These cookies are great way to provide fiber from oats and whole wheat flour to regulate blood sugar, and sneak in the fruits and vegetables for those picky eaters in the house! Great for a grab and go breakfast or afternoon snack.

Healthy Carrot & Apple Breakfast Oat Cookies

(Adapted from Ciara @ My Fussy Eater)

Ingredients

• 2 cup – flour, whole wheat
• 1 cup – oats
• ¹/₂ teaspoon – baking powder
• ¹/₄ teaspoon – baking soda
• ¹/₂ teaspoon – cinnamon
• 1 large – egg
• ¹/₃ cup – coconut oil
• ¹/₄ cup – honey
• 1 teaspoon – vanilla extract
• 1 cup grated – carrot
• 1 cup, grated – apple or pear
• 1 medium – banana

Optional

• ¹/₃ cup – chocolate chips, semisweet

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with grease-proof paper.
2. In a large bowl mix together the whole wheat flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon.
3. In a separate smaller bowl beat the egg. Add the melted coconut oil, honey and vanilla extract and stir well. Add this mixture to the large bowl with the dry ingredients and mix until well combined.
4. Add the grated carrot, grated apple and mashed banana and again stir until everything is well mixed together. If using the chocolate chips, add now.
5. Roll the cookie dough into 1 inch sized balls. The dough should make approximately 20 balls. Place each on the cookie sheet and press down lightly with a fork.
6. Bake in the oven for 13-15 minutes. Allow to cool on a wire rack.

STORAGE:

• The cookies can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days. They can also be frozen for up to 3 months.

Breaking the Bad Breakfast Cycle

As a newlywed many years ago, I was surprised to learn that cold cereal was one of the most expensive grocery purchases I made. We had a very limited budget and this boxed item gobbled up a pretty good chunk of it.

 To make matters worse was that as a couple we were both college students, and cold cereal was pretty much a staple for us at the time. Luckily we have matured and so have our breakfast preferences. Despite this, cold cereal can still be a budget buster because of our four growing kids. My son can easily demolish a good portion of a brand-new box if he were left to his own devices. Who can resist the crunchy sweet goodness of sweetened corn? Not my 9 year old, that is for sure.

During those 4 cereal-munching years, I learned just how void of nutrition all of that cold cereal was. This high-sugar, empty-calorie meal wasn’t doing much to fuel my mind and body back then, and it still doesn’t do much for my son today.

With a new school year around the corner, many parents are searching for a way to start the day better. Both for us and our children. The answer has been here all along, just a little too simple for us to always see. Getting back to basics is the best solution.

Eggs. These little incredible protein-packed natural wonders are a perfect way to begin the day. The fat and protein they contain are filling. While my son could probably polish off an entire box of empty-calorie cereal, it would be virtually impossible for him to eat 18 eggs. And, those 18 eggs are less expensive AND much more nutritious, than the cold-cereal that had once been our habit.

Oats. This inexpensive breakfast choice is loaded with fiber! Let’s face it, most of us could do well to have a little more fiber in our diet. It has also been shown to boost immunity, which the kids could use as they all return back into the classroom. The trick to eating oats is to try it a few different ways. If you are picky about the texture, try undercooking it a bit. Also, if you are used to the taste of sweetened cereal then go ahead and add some honey. Then over time, slowly reduce the sugar that you add, and try other things. Fruit, honey, and cinnamon are all favorite ways to eat oatmeal.

Vegetables. What? Vegetables for breakfast? That’s right. Steaming some quick vegetables or even crunching on some raw ones while driving to work can be a fantastic start to the day. Add in a half avocado for some healthy fat, or even a handful of almonds. This no-fail breakfast is sure to get the day started right. And, there are no excuses with this one. Grabbing some raw vegetables and a handful of nuts takes virtually no time at all.

Give these ideas a try, even just once a week in the beginning. What do you have to lose but some expensive processed food and a sugar-high? You will find that these wholesome natural foods will provide a great energy source for your body, some attentiveness to your mind, and keep a little more money in your wallet. 

Braised Balsamic Chicken

Ingredients
Original recipe makes 6 servings

6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

Ground black pepper to taste

1 teaspoon garlic salt

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 onion, thinly sliced

½ cup balsamic vinegar

1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes

1 teaspoon dried basil

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 teaspoon dried rosemary

½ teaspoon dried thyme
Directions

1.  Season chicken breasts with ground black pepper and garlic salt. Heat olive oil in a medium skillet, and brown the onion and seasoned chicken breasts.
2.  Pour tomatoes and balsamic vinegar over chicken, and season with basil, oregano, rosemary and thyme. Simmer until chicken is no longer pink and the juices run clear, about 15 minutes.

Source: allrecipes.com
www.orriant.com

Breakfast Burrito

INGREDIENTS

·        1 tbsp olive oil

·        2 eggs, 4 egg whites, beaten

·        5 8-inch whole wheat tortillas

Filling Options

·        1/2 cup grated cheese

·        1 tomato, chopped

·        1 small onion, diced

·        1/4 green or red bell pepper, chopped

·        1/2 avocado, diced

·        Salsa

·        Black olives, sliced

Over medium-high heat, warm olive oil and scramble or cook the eggs to your liking. Meanwhile, warm the tortillas for a few minutes on the rack of a 250° F oven.

Fill tortillas with scrambled eggs and your choice of ingredients. Roll into a burrito to eat on the go!