Paleo Energy Bites - My travel go to

Been a crazy week. Took my son to check out a college last Monday. Which was a 2 1/2 drive there and then 2 1/2 hour drive home.  Long day, but wouldn't have missed it for the world!!!! Man he is growing up to fast. I can't tell you enough to enjoy every moment you have with your kids. Being a step mom is the toughest job I have ever done, but every moment that I connect with them is worth every tough moment. I won't forget the grin on his face when I said I was taking the day off work to go with him to check out this college.  Those are the moments that make all the tough times worth it.  The long drive and talks about the rest of his life, college, soccer, girls, school are moments I can't get back.  Don't forget to take the time to spend with your kiddos!

This weekend we traveled again for a dance competition and soccer. Very thankful they both in same town this time.  Another long day in the car.  We did have some fun the night prior, checking out the mall and trying a new restaurant, Arthur Bryant's BBQ (on my husbands bucket list, not mine).  I loved watching my son interact with my daughter and how they encouraged each other as they went separate ways to compete.  It was a long day as parents.  My husband was the taxi driver to dance, to soccer, back to dance, back to soccer, to lunch, to soccer and back home again.  I was the make up artist and hair dresser and cheerleader.  Ok I was the worrier.  I love to watch my kids no matter what they do whether, dance, music, running or soccer, but I get so nervous it is emotionally exhausting. The results were amazing!!! I could see an amazing improvement in both my kids ability and confidence. 

Quite the experience! Line was out the door! The turkey was the best!

Many parents ask me why we go to such great lengths for our kids to compete.  This is why, to watch them learn,  for them to work as part of a team, their personal level of growth as they win and when they lose, their character as humans are always being stretched and for that it is all worth it.  Most of all, it is the love they have for what they do and the gratefulness they show for what we do for them.  My daughter told me it was my job to pin her new awards on her jacket yesterday, as I am the one who does her hair, makeup and takes her to dance.  Yes, this mom got a little teary eyed.  Again appreciate every moment you have with your kids.

When we travel we try the hardest we can to eat as healthy and Paleo as we can.  I have to be honest it is not easy.  Making good choices is hard when you need quick and fast. The trick is being prepared.  Traveling with as much healthy food as you can.  Fruit, veggies, healthy snacks and lots of water, helps for sure.  My go to is these Paleo Energy Bites.  I love them when we are on the run and need a quick pick me up.  Riding in the car for hours and we don't want to stop or buy something unhealthy, I instead eat a bite.  Between costume changes at the dance competition this momma snuck a bite and on the ride to brothers soccer game after dancing all morning a great treat.   My son loves to have one about an hour before playing soccer and my other daughter and I love them before runs. We use to make them with Peanut Butter and real chocolate chips, but in that my husband and youngest daughter can't eat chocolate and I went Paleo too, we had to find a Paleo version.  After a few tries, we found one we all like.  Hope you enjoy and these will be a reminder to you to enjoy every moment with your kiddos!

Paleo Energy Bites

3/4 cup Gluten-Free Rolled Oats
3/4 cup Almond Butter
1/8 cup Honey
1/8 cup Maple Syrup (pure)
1/4 cup Flaxseed, ground (you can also do half and half wheat germ)
3/4 cup unsweetened coconut shreds
1/4 cup Enjoy Life Semi Sweet Chocolate Mini Chips

These are my savior with eating Paleo and my husband and daughter unable to have milk.

Mix all together.  I find using my hands works best.  I then roll them into small balls and store in a Tupperware dish in the fridge.  They don't really melt so as long as not in really hot place can travel with you a container or small baggies. I enjoy them as my sweet afternoon snack at work.  You could use chopped nuts as well, or dried berries too, but this is the way my families likes them the best. 

Paleo Protein Bars

It's Sunday, my favorite day of the week.  Church, family time, working outside, now that it is warm again and making our snack foods for the week.  My husband and I both have things we make for the week that help make eating healthy more convenient  in our busy life.  We both work full time and we have 4 kids, although only 3 live at home.  We have 3 dogs, which are sometimes more work then our kids and a 15 acre hobby farm (or at least that is what my husband is trying to make it)!  That in itself is a story for another time.  Our life is full of soccer, dance, music and school activities. My husband makes a Paleo breakfast casserole each week that we just heat up for breakfast.  I will try to get my husband to assistant me in that a blog at some point.  I make Paleo Almond Bites (I will do this recipe soon too) and Protein Bars weekly.

Yummy!

If you read my blog at all or know me I am out to make everything easy and inexpensively.  I have adapted this recipe to be quicker and a little cheaper, but still good for you. 

Roasting the seeds, nuts and coconut

Here adaptation of the Protein Bars as I have had lots of questions about them. We love them and they are so simple, healthy and yummy when you need a quick snack. They are a great easy snack before working out or on a run.  Ok honestly, the only down side of these bars is sometimes getting them out of the pan, but if they fall apart they are still like yummy cookie chunks!  Be warned your house will smell like cookies after baking these. 

Pre cooked

Protein Bars

1/4 cup sliced Almonds
1/4 cup chopped Walnuts
1/4 cup sunflower seeds
1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
1/4 cup Almond Butter
1/4 cup coconut oil
1/4 cup flaxseed meal
1.5 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons raw honey
1/2 cup protein powder (I use vanilla)
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 cup dried blueberries

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Place nuts, seeds and coconut in a single later on cookie sheet and bake for 5-8 minutes till they are golden brown. In bowl melt coconut oil, almond butter and honey in the microwave, then stir till combined.  Add egg, vanilla, sea salt, flax protein powder and stir. Stir in nut and seed mixture and blueberries.  Press mixture into an 8x8 loaf pan.  Bake at 350 F for15 minutes.  Let cool before cutting. Store them in air tight container.  I store in snack baggies.

Adapted from http://easyhealthoptions.com/kitchen-kelley-paleo-protein-bars/

Tex Mex Soup Paleo Friendly

This has become a weekly favorite for my entire family.  I got this recipe from Eat Drink Paleo (Chicken & Kale Tortilla Soup), but I have changed some of the recipe as it was a bit to spicy for my family.  I cut cost by baking 8 boneless chicken breast two nights ago.  I then save 2 of the chicken breast for this soup. They were kind of big pieces, so you may want 3 pieces if small chicken breast.  The best part of this is that I am feeding my family healthy Paleo meal and they can add any toppings they want to make it their own. My one daughter for example loves cheese.  She believes everything is better with cheese.  This way I can make a Paleo meal for me and my husband, but kids can have choices. I also made a few changes to use ingredients that I already had in my fridge.

Forgot the coconut oil, but it is all stuff we have in our fridges

Tex Mex Soup

1 onion yellow diced

1 teaspoon coconut oil

1/2 large red pepper (if small pepper use all of it)

1 Tablespoon Jalapenos

2 Tablespoons diced garlic

1 teaspoon dried oregano  (this is dried oregano from my garden last summer)

1 teaspoon ground coriander seed

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 Tablespoon butter or ghee (we use ghee)

2 large diced chicken breast

2 cups torn kale leaves

400 grams canned tomatoes

3 cups chicken broth

Zest and juice of one lime

Toppings:

You cut up avocado for Paleo topping, but if that isn't important to you try sour cream or broken up gluten free chips.

Sautéing up the veggies

Heat medium saucepan with coconut oil added the diced onions and peppers still for a minute or so.  Add jalapenos, garlic, oregano, coriander seed, cumin and ghee. Stir for another minute.  Now add chicken, kale, diced tomatoes, chick stock and lime zest and juice.  You can salt if needed, but I don't find it is. Bring everything to boil and then cook on high heat for about 8 minutes. Serve with toppings as desired.  Enjoy!

So Yummy!

I have recently made the life change to Paleo.  My husband went Paleo about 8 months ago and started Crossfit.  His life is all encompassed by it, but he has lost around 30 pounds.  The best benefit for him though is he brought down his cholesterol and blood pressure.  I pushed back as long as I could, but ever where I went were the benefits of going Paleo.  So I took the jump, but I did not make the ultimate switch to Crossfit.  I am a runner and love to run, but that is for another post.  I have had lots of questions about my switch and how it is working for me.  The benefits are non stop, no more bloating, no more stomach aches, lost 3 pounds in the first 2 weeks and no problems pooping.  Ok, I know, but just being honest.  More energy and not feeling guilty about what I eat. 

I can't recommend it enough, but know that the first couple weeks you will detox which was not fun.  I was exhausted had none stop headaches and thought I was getting sick, but about two weeks in I started to feel fantastic.  This journey of life is not perfect, but is exactly that a journey. Whether you are a runner, a mom, a step mom, trying to eat Paleo, or just living life as God created you, thank you for joining me on the journey.  Make intentional choices to be healthy, so you can continue the journey.

Challenge: find something to switch out in your daily eating.  For me the first was bread, it was the easiest.  I use lettuce for my turkey burgers, for my tuna salad and gluten free crackers or chips if I am just dying.  I miss bread for sandwich's, so hope to find a good recipe for that to share soon.  Pick one thing this week to change it up.