I’ve partnered with @castrawberries #AD to create a Halloween treat. Since California strawberries are a tasty and healthy snack for any time of day, it was the perfect fruit to add to this treat. Snacking on 8 California strawberries a day is a yummy way to boost up your nutrition. 

This recipe is simple to make and can vary in creepiness depending on what type of silicone molds you use. The pumpkins made it more of a cute and fun treat, where the eyeballs produced an “ewww” reaction from many of the taste testers. This recipe is great for sharing as it is gluten free, vegan and can be nut free, if you skip the almond butter. 

Strawberry and chocolate always pair well together, so I felt that this was an easy match. Including strawberries and chia added fibre to this treat. In addition, the strawberries also added some Vitamin C.  Did you know strawberries are an excellent source of Vitamin C? Sometimes holidays can make you feel like you need some fresh, healthy food to eat after having so many candies, chocolates and sweets around, so the addition of California strawberries added some nice balance.

If you have never made a chia jam, this is a great one to try. Any leftover strawberry chia jam can be spread on toast, added to oatmeal, used for birds’ nest cookies, etc.

Snack on 8, which is one serving of California strawberries, to fuel up before you go out to celebrate Halloween. It can also help fill those tummies on Halloween night. Another option is to bring these to a party. 

I hope you all have a safe and happy Halloween.

Chocolate Oozer

1.5 cup    California strawberries
1 Tbsp.    Maple syrup
1 Tbsp.    Chia seeds
 

1. Process strawberries until slightly pureed. 
2. Put strawberries into a pot and add maple syrup.
3. Heat on medium for about 5 minutes.
4. Add in chia seeds. Cook until the mixture thickens, about 5-8 minutes. 

 
2/3 cup.   Chocolate chips
1 Tbsp.     Coconut oil
2 Tbsp.     Almond butter (can omit for nut free)
 

1. Melt coconut oil, almond butter and chocolate chips in a pot on medium, when ¾ have melted, lift off heat and stir until smooth.

 
To form chocolate oozers:

1. Add melted chocolate to bottom of silicone chocolate mold. Freeze for 5 minutes.
2. Pull out of freezer and add a small amount of strawberry filling. Top with chocolate. Place in freezer until set. 
3. Repeat until all chocolate is used up.

 
You can store these in the fridge or freezer. Enjoy!


Looking for more ideas of fun Halloween treats?  Contact Jill, Nurture The Future's Registered Dietitian at nf.nutrition@gmail.com 

It's the time of year where I have lots of apples to use up. So here it is- apple cinnamon donuts. Quick and easy to make, kid-approved. These are gluten free and vegan. They are nice and moist and did I mention delicious!

2                 Apples, grated (leave the skin on).
1/3 cup      Canola oil
3/4 cup      Brown rice flour
1/3 cup      Oat flour (use gluten free if needed).
3/4 cup      Arrowroot starch
1 1/2 tsp   Baking powder
2 tsp          Cinnamon
1 tsp          Ginger
1/2 tsp      Salt
1/8 tsp      Baking soda
1/4 tsp      Xanthan gum
3/4 cup     Maple syrup
6 Tbsp       Apple sauce, unsweetened 
2 tsp         Vanilla 

1. Preheat oven to 325F
2. Mix flours, arrowroot starch, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and xanthan gum.
3. Add the oil, applesauce, vanilla, and maple syrup.
4. Add in grated apples. 
5. Fill 12 donut molds, spreading the batter evenly around each. 
6. Bake for 8 minutes, rotate and bake for another 8 minutes. 
7. Cool donuts in the mold for 15 minutes before removing and icing.  

*I like to use a maple flavoured icing on these donuts. 

Looking for more dessert ideas to use up those in season fruits? Contact Jill, Nurture The Future's Registered Dietitian @nf.nutrition@gmail.com ​

With back to school in full effect, I wanted to create a school friendly snack option that would also include some protein to help fuel those kids. Alternatively, this can be a great option when those hungry kids get home from a busy day at school. I find that the afternoon snack needs to be energy dense. On that note, I created strawberry hummus. This is very easy to make; you can even get the kids to help. To eat, serve on toast or crackers, or mix it into smoothies or oatmeal. This can even be used as a dip with fruit. 

Working with the #Ad California Strawberry Commission I wanted to include strawberries as they are a versatile fruit that has lots of benefits. Snacking on 8 California strawberries a day provides more Vitamin C than an orange as they are an excellent source of Vitamin C. A serving of 8 strawberries is a source of fibre. This helps fill tummies, keeping them feeling more satisfied for longer. 

California strawberries are a convenient snack to send to school being portable, tasty and healthy. Why not send some strawberry hummus, to dip the strawberries in, for a school-day snack or as an after-school snack to help with that mid-afternoon, before dinner hunger. 


​
​Strawberry Hummus

1 cup Chickpeas
8 California Strawberries, chopped
1/2 tsp Vanilla
2 tsp Maple syrup
1/2 Tbsp Tahini 
1 tsp Ground flax seed 

1. Add all ingredients into a food processor and blend until smooth. 




Looking for more ideas for after school snacks? Contact Jill, Nurture the Future's Registered Dietitian at nf.nutrition@gmail.com
#SnackOn8 #CaliforniaStrawberries @castrawberries 

2 cups Cashews
3 Tbsp Olive oil
1/4 cup Lemon juice
1/4 cup Nutritional yeast
2 Tbsp Miso
2 cloves Garlic
2 Tbsp 10 spice blend
2 cup Tomato sauce (see Grandma Cayo's Tomato sauce recipe).
2 cups Frozen mixed veggies
1 pound Gluten free pasta (or whole wheat if gluten free not needed).

1. Preheat oven to 350F
2. Place cashews in a food processor with olive oil, lemon juice, nutritional yeast, miso, garlic and tomato sauce. Blend until the cashews form a creamy mixture.
3. Bring water to a boil and add frozen veggies. Add pasta and cook according to package directions.
4. Drain pasta and return to pot. Add cashew mixture and 10 spice blend and stir to combine.
5. Place in a 9x13 inch casserole dish even out top with a spatula.
6. Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown.


Looking for easy weeknight meals? Contact Jill, Nurture The Future' Registered Dietitian at nf.nutrition@gmail.com for ideas that work for your family.

This is a family recipe that I have adapted to be gluten free and vegan. I had my oldest helper change this recipe a bit and she did most of the work too. My Mom tells the story of how she, as a kid, would come home and make this as a snack for the rest of the kids in her family. Maybe I am trying to recreate that! 

1/2 cup    Earth Balance or coconut oil
​11/2 cup  Brown Sugar
3/4 cup    Gluten Free All Purpose Flour (I use Cloud 9 or this recipe here)
1/2 tsp     Cinnamon
​3/4 cup    Oats *
2 Tbsp      Ground Flax seeds (mixed with 6 Tbsp of warm water)
1/2 tsp     Baking powder *
1/4 tsp     Salt
1 tsp        Vanilla
3/4 cup    Raisins
1/4 cup    Dried Cranberries
1/2 cup    Sliced Almonds
1/2 cup    Shredded Coconut (unsweetened) 


1. Preheat oven to 350F
2. Mix coconut oil, 1/2 cup sugar, cinnamon and 1/2 cup gluten free all purpose flour until crumbly and blended. 
3. Press into a 8 x 8 square pan. Bake for 15 minutes, until golden brown.
4. Add ground flax to warm water and let sit.
5. Mix 1 cup sugar, 1/2 gluten free all purpose flour, oats, baking powder, salt, vanilla, raisins, dried cranberries, sliced
​     almonds and shredded coconut.
6. Pour over baked first layer and level as much as possible. 
7. Bake 30 minutes and cool before cutting into squares.

*gluten free if necessary.


Have a family recipe that you would love to adapt to suit your dietary needs? Contact Jill, Nurture The Future's Registered Dietitian at nf.nutrition@gmail.com 
​

It's strawberry season (yay)! Strawberries always feel like summer to me. I couldn't be more excited to be partnered with California Strawberries to create a recipe. I like loaded muffin recipes and decided to create one that includes the goodness of strawberries. (AD) #Snackon8 #CaliforniaStrawberries

First, let's talk about strawberries. When it comes to Vitamin C, people usually picture an orange - did you know that a serving of strawberries (~8 whole strawberries) are an excellent source of Vitamin C, and contain more Vitamin C than an orange? They’re also a source of fibre and contain only 50 calories per serving – so they’re great for snacking! Plus they’re convenient and easy to eat, and hold up well in a lunch bag. Zero complaints from my kids when I pack them fresh California strawberries in their lunch. 

These muffins are both gluten free and vegan.


1 cup               Fresh California strawberries (Pureed)
1 1/3 cup         Gluten Free flour- I like this one here
1/2 cup            Cocoa powder (you can also sub this for carob powder)
1/2 cup.           Cane sugar
1/4 cup.           Almond flour
1/4 cup.           Hemp seeds
1 tsp.               Baking powder
1/2 tsp.            Baking soda
1/2 tsp.            Sea Salt
3/4 cup.           Unsweetened Vanilla almond milk
1/2 cup.           Apple sauce
1/3 cup            Avocado oil
1/4 cup            Maple syrup
1 tsp                Apple cider vinegar
1/3 cup            Chocolate or carob chips


1. Preheat oven to 350F
2. Mix flour, cocoa or carob powder, sugar, almond flour, hemp seeds, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
3. Mix almond milk, apple sauce, avocado oil, maple syrup and apple cider vinegar in a separate bowl.
4. Blend strawberries and add to liquid mixture. It's okay if there are some strawberry lumps.
5. Add liquid mixture to flour mix.
6. Stir in chocolate or carob chips.
7. Fill muffin cups (I like to use a silicone muffin pan) and bake for 20-22 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. 


*Inspired by Sarah Bakes Gluten Free
Want more ideas of how to snack on strawberries? Contact Jill, Nurture The Future's Registered Dietitian at nf.nutrition@gmail.com 

Food has the potential to fuel us. Putting some effort into choosing food that will actually give you some good, lasting energy can really make all the difference. I often get asked about some good snack ideas. For my own kids' lunches and snacks at school I enjoy baking cookies, muffins, bars or energy bites that have some ingredients in them to help fuel those little tummies. It can be a great family activity when you involve your kids. Fair warning though- this will add mess and time!

I often choose ingredients that have protein- nuts, seeds, nut and seed butters and even lentils. I am a fan of recipes that I can keep frozen so that I can pop them into lunches, or grab and go for activities.

Another favourite of mine is homous and veggies. I also like corn thins with nut and seed butters on them. I find I often go to a home-mixed trail mix too. This way you can vary what's in the mix and control how many sugary/salty ingredients you use. Adding cereal, pretzels, dried chickpeas, chocolate or carob chips, dried fruit, nuts, seeds, seaweed pieces, little fruit bar pieces are all things I have used - to name a few.

A final go-to snack I use is guacamole and tortilla chips. Quick, easy and delicious- need I say more? Crackers and smoked tofu are another not overly messy snack that's quick to throw together.

Do you have go to snacks that you use?

Looking for more snack ideas? Contact Jill, Nurture The Future's Registered Dietitian at nf.nutrition@gmail.com.