Healthy Snacking

Cashew Butter Chickpea Snack Cookies

6-ingredient snack cookies made with chickpeas and cashew butter sweetened with maple syrup and apple sauce. Perfect for a quick snack or dessert!

Happy Sunday, friends!

Does anyone else have major dish washing fatigue right about now?

As if it wasn’t enough to eat every stinking meal at home, we have to clean all those pots and pans, too?

I’ve set aside some time today to *actually* meal prep.

If you’re thinking, but Lauren, why meal prep during a quarantine?

Well, it occurred to me chatting with friends this week that it might be better to make larger portions in advance rather than making small meals on the spot.

We might have the time and space free to cook and bake at home constantly, but do we really want to?

As much as the kitchen is my happy place, I have other happy places that I’m missing.

Luckily, the recipe I recommend you meal prep today is made with just one blender and a cookie sheet!

These Cashew Butter Chickpea Snack Cookies require only 6 pantry-friendly staples to bring them to your kitchen.

Grab a can of chickpeas and a big spoonful of cashew butter and let’s get into it.

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Carrot Cake Bliss Balls (Grain-Free!)

By Flora & Vino 4 Comments

Carrot cake in bliss ball form! Energy bites packed with walnuts and grated carrots naturally sweetened with dates and raisins. Perfect for meal prep!

They say it takes 21 days to form a habit.

At the beginning of March I made myself a goal for the month to get outside for a 15 minute walk every day.

The idea: Lace up the sneakers, bound out the door, and walk.

It’s so liberating leaving my sometimes cluttered kitchen and mind at home while making large loops around my neighborhood complex.

I’m happy to report that half way through March I’m crushing it; with no missed days yet.

Usually I like taking my stroll first thing in the AM, but this week I’ve been rocking my sunset walks, sauntering around the block as the last rays of light hit the asphalt.

So make those healthy habits happen.

You know what else I made a habit recently?

These Carrot Cake Bliss Balls have all of the sweet notes of carrot cake rolled into a compact ball.

You just need 8-ingredients to make these Carrot Cake Bliss Balls that are grain-free, and naturally sweetened with dried fruit!

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Superseed SunButter Stuffed Avocados

By Flora & Vino 4 Comments

Avocado snack boats packed with healthy fats and your favorite seeds! Filled with sunflower seed butter and a drizzle of date syrup for sweetness.

Once upon a time I stuffed an avocado with nut butter and Instagram went wild for it.

Do you remember?

It was a few years back when healthy fats were just becoming all the rage.

I shared them tentatively to my feed, unsure whether you guys would be obsessed or apprehensive.

The response was mostly in awe of this sultry savory combo.

So, what’s better than creamy peanut butter and avocado?

SunButter and avocado, that’s what, for a delicious nut-free variation that’s school-safe and allergen-friendly.

These Superseed SunButter Stuffed Avocados are the perfect compact snack packed with healthy fats, a little crunch, and a touch of sweetness.

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Chunky Monkey Superfood Banana Chip Bites

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Banana chips topped with melted chocolate, shredded coconut, crushed peanuts, goji berries, and chocolate chips. The perfect healthy alternative to candy!

Hello, friends!

Since we last chatted I graduated from yoga teacher training.

I know, how did that happen so quickly?

The last 6 months were a whirlwind of asana and anatomy and sequencing and while many times during training I felt like I was a hot mess I know now that I was exactly where I needed to be.

You can read more about my struggles and wins from training in this Instagram post.

I have no current plans to teach, but the stuff I learned in training has forever changed the way I see yoga, myself, and really everything around me.

When I was struggling to make the big decision– to YTT or not to YTT, I asked a few former students for advice.

“Just do it,” they said.

“It’ll change your life,” they said.

They weren’t wrong.

So now I’m going to say the same thing to you in a different content.

If you’re looking for a fun alternative to candy this Valentine’s Day, check out these Chunky Monkey Superfood Banana Chip Bites.

To quote my yoga instructor pals– Just do it. It’ll change your life.

They’re made with 5 ingredients for a gluten-free, grain-free, and refined sugar-free treat!

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Creamy Cilantro Lime Avocado Dip

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Creamy cilantro lime avocado dip made with avocado, unsweetened almond milk yogurt, fresh herbs, and squeezed lime. Serve with grain-free crackers!

You know you’re an adult when you start planning months or even weeks ahead to pencil your friends in for a simple lunch-date.

One friend and I scheduled ours in for almost two months out; the first Saturday free blank on both our day-planners.

Lately my calendar is been a scary place lately; one I force myself to enter each morning as I sip matcha and plan for the day ahead.

Between balancing yoga teacher training and rigorous work schedule around it, I feel like I should have a permanent away message slapped on my forehead.

But even with my daily scheduling check-in, I’m still baffled at how fast January went by.

I mean, weren’t we just setting new years intentions and goals and stuff?

Next weekend is already the first weekend in February, and also happens to be Super Bowl Sunday.

If you’ve been here a while, you know I’m about as confident watching football as I am public speaking.

AKA not very.

However, I AM very confident in the concept of game-time snacks.

This Creamy Cilantro Lime Avocado Dip is the perfect healthy dip to share, packed with satiating good fats, herbs, and citrus!

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Gingerbread Bliss Balls

By Flora & Vino 6 Comments

Gingerbread inspired energy balls made with oat flour, Medjool dates, molasses, and a festive spice blend. Perfect for a holiday season pick me up.

Hey, how was your Thanksgiving?

If you’re like me, the morning after the big meal you hastily turned on the Christmas music.

Something about blasting Michael Bublé and Mariah Carey instantly transports me into the holiday spirit.

Do you have your tree and decorations up yet?

I’m 50% of the way there.

I have the miniature red and white tree-skirt I couldn’t resist buying from Target, before, you know, finding a mini tree to go with it.

The ornaments are out too; a heart-warming hodgepodge of handmade childhood ornaments, classic glass balls, hanging figurines dated by birthdays and ages, glistening cupcakes and my favorite, a sparkling avocado toast (no explanation needed).

So when I finally get my tree, I’ll be decorating it with all of this plus Gingerbread Bliss Balls.

Because everyone needs a little festive fuel to deck the halls!

These gingerbread inspired energy bites are ready in under 10 minutes to fuel you through your busy holiday season.

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Golden Sesame Squash Fries

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Butternut squash “fries” seasoned with turmeric and cumin with a sesame seed twist! Bake a pan for a healthy snack or side paired with your favorite dip.

Let’s commiserate on cold weather for a minute, because it’s cold here in Virginia and I’m cold right along with it.

My townhouse isn’t well insulated and when I open the cabinets and dishwasher a rush of cold air hit me and the dishes I remove are icy cold and uninviting to the touch.

So I blast the temperature on my Nest thermostat up up up in hopes that the bottom two floors defrost while the top floor rests at a balmy eighty degrees.

Are you chilly too?

I love the changing seasons, but colder weather has never really been my cup of tea.

It requires so much work, you know?

All of the layers, heavy socks, and moisturizer — bonus points if you get a little Vitamin D for the day.

Anyway, I’ve got a recipe today that will warm your house and your heart and your insides.

These Golden Sesame Squash Fries are oven-baked with warm turmeric and a crunchy seeded exterior!

Open, sesame.

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My Go-To Trail Mix

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5-minute mix it yourself trail-mix with cashews, cranberries, dark chocolate, shredded coconut, and a shake of cinnamon. Perfect for on-the-go snacking!

At my hair appointment last weekend I sat in the salon chair and said, “Well, I’m not a hiker.”

“If you’ve got hiking boots, you’re a hiker,” my hair stylist said, motioning towards the hiking boots that protruded from under the long black salon gown that I wore buttoned around my neck like a cape.

I laughed and nodded in agreement.

I hadn’t had time to change before my hair appointment to change out of the hiking gear I wore to climb Raven Rocks with my girlfriends.

Earlier that morning, exhilarated by the crisp fall air and endorphins, we made a pact to do 12 hikes in 2020.

So maybe I am a hiker, huh?

I thought to myself as my stylist wrapped strands of my hair into highlighting foils.

And every good hiker knows to bring plenty of snack with you when you hit the trail.

Whether you’re a hiker or not, you’re going to love this easy snack mix that I call My Go-To Trail Mix.

It’s perfect to mix up for nutritious pre-portioned snacking on the go!

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Apple Cranberry Pecan Granola (Oil-Free!)

By Flora & Vino 6 Comments

Apple cranberry pecan granola with oats and pecans lightly sweetened with maple syrup and applesauce. Toss in baked apple chips for extra crunch!

Did you know that some clothing stores allow dogs inside?

Like, actually allow them to stroll in the mannequin flanked double doors on all four paws?

Well, I didn’t.

I’m watching Harper this week and on Wednesday we had an epic shopping spree.

It started out walking around the town center and ended up inside the dressing room at J-Crew, Harper smiling through her panting as I tried on flannel for a fall photoshoot.

I paid for two plaid shirts at the register while one of the sales associates crooned over Harper, now sprawled across the the floor in complete retail therapy bliss.

Guys, I’m pretty sure I never want to go shopping without my best girlfriend again.

Despite the retail therapy, this week has been pretty rough.

Lots of recipe fails, yoga homework, and quick meals to sustain late nights.

I do, however, have an excellent fall-inspired granola recipe to share with you.

This Apple Cranberry Pecan Granola is gluten-free, oil-free, and naturally sweetened, with big chunks of cranberry, oats, pecans, and apple chips.

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Grain-Free Almond Flour Crackers

By Flora & Vino 5 Comments

Crispy grain-free crackers made with almond flour, ground flaxseed meal, and simple seasonings. Perfect for a nutritious snack solo or with dip!

Lately, I’ve been on a really big cracker kick.

I think it started when I was in process of moving.

Yes, there were a couple of nights when dinner was a box of Simple Mills crackers dunked in hummus.

All of the empty store-bought cracker boxes got me thinking– maybe I could (should!) make some of my own?

These Grain-Free Almond Flour Crackers are made with almond flour, flaxseed, and simple seasonings!

Let’s get crack(er)in’.

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Cashew Butter Chickpea Snack Cookies

Carrot Cake Bliss Balls (Grain-Free!)

Superseed SunButter Stuffed Avocados

Chunky Monkey Superfood Banana Chip Bites

Creamy Cilantro Lime Avocado Dip

Gingerbread Bliss Balls

Golden Sesame Squash Fries

My Go-To Trail Mix

Apple Cranberry Pecan Granola (Oil-Free!)

Grain-Free Almond Flour Crackers

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