Amazing Whole Wheat Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies!

Chocolate Chip cookies have always been a favorite in our house. Isn't that true for everyone? One of my favorite things to do is look at a recipe and think...can this be healthier? We don't always have to give up a favorite food to live a healthier life. To me it is about finding balance. Balance for me and balance for my kids.  I have tried numerous chocolate chip cookie recipes and this one hands down in our family favorite. We have yet to come to a conclusion on if we like the finished cookie better or the dough.

Recipe:

1 cup butter

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup sugar

2 eggs

2 tsp. vanilla

1 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt

2 Tbsp. ground flax seed

3 cups oatmeal

1/2 cup chocolate chips

Blend butter and sugars. Add in eggs and vanilla one at a time. Combine flour, baking soda, and salt. Add to creamed mixture. Add in oatmeal, flax seed. Stir in chocolate chips.

Cook at 325 for 9 minutes.

Recipe alternatives- You can substitute 1 cup smashed banana for butter. The cookie consistency is a little chewier but the kids like them just the same.  Also, I have added in scoop of protein shake powder for some extra protein.

Original recipe came from HERE and I made my adjustments

A Weight Loss MUST READ!

The relationship with food is different for every person.  I have read numerous weight loss books but none like this.  This takes on an entirely new perspective.  A perspective of how God views food in our lives, and how it can control us. This book is called Made to Crave by Lysa Terkeurst. 

As she says in the book, we need to have God satisfy our deepest desires and not the food we eat. I highly recommend this book.  As you begin your journey on losing weight I think it is vital to look at the place food has in your life. For me food had become a crutch.  A place that I felt made other stress in my life feel better. And I was completely wrong. It only made it worse.  This book gave me a entirely new light on food and God's purpose not only for how food fits into my life but also my purpose.  Order her amazing book HERE.

Quick Power Packed Protein Breakfast

 

Starting your morning off right is essential. Essential to living a healthy lifestyle and essential to losing weight. Let's face it so many of us have jammed pack schedules. Schedules that barely leave time for making time for ourselves.  This year maybe it is time to stop.  Stop saying yes to a full schedule. And instead say yes to healthy eating, rest, and time for healthy relationships. 

My mornings I am either running out the door early or getting a few little ones out the door to school.  As a Mom, putting everyone before me is the name of the game. So I make a good choice to have a power packed protein breakfast.  Packed with the right ingredients to make me feel full and energized for my day.  A simple powder, protein added to milk and there is breakfast.  Vanilla or chocolate. I have had many protein shakes and none compare to the taste of this one. This one if by far my favorite and it is so good I don't even have to blend it to enjoy. My shaker bottles work wonderfully with it. 


Some key ingredients:

16g of Protein
A proprietary blend of whey protein concentrate, organic pea protein and organic whole grain brown rice protein works to suppress your appetite and helps protect against muscle loss*

7g of Soluble Fiber
A dietary fiber source to help you feel fuller and satisfied longer, while maintaining insulin levels already in the normal range*

24g of Carbohydrates
A targeted amount of carbohydrates to enhance the body's natural burning processes upon waking and throughout the day*

690mg of Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acid
As Alpha-Linolenic Acid, which is naturally derived from flaxseed, to support the brain and overall wellness*

You can order yours here since it is not available in stores. This shake was a key part in my weight loss last year when I lost 20 lbs. in 12 weeks and my husband's 37 lbs. in 12 weeks.

Here's to A New Year...

This year. 2014. Choose to make a difference. Choose to be an example. Choose to be healthy.  Choose to let God's light shine through you.  All too often we choose to blend in, afraid. This is the year to be bold, to live for His purpose.  Don't make an endless list of expectations, make small lists every morning. Those small steps can move mountains, not overnight, but with each little activity.  This year. Will. Be. The. Best. Yet.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Can you believe Christmas has come and gone and a new year is upon us? I for one cannot but am relishing every last second of this year. Excited for what God has in store for my family in this year to come. Also, excited for the plans I have in store for my blog and we shall see where it takes me.  Have a blessed New Year's!

Catching Up!

Can you believe it is already November? Apparently, I can't either since I am just now posting about Halloween! I try my best to slow time but it seems to keep running away from me. We had a wonderful Halloween. It was filled with family, fun, and of course too much candy.  I got to spend the day at Peyton's class party.  It was exciting the moment I got into his school, since the fire alarm went off right as I walked in. So we spent a good chunk of time outside in the freezing cold. The word was that it was a fog machine  that set off the alarm.  Thankfully, for his school the fire department is RIGHT next door. :)

The boys came home and we all got ready, and headed out for hours of trick or treating.  Kaden was off like the big kids, it took him no time to catch on to the tradition this year.

So HOW do you handle all that candy in the house????

A few options is to send candy to the military or separate it into buckets for each child (hide it) and they can pick a piece as rewards or an afternoon treat. For us it is all about moderation and finding a balance for your own family.

Spooky Snacks

 

 

How fun are these treats? Healthy and the kids loved them!

The "Boo"nana Ghost I found HERE but she did hers with white chocolate and that would be delicious but I wanted something a little healthier. So I dipped the banana in vanilla yogurt added the chocolate chip eyes and placed in the freezer. Next time I will make sure to cut the banana in half and the slice again in half to make four quarters. This will make them perfect snack size for the kids. For the Frightening Apple Mouth I cut my apple into four sections leaving the core. Sliced out the center and filled with peanut butter. I then cut my mini marshmallows in half and placed in the peanut butter as teeth. Working on a new treat idea I came up with, so keep your fingers crossed it works out so then you can hear about it :)