Drinking green

I realized after my last post about the donuts that I have never really blogged about food, or rather my food philosophy. Those donuts only made it through the front door because it was a birthday party. They were a nice treat but are very very rare around here.

I believe in eating actual foods. Foods that are grown out of the soil or on a tree. Vegetables and fruits that carry with them vitamins and living enzymes that help aid in digestion. We drink whole milk and and eat whole milk yogurt (seriously good) and when I can get my hands on raw milk I take it in a heartbeat. I love whole grains like quinoa and millet and oats. And we use sweeteners like raw honey, agave nectar, and maple syrup instead of refined sugar.

One of the things we've been having everyday is green lemonade from my juicer. It's a combination of romaine lettuce, spinach, apples, and lemon. It's so clean and crisp tasting and it helps me get more 'green' in my diet without relying on pure salads. Ian loves it too and calls it his green juice. He insists on helping me make it which gives me more opportunities to talk about each one as we put in the juicer.

These type of books seem to be popular right now. I think it's a great way to make certain foods healthier but I don't think it should be a substitute for teaching kids about healthy foods. It's so important to teach them from the start. In the same way we teach them their colors or letters, they should also learn which foods make them strong and give them energy. When Ian drinks his green juice or eats kale in his salad, I make a point to tell him that it helps his eyes so he can see really far. Or that it gives him vitamin C so he won't get sick. Then we flex our muscles to demonstrate how much stronger we feel. Make food fun and they will follow.

I realized when Ian was a baby that if I wanted him to continue his love for squash then I had to continue to make it as he got older. I don't buy junk food or processed food and since it's not in the house he doesn't know what he's missing. He has had candy before but it's very rare. He asks for apples, carrots, bananas, or nuts for snacks because that's what he's always had and he loves them. Children learn by example and diet is no exception. If I want him to eat zucchini and broccoli, then we have to eat it as well. It's been a great motivator.

Lately I've been making these oat bars which are very portable and really yummy. They aren't nearly as sweet as store bought bars which is nice. This is my modified version from Viva le Vegan.

Oat bars

2 cups ground oats (blend quick oats in food processor)
1 cup quick oats
1/2 ts sea salt
1/4 ts cinnamon
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
1/3 cup fruit sweetener, honey, or agave nectar
1/4 cup milk
2 T canola oil
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, combine all the dry ingredients. In a separate bowl combine the wet ingredients. Add the wet ingredients into the dry mixture stirring well until combined. Transfer the mixture to a lightly oiled 8 x 8 baking dish and press down making it even along the bottom. Using a knife, score the bars into whatever size you want them. Bake 19 to 20 minutes, then remove and let cool in pan. Once cool, use a sharp knife to cut through the scores to fully cut the bars.

PRINT THIS POST