All About the Attitude.

I had been in a bit of a funk; tired of doing everything myself, missing family, annoyed with the narrow minded questions, hurt by friends, overwhelmed with business, missing Jamie, and wondering where in the world we were going to be in 6 months. I was bitter with Jamie for not being around, and obsessing what his orders would say: home for Christmas for a couple weeks before off again for another 8 months, or home next year but hopefully for awhile? I was stressing out over things I had absolutely no control over, and I was allowing those things to get the better of me.

It had been almost a week since my mom flew back home, and nearly three weeks since we'd talked with Jamie. Life was beginning to bring me down, and I was feeling out of sorts.

This is when Nya began acting out. It was as if this sweet little child of mine was gone, replaced by someone I didn't even recognize. She was whiny, over-dramatic, and just not happy. Is this the terrible twos, I wondered?

I did not want to deal with her. My energy was completely drained by the end of the day after remaining calm through her endless outbursts. I had never looked so forward to her bedtime, but I had nothing left for myself, and did not want to write or work on all the many things I needed to do.

I was not liking my daughter very much, and that made me feel like the worst mother in the entire world. 

How could I possibly feel this way about the daughter I love so much? About the daughter I am so thankful to have? About the daughter that has taught me about unconditional love, and has brought me more joy than I have ever known?

This lasted about three days. I went to bed that third night and realized I needed to change my attitude. I had to pull myself out of this funk and get my act together. Whatever happens is meant to be, and my stressing over things and feeling down does not help anyone or anything.

The next morning I woke up in somewhat of a better mood. I was still feeling sad inside and it was a struggle to change my mind set completely. But I forced myself. I focused all of my energy on finding the good in my life, and chose to just be happy.

It sounds really simple, but it's not always easy to do. It was a challenge. Yet after only two hours, I began to feel happier. I began to appreciate the good things. My outlook was positive. And suddenly, gone were the feelings of bitterness, annoyance, resentment, anger, and frustration,

My attitude was in my control; I just had to take ownership of it.

When I changed my attitude, it was like a light was turned on in Nya. Her change in behavior was instantaneous when I changed mine.

Gone was the little girl who overreacted to everything. Gone was the little girl who whined over taking a bath. Gone was the little girl who cried because I asked her a question.

I felt like my little girl was back...The happy, calm, level-headed, understanding girl was back.

I know Nya reacts to the energy that's around her. I've seen it first hand a few times, and am aware how a small change in the environment has a large impact on her behavior. But it's still hard to believe how drastically different Nya is when my mood is unhappy.

Nya still is a typical toddler and has her moments. However, they are short lived. I'm able to talk and reason with her. She still tries to test me from time to time to see what I will allow her to get away with. Yet nothing has been like it was for those three days where I didn't know how I was going to get through the rest of this deployment.

I wondered if it was Jamie being gone, or my mom just leaving, or the dreaded terrible twos. Those things certainly could have contributed to her outbursts. But the immediate change was too drastic to be attributed to anything other than the change in my attitude.

Being a parent is one of the most difficult jobs. Especially when you care so much. Being a "single", stay at home mom is even more difficult. You get frustrated. You get tired. You get angry. You get lonely. But our children look up to us for guidance. We are shaping how they feel about themselves, and how they choose to view the world.

I had asked my Loving Green family on Facebook how they handled difficult times, and I got some amazing responses. Find something that works for you. Remember how short and precious life is, and choose your "happy".

To connect with others in this crazy journey of life, discover new parenting ideas & fun DIY projects, learn about holistic remedies, & find whole food plant based recipes, please visit our Facebook page Loving Green at Loving Green FB.

Raw Chocolate Chip Almond Butter Bars (Vegan, Gluten Free, Sugar Free)

This has been a crazy week with school and Spanish class starting for my little one. We had been on the go since Monday morning, and I couldn't wait for Friday to roll around...the one day we had no where to be and nothing to do. I was planning on taking it easy, and with all the rain that Friday brought, that turned out to be easier than expected!

Nya and I spent much of the afternoon in the kitchen. We created lots of new snacks for school, and this was by far our favorite. 

What I love about these...

• You can eat them 3 ways (Raw, Living, Baked)

• Minimal ingredients

• Refined Sugar Free

• Gluten Free

• Vegan

• Tastes like dessert -- they are DELICIOUS!

If you bake them in the oven or dehydrate them to keep living, they have a soft and chewy texture similar to a cereal bar or cookie. If you eat them raw, the texture is more sticky and the flavor a little more pronounced. If you're short on time, I'd roll them into balls, store in the fridge, and eat on the go! Either way you decide to go, the taste is AMAZING.

What you need:

• 2 c  gluten-free rolled oats

• 1/2 c coconut flour

• 1 c dates blended with 3/4 c water until completely smooth

• 3/4 c natural almond butter (nothing added)

• 1 tsp pure vanilla

• 1/4 tsp pink Himalayan salt

• 1/2 c vegan chocolate chips (I love Enjoy Life mini's for this!)

What you do:

1. Combine dry ingredients (except chocolate chips) in a medium mixing bowl.

2. Add pureed dates, almond butter, and vanilla to the dry ingredients and stir to combine.

3. Stir in chocolate chips.

For No Bake Bites....

4. Roll into balls, refrigerate, and eat as desired. They also freeze well if you make extra.

For Living Bars....

4. Spread evenly, about 1/2 inch thick on a dehydrator rack and form into a square or rectangle (for easier cutting). Dehydrate at 115 (to keep living/raw) for about 5 hours. You should be able to cut them easily and they will hold shape when they are done.

5. Once cooled, cut into even rectangles. Store in fridge or freezer. Makes 12 bars.

For Baked Granola Bars...

4. Scoop and spread evenly into an 9 x 12 silicon pan. Bake at 325 for roughly 20 minutes until the bars are easy to cut and hold their shape. 

5. Once cooled, cut into even rectangles. Store in fridge or freezer. Makes 12 bars.

Notes:

• If baking or dehydrating, be careful not to leave in too long or they will be dry and fall apart.

• Use cacao nibs if you can...they're bitter and don't melt the same, but much healthier for little ones; or just skip the chips altogether!

These are great snacks, packed in a lunch box, or enjoyed as a dessert. Your kids will LOVE them!

To connect with others in this crazy journey of life, discover new parenting ideas & fun DIY projects, learn about holistic remedies, & find whole food plant based recipes, please visit our Facebook page Loving Green at Loving Green FB.

Faking it... The First Day of School.

Nya began her first day of preschool Monday. The day I had been looking forward to and dreading, all in one.

We made the decision months ago that Nya would greatly benefit from preschool, and thus, began the tiring search of finding the right fit.

From the moment I enrolled her, I questioned our decision. I felt guilty.

Deep down I knew this was the right thing for her. She is young, but each child is different. I knew she would be ok, but there was still that fear and panic inside that haunted my thoughts. I had only left her a handful of times with either my husband or a close friend.

Was I ready for this?

The day before the big day, I was sick to my stomach. I didn't want my fears and hang ups to plague her experience. So I did what I began doing from the day she was born.

I faked it.

Inside I was a wreck, but outwardly, I was calm, cool, and happy. We talked all about it. It was just another day with another new adventure. Nya picked out her lunchbox and backpack. We read about Llama Llama going to school and missing his mamma. We talked about her teachers and the friends she would get to play with. I never put fear in her head, and I kept my emotions out of it.

Monday morning arrived and when I went into her room, Nya eagerly jumped out of bed exclaiming, "I go to preschool today!" She picked out her outfit with mismatching shoes, we grabbed a quick breakfast, and then I tried to capture this special moment in time before we headed off. I had seen the Pinterest pictures. I made my chalkboard sign. I was ready.

Unfortunately, Nya had other plans, and downright refused to let me get her photo...

Our "memory" of the first day of school. She is NOT into photos at the moment!

So off we headed to school. We got there early so Nya had enough time to use the potty and get comfortable with her surroundings. I made my goodbye brief and happy, and immediately walked away.

She didn't even watch me go. It was in that moment that my heart broke and beamed all at the same time. I was a flood of emotions. I was thankful and happy that she was so fine with me leaving, but selfishly, I wanted her to miss me as much as my heart was missing her.

I felt a little lost, and unsure of what to do with this new found freedom.

The entire three hours that Nya was in class, I counted down the minutes, envisioning our happy reunion.

I was sure she would squeal my name and run into my arms when she saw me, as she has the handful of times I have left her with Jamie.

But that moment never came. Nya was too engrossed in after school play to even notice me. She asked me to take her to the potty, then wanted to go back to play with her new friends. My already broken heart, dropped a little further.

Nya with her teachers after school.

I took that time to talk with her teachers, Nya did awesome and absolutely loved it. She told them when she needed to use the potty (one of my major worries), shared well with the other kids, and confidently navigated all of the lesson plans.

Nya was calm, confident, and happy. That is exactly what I want as a parent. So why has a piece of my heart fallen away?

More than the preschool, I realized this was just the first of many new firsts she'll have. She's growing up, and won't need me as much as she once did. Our relationship will never be the same.

Nya's her own person, independently navigating her path in this world. No longer my little baby, I wont always be at her side to protect her. All I can do is continue to raise her to think for herself, and love her unconditionally with everything I have. I pray for her to always be that calm, confident, and happy little girl as she continues her journey in life.

To many many more successful firsts!

This never happens anymore! Exhausted and asleep on the drive home from preschool.

To connect with others in this crazy journey of life, discover new parenting ideas & fun DIY projects, learn about holistic remedies, & find whole food plant based recipes, please visit our Facebook page Loving Green at Loving Green FB.

Veggie Packed Mac 'N Cheeze (Dairy, Soy, and Gluten Free)

I don't think I've had or made macaroni and cheese since becoming completely plant based. And to be totally honest, I really didn't miss it. But I realize mac 'n cheese is a must for those with kids (even those without!). I created this amazing cheeze sauce that's great on top of a baked potato or steamed veggies, but I was looking for something different. So I began searching and requesting suggestions from mac 'n cheese experts and found this simple recipe to try, from Oh She Glows.

With a few modifications and lots of additional veggies (because we just can't get enough), this recipe turned out pretty awesome and close to the real thing. It does smell like, and have a slight aftertaste of butternut squash, so if you're not a fan, use one of the substitutions below.

What I love about this recipe:

• It's loaded with veggies (which means tons of extra vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that we all need to be healthy!)

• The texture is spot on

• Freezes well for a later time

• Simple to make

• My little one LOVED it!

• Perfect for Picky eaters!

What you need:

16 ounces whole wheat or brown rice elbow pasta

*1/3 c raw cashews

*1.5 c water

1 c loosely packed greens (I used a combo of kale, chard, and spinach)

1 c cooked butternut squash (can sub cooked potato, or extra cauliflower)

1 c cooked cauliflower (I had roasted some the night before that I used)

1 Tbsp tapioca starch (arrowroot powder or cornstarch also work)

6 Tbsp nutritional yeast

2 tsp yellow mustard

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp onion powder

juice of half a lemon

1 tsp sea salt

1/2 tsp ground black pepper

2 cloves garlic

* Can sub 1.5 c unsweetened, non-dairy milk

What you do:

1. Make sure your butternut squash (or other veggie), and cauliflower is cooked. This can be done anytime (I had cooked the butternut squash weeks ago, stored in the freezer, and defrosted overnight).

2. In a high speed blender, combine the cashews, greens, and water, and blend until smooth. (If subbing 1.5 c non dairy milk, you can add in the greens in step 4). Pour into a medium pot and add the tapioca starch, whisking until the clumps are gone, on low heat. (Will be slightly green if you're using the added greens...don't worry, the color will change when you're finished!)

Non dairy milk (cashews, water, greens) and tapioca starch

3. Stir in nutritional yeast, mustard, garlic powder, onion powder, lemon juice, salt and pepper, and continue to cook on low heat for 5 minutes.

4. In a high speed blender, add the sauce, 2 cloves of garlic, cauliflower, and butternut squash (or other veggie), and process until smooth. Pour back into the pot.

5. Cook the pasta according to instructions. Once cooked, add it to cheeze sauce, coating well. Serve and enjoy!

This recipe made a LOT! If you have a small family, I would cut the recipe in half, or plan on freezing some.

To connect with others in this crazy journey of life, discover new parenting ideas & fun DIY projects, learn about holistic remedies, & find whole food plant based recipes, please visit our Facebook page Loving Green at Loving Green FB.

Banana Crumble Muffins - Vegan and Gluten Free!

I always have muffins on hand. They are my favorite foods for tots because you can pack a lot of nutrition into one muffin, creating a complete meal for days your little one is being picky, or you need something quick and mess free to take on the road. I cook in large batches and store in the freezer, rotating through and using as needed.We always try to create variety, and some of our all time favorite muffins are: Pumpkin Walnut,  Apple Cinnamon Veggie, and Carrot.


We had just ran out of banana muffins and the bananas I bought at the supermarket were finally ripe and ready to use. I followed my original recipe (because it's just so good) and made a few changes because I wanted to experiment with something new: the crumble top.

Nya loves to help me make them...

And eat the batter too!

I love the original, but these are amazing for adding some extra vitamins, minerals, calories, and healthy fats for growing little ones. They're extra sweet for those with a sweet tooth or wanting "dessert". Have some fun, and get your little ones involved!

What you need:

Batter 

• 1.5 c dates, softened and pitted (any variety will work!)
• 6 Medium Bananas, ripened
• 3/4 c Natural Almond Butter (nothing added!) *
• 1 tsp Pure Vanilla
• 1/4 c  Water mixed with 1.5 Tbsp Ground Flax
• 2 tsp Cinnamon
• 1.5 tsp Baking Powder
• Dash of Sea Salt
• 2 1/4 c Gluten Free Oats ground to flour **

* You can substitute 1 c raw almonds - If subbing almonds, add in step 2.
** You can sub any flour you wish. Brown rice, Quinoa, Spelt, and whole wheat all work well!

Crumble Top

• 1/2 c pitted dates (any variety will work)
• 3/4 c pecans

What you do:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. In a high speed blender or food processor, blend dates, bananas and vanilla until smooth. Transfer to a large mixing bowl. (If using raw almonds, add them here).

3. Add the water/flax mixture and almond butter and stir well.

4. Add remaining ingredients (Cinnamon, Baking Powder, Salt, and Oat Flour) and stir until incorporated.

5. Spoon into silicon or slightly oiled muffin pans. 

6. Make the crumble topping by pulsing ingredients in a food processor or high speed blender until chunky. Scoop a small amount on top of each muffin.

7. Bake for 12 minutes (May need longer baking time for larger muffin pan or bread loaf). Makes about 60 mini muffins.

Enjoy!

Why These Ingredients:
Almonds - High in Biotin, Vitamin E, Manganese, Copper, B2, Potassium (promotes a healthy and responsive nervous system), Magnesium, and healthy fats. Almonds are known to lower cholesterol, reduce heart disease risk, and improve the flow of blood, oxygen, and nutrients throughout the body

Bananas - Provide a variety of vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin C, Potassium, Vitamin B6, Manganese, Magnesium, Folate, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin A, and Iron. Studies have shown that bananas aid in lowering blood pressure, reduce the risk of asthma, improve blood sugar, and support heart health.

Dates - High levels of Soluble Fiber, Iron, and Potassium contain excellent levels of Selenium, Manganese, Copper, and Magnesium. Helps formulate friendly bacteria in intestines (helps with constipation and digestive issues). Dates have also shown in research studies to reduce the risk and impact of abdominal cancer. 

Ground Flax - High in Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Fiber. Also known to improve blood sugar, lower cholesterol, and protect against cancer and radiation.

Oats (Unprocessed) - Known to improve the immune system, control blood pressure, lower bad cholesterol, and stabilize blood sugar. They have also been shown to lower the risk of Type 2 Diabetes, and phytoestrogen compounds (called lignans) in oats have been linked to decreased risk of hormone-related diseases such as breast cancer. Oats also provide high levels of Manganese, Fiber, Iron, Phosphorus, Biotin, Vitamin B1, and Magnesium.

Pecans - Besides being a naturally sweet nut, pecans are high in Fiber, Protein, and Essential Fatty Acids (helps to decrease total as well as LDL cholesterol). Pecans also provide an excellent source of Vitamin E (helps maintain integrity of cells and skin by protecting from harmful oxygen-free radicals), B Complex (Riboflavin, Niacin, Thiamin, Pantothenic Acid, Vit B-6, and Folates which work for the enzyme metabolism inside the body), Manganese, Potassium, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Zinc, and Selenium. 

To connect with others in this crazy journey of life, discover new parenting ideas & fun DIY projects, learn about holistic remedies, & find whole food plant based recipes, please visit our Facebook page Loving Green at Loving Green FB.

What I Learned With Potty Training

The transition from diapers to big girl underwear has been one of my biggest fears and challenges as a parent. It's something so little in the whole scheme of things, and every parent/child goes through it, but for some reason, it brought me immense anxiety and fear. It all became too much a few weeks ago when I had One of Those Days.

I like to be prepared; I research extensively and talk to others excessively in order to feel knowledgeable and confident with my decisions as a parent. Having the background knowledge makes it easier to follow my gut instincts in the forever changing situations I face as a parent.

Yet the idea of "potty training" haunted me. 

At 22 months, we are just over one week in of wearing big girl underwear with zero accidents. This is a HUGE deal. And it seemed to happen over night. Yet when I look back at our journey to get to where we are today, I realize I have unknowingly been "potty training" Nya all along.

When Nya was about 6 months old, I began sitting her on the big toilet any time I noticed she was going poop. She would sit, fully clothed, with my support. We went through the motion of flushing and talking about what she was doing. 

When she was about 12 months, I got Nya her own potty to use. We talked about it and what it was for, but I never pressured her or forced her to go. As the months went on, and I continued to change her dirty diapers, I would tell her that we do these things in the potty. I never put any pressure or made a big deal about it, but it was always a part of our talk.

She began using her potty around 14 months, but it was very sporadic. Nya would tell me when she had to go, and I would help and encourage her. But these times were few and far between. Around 18 months, Nya didn't want Jamie or me around when she went potty, and she would shut the bathroom door.

Every time Jamie left or came home after a long time away, Nya's progress would stall, and she would digress. But I never pushed or forced her.

After Jamie deployed a little over a month ago, Nya refused to use the potty at all. She would bring me a diaper and say, "Change me mama, please." 

I knew Nya understood. I knew she was capable. But I was afraid. I wasn't really sure what I was doing and what direction to take from here. I knew many moms who had success with potty training when they were able to let their little ones run naked. I've had many moms tell me the "3 Day Method" worked wonders. And many have said rewards help.

Perfect. 

We had 5 straight days of rain, so I decided to use that time to kick the potty training into full gear and get Nya out of diapers for good. I let her run around naked and explained that if she needed to go pee pee or poo poo, she needed to use her potty. I had my bases covered. We were housebound, Nya was naked, and I had stickers and chocolate chips to reward her with. How could this go wrong???

It was an epic fail and left me frustrated and near tears. 

Nya fought me every step of the way.  Nya would tell me she had to go, and as soon as she realized what that meant, the fight began. She would hold it for as long as she could. She had accidents. She cried and told me "No!" Eventually, she would use the potty and was doing so regularly, but it was a fight the entire time. This lasted 3 days, and felt like the longest three days of my life.

I was going through a lot personally and this was just more than I was capable of handling. Neither Nya nor I was happy. This clearly wasn't working. I couldn't help but feel like a failure. I felt like I was failing as a parent, and I was letting Nya down.

So I took a deep breath, a step back, and decided to give this all a break. We went back to diapers the next day and I didn't bring up her potty at all. It was still available to her, but gone was the pressure and expectations I had set for myself as a parent and Nya as my daughter.

After four days, Nya told me she needed to use the potty, so I took her diaper off and away she ran, using it immediately. After going, she stood up, proud of herself, proclaiming, "I did it!"

I was speechless. All that agony and she does this?!? I was shocked and so incredibly proud of her. It was in that moment I realized that Nya needed to do this on her own, as she needs to go through every experience and lesson in life on her own. And my job is to be there to encourage and support her in any way I can to help her succeed.

For the first few days I let her run naked and she would go as she needed or wanted. She didn't want to be in a diaper, nor did she want to be dressed. I was ok with this and just let it go.

In the back of my mind, I was thinking, now what?!? This is great and all, but she can't go through life naked!? I quickly quieted that voice and decided to cross that bridge when I came to it. Trying to control the situation had failed me miserably before.

We had our first all day outing a couple days ago. Nya wanted to wear her big girl undies so I explained what that means and that she needed to tell me if she had to go potty. We were at a play center that only had regular toilets. Nya's not used to that, but again, I would cross that hurdle when the time came. Twice while we were there Nya let me know she needed to potty so I took her in, helped her up, and away she went.

It was the biggest relief and one of the proudest moments I've had as a mother. Nya was and is capable; I just needed to give her the space to grow.

We are just over one week without diapers (Nya does still wear them overnight while she sleeps). I know this is just the beginning, and I have completely let go of my fears and expectations surrounding this situation. I know accidents will likely happen, and I finally am ok with that. It's not a big deal, but just a stepping stone for both of us on this journey of letting go.

Each child is different and unique in his/her own way. What works for one family and one child may not work for another. Keep this in mind every time you face a new challenge with your child. Don't ever compare your child's journey with that of another; for your child's journey is just as unique as they are.

Potty Training Must Haves

Baby Bjorn Potty Chair (If you want a small potty - others I tested just weren't very good!)

Flip Potty Trainer Shell (I just use the outer shell over her underwear for long car rides!)

Everyone Poops by Taro Gomi 

Once Upon a Potty by Alona Frankel

To connect with others in this crazy journey of life, discover new parenting ideas & fun DIY projects, learn about holistic remedies, & find whole food plant based recipes, please visit our Facebook page Loving Green at Loving Green FB.

Nutterly Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies (Oil, Dairy, and Sugar Free!)

My husband and I have gone back and forth numerous times about what our daughter eats. We are in agreement to raise her on a whole food plant based diet, but we still argue over simple matters such as: Treats - what's acceptable and what isn't.

Jamie grew up believing special memories revolved around what you ate:

• A movie requires popcorn, candy and a soda 
• Hot summer months require soft serve
• Ball Parks require a hot dog, nachos, and cotton candy

I don't believe memories should center around food, especially processed junk that becomes addicting and has been linked to many health related problems.

Experiences are what you make them, and children only learn to like junk food because we readily give it to them.

Recently, we took a family trip to Disney World (read more about  eating healthy around Disney here), and Jamie was relentless about giving Nya some vegan ice cream. "It's vegan!" he kept repeating. Yes, I realize we were on a family vacation, and one should indulge...yada yada yada. But why give her something that isn't good for her? Why get her to like something that is chemically altered to make her brain and body crave it?

Nya wasn't asking for it; Jamie wanted her to have it. This is where we need to break the unhealthy cycle.

Food addiction, unhealthy eating habits, and body image begin in childhood. It's the last thing as a parent you want to be worried and thinking about, but it is important we wake up to this epidemic and create a healthier start for our children.

Where did we begin to accept this philosophy that it's normal, and accepted, to eat processed crap? The majority of our country is sick and suffering disease directly related to diet (For statistics from the CDC, click here.  For prevention from the Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine, click here ).

One of my goals as a parent was to create and reinvent food that appealed to little ones and allowed them to eat all that they wanted (cookies, brownies, pancakes, etc.), but in a healthy way that actually benefited their health instead of sacrificing it.

Our children come into this life with a clean pallet, and we have the power to help guide them to choose healthier options. It's harder to change unhealthy eating habits as an adult, than to start a child on the right track from the beginning.

Which is where this cookie recipe came in...

Last week I had made some chocolate chip cookies for a friend, and while they certainly were a better option than most chocolate chip cookie recipes, they still are not really good for you. Since then, Nya has been asking me for a cookie, so this morning we set out to make some.

Now I will tell you upfront; if you've ever had a cookie before, these will disappoint you. The flavor is amazing, but the texture is not quite spot on to a traditional chocolate chip cookie. I've experimented with numerous combinations (and while just about any flour will work), I have not been able to achieve the same texture without using some form of processed sugar. These cookies are good, but you need to have an open mind and be ready for a softer, more cake-like texture.

Which is why these are perfect for young children. This is what Nya knows a cookie to be, and because of the ingredients, I don't mind her having one whenever she wants. By giving her the option to choose her food, Nya doesn't get hung up on treats, and she learns to listen to what her body actually needs. Allowing Nya this control sets her up for a healthy relationship with food, instead of a lifetime struggle of portion control, calorie counting, and marketing gimmicks that plague many adults. Nya is also more open to trying new foods and eating what fuels her body instead of focusing on what she "can't have".

Dough is DELICIOUS and safe to eat!

And one less area of a power struggle is heaven to any parent. So enjoy!

What you need:

* 1/3 c raw cacao nibs

Dry Ingredients

1 c spelt flour

1/2 c coconut flour

1/2 c almond meal/flour

1 tsp aluminum free baking powder

1 Tbsp cinnamon

Blender Ingredients

1/2 c natural almond butter (nothing added)

1 c dates

1.5 large ripe bananas

1 c water

2 Tbsp ground flax (or 1.5 Tbsp flax seeds)

1 Tbsp Vanilla

* Cacao Nibs are very bitter. This is the purest form of "chocolate" before it is processed into chocolate chips. This batter is very sweet so it balances the small amount of cacao, but if your little one just can stomach these, feel free to leave out or use traditional chocolate chips. Enjoy Life is a great organic, non-GMO brand that is nut, soy, and dairy free.

** Any flour combination will work here. I've experimented with chickpea, whole wheat, quinoa, and brown rice flours. 

What you do:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, combine all dry ingredients and set aside.

2. In a high speed blender or food processor, combine wet ingredients and process until smooth.

3. Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and stir to combine.

4. Stir in cacao nibs (or chocolate chips if you prefer), and scoop onto a silicon baking sheet. Bake for roughly 15 minutes. Makes 18 cookies. Store in freezer to keep fresh.

Enjoy!

Nutrition Info Per Cookie:

Calories: 165

Fat: 8.7 g

Saturated Fat: 2 g

Cholesterol: 0 mg

Sodium: 7 mg

Carbohydrates: 21 g

Fiber: 5 g

Sugars: 9 g

Protein: 4.1 g

To connect with others in this crazy journey of life, discover new parenting ideas & fun DIY projects, learn about holistic remedies, & find whole food plant based recipes, please visit our Facebook page Loving Green at Loving Green FB.