Almond Joy Cookies

Almond Joys are a wonderful blend of almonds, coconut and chocolate! Those flavors seem to go so well with each other, like a match made in heaven! My family is a fan of Almond Joys, so when I made these healthy Almond Joy inspired cookies, you better believe they went over well!

They are so delicious, you won't believe they are made without refined flour, butter, refined sugar or eggs! These cookies are the perfect thing to make to satisfy a sweet tooth and stay on the healthy side!

So, let's get into making these Healthy Almond Joy Cookies!

Ingredients:
2 cups Almond Flour
3/4 cups Coconut Flour
1/4 cup Shredded Unsweetened Coconut Flakes
1/4 cup Sliced Almonds
1/4 cup Cocoa Powder
1 tsp Baking Powder
1 tsp Baking Soda
1/4 tsp Salt
1 tsp Vanilla
6 tbs Honey
1/2 cup Coconut Oil - Melted
1 tsp Almond Extract

Start by mixing together the dry ingredients( all but the cocoa powder) until its lump free.

Then add the wet ingredients and mix well until it becomes a sticky dough.

Next add in the cocoa powder and mix it in. I kept mine marbled but you can mix it together fully if you want. I just like the look of the marble!

 

Grease a baking sheet and roll tablespoon sized balls of the cookie dough and place them on the sheet. Press the dough balls down a bit, because they won't spread a whole lot.

 

Heat oven to 375 F and bake for 10-12 mins or until they start to go golden. They smelled so amazing while they were baking!

Remove them from the baking sheet and let them cool a bit before enjoying! I loved these cookies so much and my family did as well! We ate them for a mid afternoon snack!

I also think they look really cool and pretty with the marbled effect!

Let me know if you try these cookies and how you liked them! Also, share this post with a friend! Follow the blog to stay up to date on all my post! You can follow the blog on Twitter @ SpinachisGood and on Pinterest @ Hannah Plunkett.

Keep Healthy and Safe!
H. Banana

Healthy Habits

Habits take 21 days to make or break them. Creating healthy habits is a great way to make healthy living effortless!

I have a few habits(good and bad!) and I'm sure we all do! Having healthy habits make it easier to have a healthy lifestyle! After 21 days or so, it becomes like second nature! Here are a few habits that we should all create to make living healthy easier!

1.  Keep a Journal. Maybe you aren't the diary/journal type, and that's okay! Just get a note book and spend a few minutes every night writing down what you did, what you ate and how you felt during the day. This is a great way to keep track of what works for you and what doesn't!

2. Bedtime Routine! Having a bedtime routine helps your body calm down to go to sleep. Start a hour before going to bed by turning off the electronics, maybe read a 'real' book instead. Drinking something warm is great too! If you are going to keep a journal, add that to your bedtime routine.

3. Breakfast! Always eat breakfast within 30 to a hour from waking up! This keeps your metabolism up and running! Breakfast should be the most important, nutritious and filling meals since its the first meal you eat after fasting for at least hours over night! Also, eating breakfast helps you get going in the morning and keeps you from wanting to snack all morning long!

4. Water! Chugging water throughout the day is such a great habit to make! I try so hard to drink a lot of water, but it's still a working progress for me! I like to keep a full water bottle of cup near me so that whenever I see it, I am reminded to take a drink!

5. Keep Fruit and Veggies on Hand! Having fruit and veggies in your fridge is great when cooking at home! I love to just grab several veggies to add to a dish! Not only does this bulk the dish up,  but adds nutritional benefits as well!

6. Stay Active! Being active is so important to a healthy body! Getting 30 minutes of activity is plenty to maintain a healthy body, and it doesn't have to happen in the gym! A brisk walk, playing with the kids, walking the dog or even working in the garden is a perfect form of exercise!

7. Practice Portion Control! This is so hard for me! But, having balanced portions ensures that you don't over eat and become too stuffed! Start with having a little bit so that if you want more later, you can!

8.  More Veggies and Fruit/Less Meat and Carbs. You see Low-Carb, Low-Fat and No-Carb and No-Fat diets out there, but that isn't what I mean. What I mean is, the majority of you plate should be filled with veggies and then rest with your meats and carbs! This also helps out the pocket book!

9.  Cook at Home. I say this a lot, I know, but that is because it really is so important! Cooking at home ensure that you know exactly what goes into your meal, how big the portions are and how balanced the plates are!

10. Keep Snacks with you. Having healthy options for snacks with you and easy to grab during the day keeps you from grabbing the less-healthy options. I like to carry nuts, apples or pears, or a home-made trail mix with me when I am out and about!

These are just a few habits that can make a healthy lifestyle easier. Of course you will create your own and I would love for you to share those with me! You can do that in the comments section here, and on Twitter @ Spinachisgood ! Also follow the blog and follow on Twitter and Pinterest @ Hannah Plunkett!

I hope you can use these tips to become a healthier version of you! Please share this blog with a friend and check back often for more post about all things healthy!

Keep healthy and safe!
H. Banana

Spring + Summer Skin Care Tips

Everyone wants to have beautiful, bright, youthful-looking skin! Taking good care of your skin ensures that your skin is looking it's best all the time!

Your skin is your largest organ, so naturally you want to take really good care of it! During the spring and summer months your skin can really take a beating. Knowing how to take care of your skin during these warm-weather months can help you have beautiful skin year round!

 

 

How do you build the perfect spring and summer skin care routine? Most of it is done by trial and error and learning what works for you. Everyone has different skin, so what works for one person might not work for you!

During the warmer weather months your skin takes a beating from the elements, so skin care is super important! Here are a few tips and tricks that I hope will help you take care of your skin and build a perfect-for-you skin care routine!

1.  Clean your skin! Cleansing your skin is important to remove dirt, dust and dead skin cells that have built up. You can do this several different ways like cleansing wipes, washes, bars, soaps...etc. Try to go for organic and chemical free since those will be more gentle for your skin!

2. Moisturize! After cleaning your skin you have removed the natural oils that give your skin moisture, so you need to add that moisture back! Body lotions, face lotions, body bars, lotion bars and body creams are a great way do to this! Again I recommend organic and chemical free moisturizers.

3. Sunscreen! The sun can tear your skin up! Yes, I know its nice to have a good tan during the summer, but it isn't worth it to have wrinkles, sun spots and even skin cancer later in life! Use at least a SPF 15 for everyday use and SPF 30-50 for spending the day out in the sun. You can use lotion with sunscreen in it, sun blocks, and sun block oils to protect your skin from the harsh sun rays! Organic and chemical free brands are great!

4. Exfoliate. Exfoliating is to remove the dead skin cells that build up on your skin to reveal the bright, smooth skin underneath! It can be done many different ways including a body brush, facial and body scrubs like my Amazing Body Scrub . Exfoliate your skin about once a week to maintain bright and smooth skin!

5. Hydrate! Drinking lots of water is important to having a healthy body as well as healthy, bright and clear skin!

6.  Limit time in the sun. I know it feels great to lay out and soak up the sun, but you need to put a limit on it! Use sunscreen and wear sunglasses and a large hat to protect your skin. The morning and mid-day sun is the harshest, so try not to stay out too long during that part of the day and make sure to spend time in the shade!

7.  Stay away from harsh chemical! Chemicals are not good for your skin, yet you find them everywhere! They are found in most pool water, sun-blocks, skin care products and more! Use organic and chemical free products whenever you can to keep you skin healthy!

 

Here are a few brand that I use every day and that I highly recommend!

 Desert Essence - I use their face wipes, face lotions and body scrubs and I love them!

Burts Bees - I use everything from lotion, hair care and lip balms from this brand!

At Last Naturals  - I love the face lotion from this brand!

and of course home made skin care products like body creams and scrubs are great too!

 

I hope I have given you a few tips to help you keep you skin looking healthy this spring and summer! Remember that what works for some people might not work for others, so try different things and learn what works for you!

Please share this blog with a friend and check back often for more post on all things healthy!

 

Follow the blog here and on Twitter @ Spinachisgood and on Pinterest @ Hannah Plunkett

 

Keep healthy and safe!

H. Banana

Clean Eating

Having a clean diet is a sure way to have a healthy body! A clean diet is, in my opinion, the best way to eat a healthy, balanced diet!

  What does it mean to eat clean? To eat clean is simply to eat foods that aren't highly processed or sprayed with chemicals, free of refined flour and sugars and saturated and trans fat. Sugar loaded drinks like sodas and juices, along with high-calorie foods with little or no nutritional value are to be avoided.  Instead you eat 6 meals a day (Three small snacks and three medium sized meals), always eat breakfast, eat foods that contain healthy fats, proteins and carbs, rely on fruits and veggies for fiber, vitamins and enzymes, drink plenty of water and practice portion control!

Eating clean isn't really a 'diet' with an end date. Its a complete lifestyle change! It needs to be done gradually so you can get used to the changes that will happen when you change to a cleaner way of eating. There aren't really 'rules' to follow, just use common sense and remember a few key things!

Key Things to Clean Eating:
- Buy Organic, Locally Grown and Non-Sprayed fruits and veggies whenever you can
- Avoid processed and packaged foods
- Cook at home whenever you can
- Buy Organic and Non-GMO whenever you can
- Drinks lots of Water!
- Stay away from Refined sugars and flours
- Practice Portion Control
- Have three balanced meals a day with three light snacks throughout the day

So, now that you know the basics, how do you get started? How do you start to convert to a cleaner diet?  Well, like I said earlier, it is best to do it gradually. I suggest starting by cleaning out your fridge and pantry of the foods that aren't 'clean'. Then, start practicing portion control and a balanced plate. Next, find out where you can buy organic, Non-GMO, locally grown, etc. foods. A farmer's market can be a great place to go as well! Make small changes in your meals at first. Start by cutting out sodas and juices one week, then the next week cut out processed sugars and carbs. The next week maybe start cooking and pre-making your meals and always remember to drink a lot of water! Go at your own speed and make the changes in the order that works for you!

 

To make eat clean easier, I want to share with you a few tips and tricks to eating clean and having a healthy lifestyle!

 

Always eat breakfast! When you wake up, your body has been without food for at least eight hours, so you need to eat!

Try to not eat within an hour of going to bed. While you sleep your body does some cleaning and detoxing that can't really be done if there is a ton of food in your stomach.

Eat snacks. Eating small snacks in between meals keeps you metabolism going.

Fill up on fruits and veggies. Not only to they contain great nutritional value, but they are low in calories!

Cook at home. I can't stress this enough! Making your own meals is the best way to know exactly what goes into your food! For those who don't have a ton of time, pre-make your meals a head of time!

Always keep a snack with you. Having an apple, handful of nuts, or any other healthy snack on hand is a great way to keep you from eating the unhealthy un-'clean' foods.

Always serve veggies with a meal. Having a salad, sautéed veggies, or raw veggies with a meal makes the meal more filling without being too calorie dense.

Go with what works for you. Don't feel like you have to follow every clean eating rule out there! You will find ways that work for you and some that don't! Remember, its a lifestyle change, so you have time to grow used to it and make it perfect for your life!

 

 

You can find plenty of healthy and clean recipes here on my blog! There are recipes for breakfast like, Chocolate and Peanut Butter Muffins , Smoothies  , and Pumpkin Muffins  . Recipes of Lunch and Dinner like Oven Roasted Peppers and Onions and Honey Roasted Carrots . Also there are tons of dessert and snack recipes like, Guacamole  , Cherry and Chocolate Icecream  , and Frozen Hot Chocolate  ! Look around and let me know which one you like best!

I hope this post helps you and encourages you to convert to a cleaner way of eating and living! Follow the blog for more healthy post! Also, follow the blog on Twitter @ Spinachisgood and on Pinterest @ Hannah Plunkett

Thank you for visiting my blog and please check back for more post on all things healthy, and share with a friend!

Keep healthy and Safe!
H. Banana

The Benefits of Gardening

'To Plant a Garden is to Believe in Tomorrow' - Audrey Hepburn

We've almost always had a garden, as long as I can remember. When I was little, like most kids I think, I didn't like the garden because I wasn't given the most glorious job. Along with my siblings, I often had to pull the weeds from around the plants. But, after it was all said and done, we had fresh veggies all summer long, whenever we wanted! That was so worth it!

Now that I am a bit older, I enjoy gardening a lot more! I like to till the ground and plant the seeds, water them, and days later, see the tiny green plants begin to grow! Weeding still isn't my favorite, but as long as we stay on top of them, they never get too bad!

Gardening isn't just great to have fresh veggies during the summer, but it has so many other benefits!

Gardening Workout:
You probably will work up a sweat if you stay out in the garden long enough! There is a lot of moving around in gardening, and you better believe you can burns some serious calories! I found a great website, Fitness Blender , that gives a rough idea of the calories burned per hour of garden work!

Weight in lbs --------> Calories burnt gardening
90 ---------------------------------------> 195
100 --------------------------------------> 217
110 --------------------------------------> 240
120 --------------------------------------> 257
130 --------------------------------------> 284
140 --------------------------------------> 305
150 --------------------------------------> 326
160 --------------------------------------> 347
170 --------------------------------------> 364
180 --------------------------------------> 393
190 --------------------------------------> 412
200 --------------------------------------> 437
210 --------------------------------------> 453
220 --------------------------------------> 478
240 --------------------------------------> 519
260 --------------------------------------> 568
280 --------------------------------------> 611

So, yeah, gardening totally counts as a workout in my opinion!

Work Those Muscles!
So, if gardening can be your workout, how do you know which muscles you are working? Is gardening an arm workout, legs, abs, chest...? Well, actually, it can be a full body workout! Using a hoe or hand plow to till the earth works your arms and chest area, bending over or squatting to plant seeds or pull the weeds works your thighs, calves, and hips, and carrying garden equipment, pulling tough weeds, and picking veggies works your back and arms! So, not only are you burning calories while gardening, you are working your muscles as well!

Soak up the Sun!:
Gardening is mostly done outside, in the sunshine! This gives your body a great chance to soak up some Vitamin D! Why do you need Vitamin D? Well, there is a long list of the many benefits of Vitamin D, and I can't fit them all in a post, but here are a few of them! Vitamin D helps to fight infection, boost the immune system, and reduce high blood pressure. Also, it can help to improve bone health, increase energy levels and aid in relieving depression! Being out in the sun is beneficial to your body's health, but all in moderation! You don't want to spend too much time outside in the sun, especially if you aren't wearing sunscreen. Make sure to apply sunscreen several times if you are outside for a long time or swimming!
Gardening is a great way to get the necessary amount of Vitamin D, plus, you can get a great tan!

Gardening is the new Yoga:
Maybe the idea of spending hours toiling in the dirt under the hot sun doesn't sound relaxing to you. But there is just something about planting and caring for the little seeds that can be so calming and relaxing! Going out to the garden to find your plants have grown, veggies to pick, or to water your plants can, and will, become your favorite part of the day! Spending time in your garden is a great time to just think, breath, calm down, and have a little time to chill! I know for myself that, after a hour or so out in the garden, watering, soaking up the sun, or picking herbs or veggies, I am much calmer and my thoughts are clearer! I encourage anyone and everyone to take plant a garden, because after all, "Gardening is cheaper than therapy, and you get tomatoes!"

Garden to Table:
So the obvious benefit of a garden is the fresh veggies you can have anytime during the growing months. That's mainly why people garden, to have vegetables in their back yard! Its so nice to go outside and pick lettuce, tomatoes, herbs, cucumbers and so on, to make that night's supper! As a self-proclaimed budding chef, this is even more exciting! Fresh vegetables and herbs yield so much more flavors and freshness to a dish! Homegrown fruit, herbs and vegetables taste and often look so much better than store bought! You won't want to go back to store bought!

Decorations and Gifts:
Gardening doesn't have to involve tomatoes, cucumbers and squash! You can grow flowers and herbs to use in home decorations or gifts! And, if you dry the flowers and herbs, you can keep them into the winter months! I love to have flowers planted in the garden because they look so beautiful and herbs aren't just great to cook or bake with, but they can be added to flower bouquets as well! My little sisters often take flower bouquets from our garden to our friends or family when we visit them! It makes for a lovely, thoughtful, gift!

Gardening is beneficial on so many levels! From staying active and getting exercise, having calm 'me time', getting nutrients and having fresh veggies, there is something in gardening for just about every one! If you have never grown a garden before, I encourage you to plant a few plants and discover the wonders of gardening for yourself!

If you liked this post, please share it with a friend! Make sure to check back for more post on all things healthy lifestyle!

Follow the blog on Twitter @ SpinachisGood and on Pinterest @ Hannah Plunkett.

Keep Healthy and Safe!
H. Banana

Homemade 'Mamma Chia' Drink for Mother's Day

Mother's Day is coming up, and we all want to find a way to show our moms how special they are! My mom recently bought a Mamma Chia drink at Whole Foods and she loved it! Unfortunately, these drinks can be expensive so they aren't something she can enjoy every day. So, I did some research and came up with my own spin on these drinks! Now she can have a homemade version of Mamma Chia's drinks whenever she wants!

When I first heard about these drinks, I was a little skeptical. How could mixing chia seeds and fruit juice be that amazing? Boy , was I wrong! These drinks are like drinking jello (Sounds weird, but believe me, you won't be able to get enough after the first sip!) and the flavor combos are endless!

So, lets get into making these delicious drinks!

First you need to make the chia mixture.

3 TBS. Chia Seeds
1 Cup Water

Add the seeds to a bowl and slowly add the water, bit by bit. Make sure to stir well after each addition.
You'll end up with a gloopy consistency.

 

You need to over this with plastic wrap and let it sit in the fridge for 6-8 hours or over night.

 

Now, lets make the flavoring for the drink. I decided to make a lemon and mint one! Its a perfect drink for cooling off on warm days!

 

Ingredients:

1 cup Lemon Juice

3 TBS. Honey

1 Tbs Fresh Chopped Mint

 

 

Warm the lemon juice and honey together to make it easier to combine the two together.

Then, add the chopped mint and shake. I made mine in a mason jar to make this easier!

 

Let this sit in the fridge for a good hour, or even two! Then, take the set chia seed mix and the lemon mix out of the fridge. Strain the mint leaves out of the lemon juice and pour in 1 cup Cold Water. Then add the chia seed mix and shake. The color won't be too great, but the smell is so inviting!

This was so good! I love the sourness of the lemon and the freshness of the mint together! I know the color isn't to appealing but once you taste this, the color won't matter! Once I made this, I was sipping it all day long!

You, of course, can add any fruit juice blend to the chia seeds to make tons of flavors!

 I also did a batch with pomegranate juice and it was delicious as well! All I did was, make the chia mixture and let it set. Then I poured it into a container along with about 2 cups of pomegranate juice and shook well.

This one's color was beautiful! The flavor was nice as well!

Experiment with the flavor combos and let me know which ones you like! Don't hesitate to make this delicious, hydrating, summer drink! Make it for Mother's Day, and give your Mamma some Homemade 'Mamma Chia' to make her feel as special as she is!

Let me know what you think! Share this post with a friend and follow the blog to stay up to date on all my healthy lifestyle post! Also, follow the blog on Twitter @ Spinachisgood and on Pinterest @ Hannah Plunkett.

Keep Healthy and Safe, and Happy Mother's Day!
H. Banana

Mexican Frozen Hot Chocolate

  Happy Cinco De Mayo! This rich, spiced, and cold dessert is the perfect healthy treat to celebrate Cinco de Mayo! Its a perfect blend of chocolate and cinnamon with just a hint of cayenne! No matter when you serve this treat, its sure to be a hit!

Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of the Mexican's victory over the French forces in The Battle of Puebla on May 5 , 1862. This holiday is celebrated in Mexico as well as the United States!

So, lets make this delicious Frozen Hot Chocolate!

Ingredients:
1 cup Dark Chocolate Chips
1 cup Unsweetened Almond Milk
1/2 tsp. Cinnamon
Pinch of Cayenne( less is more!)
1/2 tsp. Vanilla
Pinch of Salt
3 cups Ice

First, add milk, cinnamon, vanilla, cayenne and salt to a sauce pan and whisk. Bring this mixture to a simmer.

Once the milk mixture is simmering, pull it off the heat and add the chocolate chips. Let this sit for 30 sec. to a minute before you try and stir.

Once you have let this set, whisk together until the chocolate has melted and everything is combined.

Pour this into a jug or pitcher and set in the fridge. You want this mixture to go completely cool before we move on to the next step.

Once it has chilled, take it out of the fridge and give it a stir. Put the ice in a blend along with the chocolate sauce. You might need to add a splash of almond milk.

 

Blend until everything is combined and the mixture is nice and smooth!

 

Pour into some glasses and enjoy! This made enough for about 3 to 4 servings.

 

 

This was so delicious! I can't get over how beautiful all the flavors are together! The richness of the chocolate pairs so well with the warmth of the cinnamon and the cayenne adds a nice little kick! My little brother was very happy with his portion! He, my sisters and I enjoyed this for a mid morning treat!

He kept saying 'Thank you', it was so cute!

 

I hope you try this Mexican Frozen Hot Chocolate to celebrate Cinco De Mayo, or anytime! Please share this post with a friend!

 

Follow the blog here , on Twitter @ SpinachisGood and on Pinterest @ Hannah Plunkett.

 

Keep Healthy and Safe!

H. Banana

Go Nuts for Nuts!

I love nuts as a snack, baked in cakes, cookies, and breads, tossed in salads, toasted on anything and so much more! Nuts are such a healthy ingredient that can be thrown into just about anything! Knowing why and how nuts are good for you is important for a healthy lifestyle!

Consuming 1.5 ounces of unseasoned nuts a day as a part of a healthy diet can reduce the risk of heart disease. Many varieties can improve artery linings and lower LDL cholesterol, and are loaded with healthy fats and other healthy nutrients!

Almonds
Almonds are the nuts that I eat the most. I love to toast them and top a salad or oatmeal with them, add them to a smoothie or just eat a handful for a snack! There are about 20-24 almonds per ounce with about 160 calories for every ounce. They can help improve skin complexion and skin quality!

Brazil Nuts
I don't eat a lot of these nuts, but they are common in a lot of mix-nut blends you can buy, so I've had them that way. There are 6-8 nuts per ounce with about 190 calories per ounce. Brazil nuts are a great source of selenium, which can help prevent breast cancer and prostate cancer!

Cashews
I love cashews! They are one of my favorite nuts because they are so creamy and flavorful! There are 16-18 nuts per ounce with about 160 calories per ounce. Cashews are a good source of magnesium which helps to regulate muscle tone and nerves.

Chestnuts
Chestnuts roasting by an open fire..... These nuts aren't just for Christmas time! There are 3 chestnuts per ounce with 70 calories per ounce. They are the only 'nut' to contain vitamin C!

Hazelnuts
Hazelnuts are one of the ingredients in the popular hazelnut/chocolate spread we all know and love. All the more reason to gorge on it right? No, all in moderation! There are 18-20 hazelnuts per ounce with 180 calories per ounce. They are a great nut for hair and nut growth.

Macadamia
I've only had these nuts a few times, but they are delicious! Per ounce there are 10-12 nuts and 200 calories. These nuts are great to speed up fat metabolism.

Peanuts
Peanut butter, peanut butter cookies, peanut sauce, there are almost endless ways to enjoy peanuts! There are 28 peanuts per ounce with 170 calories. They surpass many fruits in there level of antioxidants.

Pecans
I love pecans in pie, in oatmeal, in cookies, on salads, in cinnamon rolls, monkey bread...oh man, now I'm hungry! Per ounce there are about 18-20 pecans and 200 calories. They may help lower high blood pressure.

Pine Nuts
These little nuts are great so many ways. You can make awesome crust for desserts, toss on a salad or enjoy by themselves! Per ounce there are about 150-170 nuts with 160 calories. They are great to promote eye health.

Pistachios
These little green nuts are a great snack but they are also a great way to add flavor and color to breads, cakes, granola and cookies! Per ounce there are about 45-49 nuts and 160 calories. They are high in fiber, almost as much as a 1/2 cup of oats!

Walnuts
I love walnuts( I feel like I've said that a lot in this post!) on or in just about anything! Per ounce there are about 14 nuts and 190 calories. They are great to hydrate the skin because they have high levels of omega-3 fatty acids.

Well, I hope you know a bit more about the food we eat and why its are good for you. Adding nuts, all of them or just a few, is a great way to have a healthy diet! Let me know how you enjoy nuts, and which ones are your favorite! Also, please share this blog with a friend!

Please follow the blog here, on Twitter @ SpinachisGood and on Pinterest @ Hannah Plunkett.

Keep healthy and Safe!
H. Banana