oatmeal balls

We love making oatmeal balls with leftover oatmeal, and more recently oatmeal bakes (pretty similar to oatmeal but you bake in the oven instead of stovetop).

Oatmeal balls are an awesome/fun finger food and easy to eat for breakfast, as a snack, or sticking in a lunch box.

Make a ball with the leftover oatmeal (after its in the fridge it is usually cold and sticky and holds its shape well) then roll it in the coconut flakes or hemp hearts.

We pack our oatmeal with goodies like:

• hemp hearts

• chia seeds

• ground flax seeds

• cinnamon

• pepitas

• pure maple syrup

• nut butter

• coconut flakes

• vanilla extract

• pinch of salt

Pesto Pasta

A great lunch or dinner option. We love to use chickpea or lentil pasta for added protein. Our favorite is Tolerant.

Cook the pasta and drain. While the pasta is still warm add in your pesto and mix. YUM!

Chicken Salad

This recipe is a hard one for me to share exact measurements. It really depends on the amount of cooked chicken you have and how much mayo you like.

ingredients:

• cooked and chopped chicken

• 3 celery sticks chopped

• 1/2 cup of mayo (more or less depending on how much chicken you have)

• 2 tbs of seed or dijon mustard

• cornichons - I like A LOT - chop them up

• salt and pepper to taste

directions:

After everything is chopped, mix it all together. Sometimes I like to add some cornichon juice. A tablespoon or so. Remember that the amount everything you put is personal preference, Start off small and you can always add more if it looks too dry. I like to add in a lot of celery and cornichons because I like the crunch!

Over Night Oats

A one-to-one ratio usually works best. Just make sure your oats are covered with milk. The oats absorb a lot of the milk!

• 1 cup rolled oats (can be regular rolled oats or gluten-free), steel-cut oats work too but they need to be soaked a little longer 

• 1-1.5 cup milk (can be cows milk or any dairy-free milk you love)

The add-ins:  We don't really measure these and just put in whatever you are feeling. If I had to guess 2-3 tbs.

• pumpkin seeds

• sunflower seeds

• chia seeds - I wouldn't do more than 1tbs of these

• hemp hearts - a great source of protein and healthy fats

• coconut flakes

• flax seeds - ground or whole

• about 1-2 tablespoons of a nut butter

• dates

• apple chunks

• sliced strawberries

• Blueberries

• mango

• mashed banana

• frozen blueberries

• cinnamon 

• vanilla extract

• maple syrup

Directions: Mix your base (oats and milk) and your favorite "add-ins" together. If you have chia seeds in there mix extra well! Cover the container and place it in the fridge overnight. In the morning your oats will be ready to devour. Mix one more time and serve.

My family loves to do ground flax, hemp, chia seeds, and a pinch of salt for the base. We let that sit overnight with 3/4 of vanilla almond milk and 1/4 of whole milk. In the morning we add in PB, fruit like frozen blueberries, coconut flakes, cinnamon, pumpkin seeds, and slivered almonds!

Ground Taco Meat

This meat can be stuffed into a taco shell with lettuce, tomatoes, avocado and cheese OR deconstructed in a lunch with a side of tortilla chips, side of tomatoes, and a side of cheese!

ingredients:

• 1lb ground beef or turkey

• Taco seasoning I use siete mild taco seasoning. You could also make your own.  I also like to add in taco sauce Red Duck mild taco sauce or enchilada sauce so that it’s not so dry.

Instructions

Chop half an onion and sauté with avocado or olive oil until translucent. 

Add in ground beef or turkey and spices. Cook down and break up the meat. If you are using the taco sauce add in after the meat is almost fully cooked. Cook down a bit more.