Hurray For Oats!

     Oats might seem a weird thing to write an entire blog post about, but they really are amazing! My family and I have started making and selling homemade granola at our Farmer's Market, so we have been dealing with a lot of oats lately! This got me thinking.. "Why should we eat oats? How good are they really for us?" and so I did some research. This is what I found...

#1 Oatmeal is Delicious!
well, maybe not on it's own, but when oats are added to recipes they really can be delicious! Keep ready for some great recipes and ideas on how to use oats more!

#2 Oatmeal Provides Fiber and Protein
Most Americans don't get enough fiber these days, so adding it in whenever you can is important. Protein is also a important thing in your diet. Having oats for breakfast provides you with some much needed fiber and protein, and it keeps you full until lunch!

#3 Oatmeal Helps Lower Bad Cholesterol
Oats contain a special strand of fiber called beta-glucan which, studies have shown, reduces levels of bad cholesterol and can help to prevent heart disease and strokes! With the number of deaths from heart diseases grows, it is important to protect ourselves from it in every way possible!

#4 Oats Contain Important Vitamins and Minerals
Oats might seem simple, but they are packed full of nutrients! They contain B vitamins and minerals like iron and magnesium! These are so important in our diet because they keep our bodies running smoothly, like they were meant to!

#5 Oats Aid in Weight Loss
Oats contain fiber, which helps to keep us full and also acts as a natural laxative. Both of these things help in weight loss. When we eat oatmeal for breakfast, we will remain full until lunch, which keeps us from snacking, thus, helping us lose weight. Studies have shown that, those who eat oatmeal at least three times a week, lose weight and keep it off better than those who don't eat oatmeal!

#6 Oats are Cheap!
There are so many "health" foods out there that claim to help in weight loss or keeping your body healthy. And while those things might work, they are usually pretty expensive. Oats, on the other hand, are so healthy for you and they help in weight loss AND they are super cheap! Replace your morning "health" cereal with oat meal and watch your wallet get bigger and your waistline get smaller!

   So, oats are pretty great, right? With all those health benefits, why wouldn't you want to eat them everyday? Well, maybe because they are pretty boring by themselves and you don't know how to make them delicious? Worry no more! Here are some great ways to eat oatmeal everyday!

Brownie Batter for Breakfast-
Measure out your oats into your pan ( 1/3 of a cup is a serving size). Add in 1-2 TBS of cocoa powder, 2-3 TBS of maple syrup, a pinch of salt and your cooking liquid ( you can use water, almond milk, chocolate almond milk......). Cook your oatmeal as usual. When they are done, add them to your bowl and top with chocolate chips, almond butter and raspberries for a delicious, health and filling breakfast!

Oil Free and Vegan Granola-
My recipe for Valentine's Day Granola is oil free, vegan and delicious! I love to eat granola on top of smoothie bowls, oatmeal, nondairy or banana ice cream or just a handful for a snack!


Oatmeal Smoothie-
Add 1 banana( Frozen is best) , a handful of berries ( I like strawberries and again, frozen is best), 1 TBS nut butter of choice, 1/3 cup oats and enough nondairy milk ( coconut or almond are my favorites) to blend to your desired thickness. This smoothie is super refreshing, filling and delicious! Its perfect to start your day or to pick you up in the afternoon!

Oatmeal Cookies-
My Banana Bread Cookies are super simple to make, but they are really yummy! With just a few ingredients, these cookies can be whipped up in a flash and enjoyed for breakfast, snack or dessert!

Oatmeal Bowls-
Here are a few great ways to enjoy oatmeal-
Cinnamon, Maple Syrup, Apples and Raisins
Vanilla, Blueberries, Almonds and Maple Syrup
Peanut Butter, Banana, Chocolate Chips
Pears, Maple Syrup, Dried Cranberries and Nutmeg
Coconut Milk, Pineapple, Mango, Raspberries

     So there you have it! So many ways to enjoy oats everyday! of course there are so many more ways you can eat oats, but I couldn't fit them all in to this post! Oats can also be used in things like veggie patties, breads and other savory things! With all these options, you have no excuse not to be eating oats everyday, or at least every week!

 I hope you enjoyed this post all about oats, their health benefits, and several ways to eat them everyday! Please share this post and my blog with your friends and family to spread the love of healthy living!

You can follow the blog via email, Google, Twitter @ SpinachisGood, Tumblr @ justrunningforfood, and Pinterest @ Hannah Plunkett.

I post every Friday!

Stay Healthy, Happy and Laughing!

H. Banana

Smoky Roasted Chickpeas

    If you are anything like me, finding a good and healthy snack option isn't always easy! Maybe its pretty healthy, but its probably super expensive, or, its pretty cheap but not so healthy! What are we to do? Settle for expensive healthy snacks or cheap unhealthy ones?! No Way! There is a much easier and better solution than that!

     I have been seeing these roasted chickpeas all over the place lately. Lots of stores are selling them and a ton of people are posting recipes for them! The only problem is most of the time these chickpeas are covered in oil and ( if you get the store bought ones) preservatives! So, while they may be delicious, they aren't so healthy.
     So how do we solve this problem? We make our own of course! Not only is it cheaper to make your own snacks, its also so much healthier! You get to personalize it to your unique taste and you know exactly what went into it! Making these roasted chickpeas at home allows you to have a personalized and healthy snack, without losing taste or lots of money!

Ingredients:
1 can Chickpeas
1/2 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Chili Powder
1/2 tsp Smoked Paprika
1/2 tsp Garlic Powder

or
1/2 tsp Cinnamon
1 tsp Maple Syrup or Brown Sugar

As you can see, this recipe really customizable. If you like savory snacks, go with the smoky flavor like I did. If you have more of a sweet tooth, go with the sweet option! I might also add, a little lime juice on the savory ones would be amazing!

First, open your chickpeas and rinse them really well. Then, pour them on a paper towel and dry them. Add them to a bowl along with your spices of choice.  Stir until each chickpeas is coated.

 

Preheat your oven to 450 F. Pour your coated chickpeas onto a baking sheet- large enough for them to be in one flat layer. Looking back, I would have put down some parchment paper to protect my pan, so you might want to do that as well!

 

 

Bake for 35-45 minutes, flipping every 10 minutes or so for even roasting. Once they are done, allow them to cool in the pan for at least 20 minutes.

 

Once they are cool, remove them from the pan and enjoy! What you don't eat right away can be stored in an air tight container!

 

 

Besides being a great snack, these roasted chickpeas are also great on salads, in wraps, in tacos, or even to replace the croutons on top of a soup! However you choose to eat these roasted beauties, I know you will enjoy them as much as I did!

 

Chickpeas are full of fiber and protein, so they are a great thing to add to you diet! Roasting them and adding flavor is just one way of making these cute little beans extra delicious!

If you enjoyed this post and the recipe, please share it with your friends and family! Everyone needs this healthy snack in their life!

You can follow the blog via email, Google, Twitter @ SpinachisGood, Tumblr @ justrunningforfood and on Pinterest @ Hannah Plunkett. I look forward to connecting with you guys!

I post every Friday!

Stay Healthy, Happy and Laughing!
H. Banana