These cookies hit the spot - soft, chewy, spiced and lots of nuts for protein. I use walnuts to add some Omega 3. Did I mention they are also gluten free and vegan? This recipe is slightly adapted from Oh She Glows The Ultimate Vegan Oatmeal Raisin Cookie.

1 cup       Walnuts
3/4 cup    Pecans
2 cups      Oats, divided
3/4 cup    Gluten Free All Purpose Flour (I use Cloud 9)
1/2 cup    Brown Sugar
1 tsp        Baking Soda
1 tsp        Cinnamon
1/2 cup    Maple Syrup
2 Tbsp      Dairy free milk
3.5 Tbsp   Coconut oil, melted
1 tsp         Vanilla 
2/3 cup     Raisins 









1. Preheat oven to 350F
2. Place nuts in a food processor and process until finely ground.
3. In a bowl, mix together flour, baking soda, 1 cup oats, cinnamon, and sugar.
4. Place the flour mixture in the food processor and process for about 20 seconds.
5. Mix coconut oil, maple syrup, dairy free milk, and vanilla.
6. Take flour mixture and add in 1 cup oats and mixed liquid ingredients. Mix to combine.
7. Add in raisins.
8. Take 2 Tbsp of dough, make a ball and place on cookie sheet. Slightly flatten with dampened hands. 
9. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and cool for a few minutes on cookie sheet before moving to a cooling rack
​    for 10-15 minutes. 

Looking for more ways to get omega 3 in your diet? Contact Jill, Nurture The Future's Registered Dietitian at [email protected] 

As the school year starts again, the non-school kid and I went into the kitchen to come up with an easy, school friendly bite to take. Good news, it was "big" kid approved and checked all the boxes I wanted. It has protein from sunflower seeds and 1 Tbsp of maple syrup in the entire batch (the sweetness comes from the dates and apples). I love having freezer bites ready to go on busy school mornings. These are gluten free, vegan and nut free.

1 cup. Dehydrated apple*
1/2 cup. Dates, soaked in warm water for about 10 minutes-
you will use the water too.
1/2 cup. Sunflower seeds, unsalted
1/2 cup. Oats * gluten free if needed
1 tsp. Cinnamon
1/4 tsp. Allspice
1/2 tsp. Ginger

1. In a food processor, blend apples, sunflower seeds, oats, soaked dates, cinnamon, allspice and ginger.
2. Add date water as needed for desired consistency.
3. Keep processing until paste forms.
4. Form into bite sized balls.
5. Freeze for 10 minutes. Store in freezer.

*When I dehydrate apples I always leave the skin on.

Need more school friendly snack ideas? Contact Jill, Nurture The Future's Registered Dietitian at [email protected]