Scary Pumpkin Potaotes!

Happy Halloween! 

     These is nothing scary about these adorable pumpkin sweet potatoes expect that they are Scary Delicious! They are a great way to get in the mood of the upcoming holiday, and still have something healthy!

 

   I love these pumpkin sweet potatoes because they are so easy to make, customizable to whatever flavors you want, and so healthy too! Who says Halloween 'treats' all have to be unhealthy? At first I wanted to do something sweet and healthy to celebrate Halloween, but then I got to thinking....Halloween doesn't have to be all about the sweet stuff! Lets do something savory to celebrate the holiday!
Another great thing about these sweet potatoes is that they can be made vegan, oil-free, and sodium free if you wish!

Scary Sweet Potatoes! (Yes, sweet potatoes are sweet, but more to the savory side of things!)

1 Sweet Potato
Olive Oil (Optional)
Salt and Pepper (Optional)
Seasonings of Choice( I used a Jerk Seasoning, Pumpkin Pie Spice, and a Curry Powder- separate on different slices of potato)

You can go sweet, spicy, savory, or salty with the seasonings!

Start by preheating your oven to 350 F. Then wash and pat dry a sweet potato. You can always do more than one, I was just making 1 portion at the time! :) Then, use a sharp knife and cut slices out of the potato. BE CAREFUL!

 

Then, use a smaller knife to make the pumpkin faces. You can cut all the way through the potato, or you can just cut part of the way through. Its up to you really! :) Then toss them in the oil( if using) and place them on a foil-lined sheet.

I'm sure with practice, my pumpkin faces will improve! These are so tasty, I am sure I will be making them time and time again!

Sprinkle the seasonings on the slices. If you are using a powder, rub the powder in a bit. Then sprinkle on salt and pepper as desired.

Super cute! Now they are ready to bake! Place them in the oven for around 35-45 minutes. The time depends on how thin or thick you cut your slices. To check if they are done, just poke them with a fork. If they are soft, then they're done!

Of my goodness! How adorable are these? No, not a scary way to celebrate Halloween but defiantly fun and festive! And, if you don't celebrate Halloween, they still are fun and easy to use for a number of different occasions!

I hope you enjoyed the Halloween inspired blog post! If you try this recipe, let m know what you thought! Please share this post with your family and friends to spread the love of healthy living!

You can follow the blog via email, Google, Twitter @ SpinachisGood, Tumblr @ justrunningforfood, and on Pinterest @ Hannah Plunkett. Please like and follow the blog to stay up to date on all things healthy!

New Post Every Friday! Happy Halloween!

Keep Healthy and Safe!
H. Banana

Ocotber is Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

     October is a wonderful month for so many great reasons! The weather starts to cool down, the days get shorter, the colors change, fall food becomes popular, Halloween , and October is also Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

 

To be honest, I don't have a lot of knowledge about breast cancer, other than the fact that it is a terrible disease and it claims so many lives! Since it is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I wanted to look into Breast Cancer and really get a better understanding on what it is!

 

In my researching and reading up on breast cancer, I came across this post from Bankers Healthcare Group  it really helped me understand the disease better! They shared some awesome information about Breast Cancer ,like, how many lives it claims, the different things that can  put you at a higher risk of getting breast cancer, and so much more! I wanted to share some of the post with you here!

 

 

Isn't this so informative? Thanks so much to the Bankers Healthcare Group for putting up this post and helping me understand Breast Cancer better!

 

What Can You Do To Protect Yourself From Breast Cancer?

 

Breast Cancer is no joke, and we want to avoid it at all cost! No one wants to go through having breast cancer, so it is very important to educate yourself on prevention! I am no expert on breast cancer or the prevention of it, but I found some great and helpful tips and I'll share them with you!

 

Diet

Having a healthy diet is super important in cancer prevention! Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Brussels Sprouts, Kale, Tomatoes, and Carrots are all veggies that can aid in breast cancer prevention. Staying away from Alcohol is also a must-do for many reasons, including cancer prevention.  Green tea is a great source of antioxidant and help to aid in breast cancer prevention. Foods high in omega-3s like walnuts and flaxseed also are known to help prevent breast cancer.

 

Breast Feed Your Babies!

Studies have shown that women who have breast fed their babies have a 4% lower risk of getting breast cancer.

 

Stay Active

Not only does exercise keep you healthy and fit, but it also helps to keep you at a healthy weight. Being overweight has been shown to increase the risk of breast cancer by more than 3%.

 

Education!

The more you know about breast cancer, the better equipped you are to prevent it! Knowing what risk factors are in your life, and your families' cancer history is a great place to start!

 

I do not claim to know a lot about breast cancer( as I said before) and you should totally talk to a professional if you have serious concerns!

 

If you want to check out the original post from Bankers Healthcare Group, you can go here.

 

Please share this post with your friends and family to spread the love of healthy living and the knowledge of Breast Cancer Prevention!

 

You can follow the blog via email, Google, Twitter @ SpinachisGood, Tumblr @ justrunningforfood, and on Pinterest @ Hannah Plunkett. Following the blog helps you to stay up to date on the post and can help you find older post easier!

 

Thank you for visiting my blog, and please come again! New Post every Friday!

 

Keep healthy and safe!

H. Banana

 

 

 

Fall in Love with Fitness

     I love the season of fall so much! All the colors, the cooler weather, the seasonal food, cozy days... I could go on and on! To me, the first sign of fall is when the leaves start to change into the brilliant reds, yellows, and oranges! I think Fall is such a beautiful time of year, and it gets me in the mood of all sorts of things!

 

   One of the things Fall gets me in the mood for is working-out outside! Here, the cooler weather makes for such nice workouts, that I look forward to them more and more! Lately, my go-to workout has been running, which I used to dis-like with a passion! Now I love to run, and am falling deeper in love with every time I run! We have a treadmill in our garage, so when the weather is cool, I open up the garage doors and workout in the cooler air!

 

     With every new season comes change, and a chance to start something new! When ever the season, month, or year changes, I always get motivated to start new, start fresh, or make new goals to strive after! Fall is a great time to start new health and fitness goals because it's a great time to get outside, get active, and become healthier!

 

     But, how do you get started? How do you start down the road to a healthier life? My advice is, start small and work your way up. 'Rome wasn't built in a day' after all! Making small changes, instead of big ones, helps you get used to them and become more comfortable with them.( For example) Going from a fast-food diet to a healthier, homemade meals diet over night can be a big change, but starting slow with...maybe one meal a week homemade, and working your way up from there is so much easier and will help you stick to it!

Food First!
     I personally think that, if you are starting out fresh in a healthy lifestyle, that diet is the first thing you should change. It can be the hardest part for some, and the easiest part for others, but nevertheless, I do think its the most important part of a healthy life! How can you expect your body to be able to start being more active if it doesn't have good, healthy fuel(food) to keep it going?! Here are a few things you can do to start eating healthier!

1. More Water! Try and drink lots of water everyday! Not only does this keep you hydrated, it also helps you feel full longer, helping you not over eat!

2. Less Meat, More Veggies! If you read my Portion Control   , blog post, you'll know that only 1/4 of your plate should be meat, another 1/4 should be grains, and the rest should be piled high with veggies! Practice this the next time you eat a meal, and you'll be amazed that you can still be stratified, even with less meat!

3. Eat at Home! I know this isn't so easy for everyone, but eating at home is a great way to insure that the food you are eating is healthy! Making your own meals lets you know just what goes into your meals!( By the Way, I am not talking about premade store bought meals!).

There are lots more tips and trick to getting your diet on a healthier track! If you would like more, check out Clean Eating  , and Healthy Habits.

Get Moving!
     Second to your diet, exercise is also very important to having a healthy body. Most people are far to sedentary, which is why we have so many people with health problems( which is another topic all together!). Getting up and moving, even for a short time  every day or so, will keep you fit, healthy, and happy! Here are a few ways to add exercise into your daily life!

1. Walk! Its really that simple, just walk! Walk to work or school( if you can), take the stairs, park a little further from the store than normal, or just take a walk! Walking is such a relaxing exercise, you won't even know you are getting a workout in!

2. Short but Effective! Doing short, yet effective workouts every morning or night( I like to do them before my shower at night!) is a great habit to get into! They can be little things like: 50 Jumping Jacks, 50 Squats, 20 Sit-Ups, or 10 Push-Ups, 30 Lunges, 40 Jog-in-Place( to give you a few examples). Like I said, start small and work your way up!

3. Workout Buddy! Having a workout budding is a great way to keep yourself on track! Find a friend, or make a new one, and set goals with each other. If you work or go to school together, walk together during lunch, or something like that! Pick a day of the week to meet and go on a jog/run. Have fun and you won't dread those workouts!

My blog is full of workout tips, workouts, and more, so check them out!

 

I hope you enjoyed this post and that it helps you start fresh this fall, with a healthier lifestyle! Remember, Fall isn't just about the treats, pumpkin spice lattes, and sitting on the couch, but it is a great time to get up and get active and healthy!

Please share this post and my blog with your friends and family to share the love of healthy living! Follow the blog via email, Tumblr @ justrunningforfood, Twitter @ SpinachisGood, and on Pinterest @ Hannah Plunkett.

I post every Friday, so stay tuned!

Keep healthy and Safe!
H. Banana

Pumpkin Muffin Tops!

These are the kind of muffin tops that you do want! :) They are healthy, soft, pumpkin-y, spiced, and delicious! Also, they can be made completely Vegan!

 

   Fall is officially here, and with it comes pumpkin flavored everything! Most of the popular Fall treats aren't that great for you, but thankfully there are some great healthy choices too! These muffin tops are the perfect example, since they are both healthy and plenty pumpkin-y to satisfy your fall cravings and keep you feeling great at the same time!

   I am calling these muffin tops because I baked them in a ( leaf and pumpkin shaped) whoopee pie pan, so they are a bit thinner than muffins. I love the way they turned out! Beautiful fall shapes, super moist and soft, and a great serving size to help you not over eat!

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cup Whole Wheat Flour
2-3 tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice or Cinnamon
1 tsp Baking Soda
3 Tbsp Ground Flaxseeds
8 Tbsp Water
1/2 cup Coconut Oil- room tempt.
1/2 cup Honey(or Maple Syrup if you want to keep this completely Vegan)
1/2 tsp Vanilla
1 cup Canned Pumpkin
1/4 tsp Salt

First, we need to make our Flax Eggs! We aren't using eggs in the recipe, so that it can be Vegan( if you use the maple syrup)! If you've never made a flax egg, don't be scared of them! They are super simple!

Add your ground flax to a bowl and add in the water. Stir well- you'll notice it go really thick. Leave it to the side while we get on with the recipe.

Add the flour, pie spice( or cinnamon), baking soda, and salt to a bowl and stir to combine. Then add in the rest of the ingredients, including the flax egg.

 

Stir well, making sure to mix the flax egg in well. Then, grease a pan and spoon in your batter. If you don't have a whoopee pie pan, you can use mini muffin tins, regular muffin tins or a 8x8 baking pan.

I wanted to use my whoopee pie pan because of the fall shapes! :)

 

Make sure to press the batter into all the little corners. I like to give the pan a little tap on the counter to help it settle.
Bake at 350 F for 10-12 minutes for the whoopee pan and mini muffin tins. For the regular muffins or 8x8 baking pan, 12-15 minutes. To check that they're done, just stick a tooth pick in the center. If it comes out clean, they are done! Also, they will smell really good!

 

Let them cool for 5-6 minutes before removing them from the pan.

Eat them fresh from the oven, or store them in an air tight container for a few day- but I doubt they last that long! I love how festive, delicious, pumpkin-y, healthy, and cute these little muffin tops are!

I enjoyed my(1st) tasting with a warm cup of coffee and a good book! They are the perfect afternoon snack, dessert, and they are even healthy enough to have for breakfast!

I really hope you try these delicious and healthy fall treats! If you like them, please share this post with a friend and family member to help them celebrate fall on the healthy side!

Please follow the blog via email, Google, Twitter @ SpinachisGood, Pinterest @ Hannah Plunkett, and now on Tumblr @ Justrunningforfood.

New post every Friday!

Keep Healthy and Safe!
H. Banana

 

Flower Power!

     Why am I blogging about flowers when its basically Fall already? Well, I have been in a bit of a flower-obsession lately(which is odd because I am loving Fall right now too!) In my searching around about flower-facts and flower types, I discovered,  this great Flower Delivery  service! They have such beautiful flowers, flower pictures and so much more! They really inspired me to write this post!

 

You might only think of flowers as decorations, gifts, plants, or landscaping, but there is so much more to them than that! Here are a few ways you can use flowers in your diet, home, and life!

 

Tea Time!

Many flowers can be found in teas! They are great for added health benefits, taste, and even smell. They are often dried, and mixed into tea blend or used on their own for great tasting teas! A few of the more common ones include; Rose, which can relive stomach aches and help in blood circulation, Jasmine, which can help to reduce stress and aid in digestion, Apple Flower, which can help to aid in digestion and improve your complexion, Lavender, which is calming and can aid in relieving stomach and head aches, and Honeysuckle, which can help relive a sore throat and other flu symptoms. My personal favorite flower teas, are those than have lavender, rose, and jasmine in them, simply because I love how they taste!

 

Food Garnishes

Flowers make great garnishes for things like cakes, cupcakes, cookies, pies, tarts, and more! You can of course use just about any flower you want to, but its best to use the edible ones! Roses, Thyme, Impatients, Squash Blossoms, Dandelions, Nasturtiums, Marigolds, Chive Blossoms, Apple Blossoms, and Pansies are all examples of the many edible flowers that are great to use as garnishes for your food!

 

Flowers in Food?!

You can garnish food with flowers, but can you really cook and bake with them too? Yes, you can! And they really are great too! Stuffed Zucchini Blossoms, Lavender shortbread cookies, Honey Suckle jelly, fried Squash Blossoms, Dandelion fritters, Nasturtium Butter, and Hibiscus macaroons are just a few examples of some recipes that feature some amazing flowers!

 

For Your Skin

Flowers can have such great benefits for your skin. They are most commonly used in scrubs, bath salts, bath bombs, soaps, and cleansers. Dried lavender buds make a great addition to bath salts and scrubs, because they give a lovely aroma, calming effect and helps with dry skin. Rose Petals also do well in scrubs and bath salts and, like lavender, they smell amazing, and they help with sun damage. Echinacea can be added to skin products to help with swelling and infections. Calendula will add a brilliant color to your bath salts, scrubs and bombs, and is also will help with many skin complaints and has a soothing effect. You can find many flowers in store bought products as well, but if you can, try adding them to your home made skin products and see what you think!

 

 

 

Gifts

Sometimes, flowers can be the very best thing to give to someone as a gift. For people who don't need anything, or you don't know what to give to them, flowers are almost always a great choice! Bouquets of roses for your special someone on Valentine's Day, a bunch of Daises make a great 'just because' gift, Sunflowers, Lilies, Tulips, and Zinnias are nice, bright flowers that are great to brighten up a hospital room or cheer a sick person up! Mixed varieties are great birthday gifts too! Personalizing a bouquet for someone you care about is a great way to make them feel special!

 

 

Decorations

Flowers are so beautiful, cheerful, and lively, that they make great decorations, center pieces, and additions for parties, tables, your house, or garden! Just about any flower can be used to add color, life, and beauty to where ever you chose to put them! I love to use wild flowers in a simple vase for a casual center piece on our table. We usually plant Zinnias in our garden because they are easy to grow, pick, and use as gifts! Flowers used in weddings, tea parties, dinner parties, wreaths, center pieces, vases, or gardens always make a statement!  

 

 



 



 

You can grow your own flowers, buy them from stores or nurseries, get them from places like flower delivery services , or get them from friends, but however you get them, you now know how to use them in so many cool ways!

 

My Thoughts

How do I use flowers? Well, I am always learning, and I want to try baking and cooking with them soon! I usually use flowers in teas, bath products, gifts, and home decorations! Have any tips for me on how to be more creative with flowers? Let me know!

 

 

If you like this post, please share it with your friends and family! You can follow the blog via email, Google, Twitter @ SpinachisGood, on Tumblr @ justrunningforfood , and on Pinterest @ Hannah Plunkett.

 

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Keep Healthy, Happy, and Safe!

H. Banana