutoring and did I say especially no science projects or book reports!? You know what else I love? Snacking. Oh wait, no I don’t…my little kiddos do! They’d snack all day long if I let them. This summer is different. I’m creating a snack chart so they can track the time of day and the time to SNACK! But I’m going to make a snack of the week with them so they can learn to cook, bake and make. So excited to implement this! Here are some healthy and fun kid snacks we’ve gathered, can’t wait for school to let out!! Bring on the SUMMER!

Yogurt Dipped Strawberries |Penny Price via Just a Pinch

Sour Patch Grapes |A Spotted Pony

Frozen Peanut Butter Chocolate Covered Bananas |Yummy Mummy Kitchen

Crabby Apple |Canadian Family Mag

Frozen Banana Penguins |Reading Confetti

Peanut Butter & Apple Sandwiches |Ready Nutrition

Apple Snails |Stop Lookin’ Get Cookin’

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Balls |Averie Cooks

Cinnamon Sugar Tortilla Chips |Made to be a Mama

Chocolate Granola Bars |The Marathon Mom

Cereal Bars |Reasons to Skip the Housework

Chocolate Banana Pudding Pops |The Crafted Sparrow

We’ve got more ideas on our Kid Snacks pin board, plus check out all of our inspiration roundups like our rainbow crafts + desserts,

plus our summer boredom buster Popsicle stick idea,

100 family time ideas,

and 21 boredom buster activities!

Original article and pictures take lollyjane.com site

Healthy and Easy Oven Baked Sweet Potato Chips

Healthy and Easy Oven Baked Sweet Potato Chips

The other day I was shopping for some healthy snacks and I stumbled across some sweet potato chips. They were not bad, but it got me thinking. How hard would it be to make this myself? It probably wouldn’t be hard AND it would probably cut out a lot of unhealthy stuff that they might add to the store bought bag of chips, right? Well, I was right! Here’s how I made these easy and healthy Oven Baked Sweet Potato Chips!

Instructions

0. Preheat oven to 375 °F.

1. Slice sweet potatoes really thin, like so:

2. In a medium mixing bowl, mix olive oil, salt, and cinnamon together.

3. Throw your sliced sweet potatoes in to the bowl and mix it all together well.

4. Place aluminum foil over a baking sheet (I guess this is optional, but I do this so that they don’t stick to the pan).

5. Place sweet potato slices on baking sheet side by side.

6. Pop it in the oven for about 30 minutes. I say about because different ovens probably will vary. For me it took 35, but I heard others making it in 20 mins. I would just start checking it at 20 every couple mins to make sure it doesn’t all burn.

7. Remove from oven and let it cool off before serving!

You liked that didn't you... well here's more!

Original article and pictures take ohsnapletseat.com site

Health Benefits of Chia Seeds (+ 25 Ways to Use Them)

Health Benefits of Chia Seeds (+ 25 Ways to Use Them)

Chia seeds are bursting onto the trendy scene in all their fashionable glory. I saw a box of breakfast cereal the other day at the grocery store (the kind marketing itself as “healthy”) that boasted the inclusion of chia seeds.

But are they a passing fad? Just the flavour of the month in a long line of highly marketable and slightly exotic-sounding ingredients? Some people get excited about every new supposed ‘superfood’ that comes down the pipeline, but me – I tend to be wary of anything embraced by mainstream marketing.

This article asks the question, “Are chia seeds a superfood?”, and explains the answer in this way: “There is no actual definition for a ‘superfood’, this is really just a marketing term, but foods mentioned in this category often contain above average amounts of health promoting nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidants, and especially phytonutrients (plant based nutrients). Based on this definition, chia seeds would certainly qualify.”

Chia seeds have been used medicinally and as a valuable diet component for centuries. They grow like crazy in Guatemala and Mexico, and were historically loved by the Azteks and Mayans. They are currently trending once again, and for good reason.

Pros and Cons

Given the recent trend in our culture toward processed junk comprising a significant portion (if not all) of our diets, the ratio of Omega-3’s and Omega-6’s is massively out of proportion. We’re getting way, way too much Omega-6, and not enough Omega-3. I’ve seen estimates saying we’re getting 25 times too much O-6. Crazy, eh? This is being linked to all sorts of serious health concerns, including cancer, arthritis, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, irritable bowel disease, and more.

So that’s why lots of people talk up the amazing Omega-3 content of chia seeds. And it’s true – they are indeed high in beneficial Omega-3’s. Nonetheless, they are still a seed, and as such should not play too large a role in any traditional foods diet. Plant-based sources of Omega-3’s are not as usable by our bodies (in converting to DHA and APA, which are the long-chain fatty acids our bodies need) as animal sources of them, especially from seafood.

An interesting note: I personally do not follow a paleo/primal diet (for many reasons) but even Mark Sisson of Mark’s Daily Apple agrees that they can be considered primal-approved, but cautions against treating them as a superfood at the expense of traditional superfoods like grassfed liver and butter.

Why I Love Chia Seeds

With all of this knowledge, I’ve started using chia seeds in my regular diet, and I am LOVING them. Here are a few reasons why:

1. They are virtually tasteless

They do have a definite texture thing going on, but the taste is relatively neutral, and easily blends with all sorts of dishes.

2. They are high in protein

I’m constantly throwing them in to things like oatmeal, baking, etc. to help up the protein content of an otherwise starchy or grain-based dish.

3. They have a ton of Omega-3’s

While they may not be as helpful in my body as other sources, they are still better than nothing, and providing a little nutritional boost.

4. They are seriously impressive in their nutritional profile

They are a fantastic source of fiber, with 11 grams per ounce! They are also a great source of manganese, as well as boasting four times as much antioxidants as blueberries, and twice the potassium as a banana. They have five times the calcium as milk, seven times more vitamin C than oranges, and three times more iron than spinach! (according to this source).

5. They are mucilaginous

This means they absorb HUGE amounts of liquid, which is pretty darn cool. Also – handy as a thickener and binder for gluten/grain-free cooking.

In addition to the below recipes (I haven’t tried them all, but the ingredients are all real-food), I use chia seeds quite often in my recently released breakfast ebook, “The Breakfast Revolution”, which you can grab HERE.

25 Recipes That Use Chia Seeds

Raspberry-Banana Oat and Chia Seed Smoothie // Food and Spice

Chia-Aid Sports Drink // The Nourishing Home

Chia Seed Kefir or Kombucha // Real Food Outlaws

Chai Bubble Tea with Chia Seed Boba // The Greenbacks Gal

Key Lime Pie Smoothie // Homegrown & Healthy

Perfect Banana-Pecan Bread // Red & Honey

20-Minute Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies // Red & Honey

Rice Flour Chocolate Chip Cookies // Gutsy

Summer Muesli w/ Soaked Oats and Chia Seeds // Recipes to Nourish

Chia-Blueberry Porridge // Common Sense Homesteading

Breakfast Pudding // Nourishing Simplicity

Breakfast in a Jar // All Things Health

Cinnamon Crackers // Sweet Kisses and Dirty Dishes

Blueberry Mousse Slice // Strands of Life (photo above)

Dairy-Free Berry Mousse // Whole New Mom

Fudge Pops // Nourishing Treasures

Blueberry Jam (no added sugar, no pectin) // Health Extremist

Honey-Sweetened Strawberry Chia Seed Jam // Red & Honey

Chia Pumpkin Pudding // Health Starts in the Kitchen (photo above)

Chocolate Peanut Butter Chia Pudding // Keeper of the Home

Chocolate or Carob Chia Pudding (stevia sweetened) // Whole New Mom

Chocolate and Chia Pudding (maple syrup sweetened) // So Let’s Hang Out

Easy Coconut-Vanilla Chia Seed Pudding // Real Food Whole Health

Blended Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding // Red & Honey

Additional Reading

Chia Seeds // Dr. Weil

They are also often used as an egg replacer (a very nutritious one, at that) because of their gelling properties. Katie has instructions for how to do that, tucked in at the bottom of this gluten-free pumpkin muffin post.

4 Great Ways to Use Chia Seeds // Canadian Living

You tell me: are there chia seeds in your kitchen right now? What have you used them for?

Original article and pictures take redandhoney.com site

Ham and Cheese Pasta Salad ~ The Make-Ahead Lunch Box

Ham and Cheese Pasta Salad ~ The Make-Ahead Lunch Box

Sick of sandwiches? Need fresh, healthy lunch ideas? Whether or not you pack lunches or eat lunches at home, I believe we can all use some new, easy, and quick lunch ideas. Recipes that can be made ahead of time and pulled out for immediate use? Even better. Follow along with this Make-Ahead Lunch Box series – and share your ideas too!

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What’s fun about this recipe for Ham and Cheese Pasta Salad is that you can add veggies to your liking. Don’t like sweet peppers? Add extra cucumbers. Don’t like cucumbers? Add extra carrots. Don’t like carrots? Oh, come on. Surely we can come up with some vegetables you like. :)

Feel free to switch out the ham for chicken, take out the cheese if you need to go dairy free, and stick with brown rice pasta if you need to eat gluten free. See how accommodating this meal is?

Ham and Cheese Pasta Salad

24 ounces whole wheat or brown rice pasta

1 pound ham, cut into chunks

8 ounces cheddar or Colby jack cheese, cut into chunks

16 ounces frozen peas (uncooked)

4 cups chopped veggies of your choice (green, red, yellow, and orange peppers; onion, tomato, cucumbers, carrots)

sea salt to taste

4 Tablespoons Italian Salad Dressing

1 1/2 cup Ranch Salad Dressing

Cook pasta until just tender. Drain and rinse under cold water. In a large bowl, stir together cooked pasta, ham, cheese, peas, and chopped veggies. Toss with Italian Salad Dressing and salt. Stir in Ranch Salad Dressing until coated. Chill for at least 2 hours before serving. Makes 8-10 main dish servings. (<— That is a great, big bowl full.)

To prepare for the lunch box:

Scoop salad into containers with lids. (I like using Pyrex bowls with lids like these or like these.) Store individual containers in the refrigerator until packing for a lunch. Be sure to pack an ice pack in the lunch box to keep the salad cold!

Side dish ideas:

• Fresh fruit like cantaloupe, grapes, and strawberries
• Hard boiled eggs
• Olives
• Pickles
• Raspberry Lemon Cream Cups – recipe coming soon!

I love that this pasta salad is a full meal all by itself – with whole grain pasta, meat, cheese, and lots of veggies! I love even more that it can be put together ahead of time and pulled out as needed.

What are your favorite veggies to add to pasta salad?

Original article and pictures take heavenlyhomemakers.com site

Gut Healing Apple Cinnamon Gummies

Gut Healing Apple Cinnamon Gummies

Gut health is something I’ve struggled with since birth. Adopting a paleo diet remedied the majority of issues I’d struggled with throughout my life which you can read more about here, but after coming off birth control 6 or so years ago, my gut health once again took a turn for the worst, helping to aggravate a long battle with hormonal acne. Although I’ve adopted a variety of strategies to address my gut health, one of my favorite gut-healing foods are gelatin-rich gummies.

My favorite part about gummies is that you can really make them your own. I make different flavors and varieties of these all the time to mix it up. Because fall is in full swing, I decided to make a fall-inspired batch, hence these Apple Cinnamon Gummies! The best part about this recipe is that it only includes 3 ingredients and takes only a few minutes to prepare. The reason these are so great for gut-health is that they contain grass-fed gelatin. (This is the brand I use). Gelatin not only support gut health, but also strengthens hair, skin and nails. Pretty much a win-win.

In order to make these, you’ll need a few candy molds. It completely doesn’t matter which kind you get. Personally, I have this one, these and this. Any of them will do!

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1. In a small saucepan, combine all ingredients over medium heat and immediately begin to stir with a wooden spoon.
2. Continue to stir every 30 seconds or so until the mixture almost reaches a boil.
3. Once you see the liquid start to bubble, remove from heat and gently pour into a candy mold of your choice. Place the candy mold on top of a baking sheet in order to make it easier to move around.
4. Once the mold has been filled, move into the refrigerator to set.
5. Once set, I like to move the molds into the freezer before attempting to remove the gummies. It makes them less likely to stick to the mold.
6. Once you've removed all of the gummies, store them in the fridge to have on hand throughout the week.

Original article and pictures take anyaseats.com site