Creamy Avocado Dip

 

I am hoping I am not the only mama out there who has a hard time getting their littles to eat their veggies. Generally my littles are awesome and rarely turn down a fruit or vegetable....well that is until avocados come into play. They definitely make some serious stink faces at these sweet fruits or are they veggies? Whatever they are...my kids have some serious disdain for them. I am always trying to think of ways to sneak avocados into their diet. It may be in a smoothie, a brownie, or in their sandwiches. Whatever I can do. One cup of avocado has 23% of the recommended daily value of folate. They are also high in vitamin E, monounsaturated fats, and glutathione, which are all great for your heart (source here). That being said, I definitely want to get my littles and my husband eating these gems.

This past week we had nachos for dinner. I had some avocados to use up, which I received last week from BB. We love to do our nachos with pico de gallo, homemade refried beans, and tortilla chips. This week I decided to add in a bit of creamy avocado dip. Guess what? It was a hit!..... somehow combining vanilla yogurt and avocados created a yummy dip that both my hubby and the red heads enjoyed. Who knew? So if you are looking for a new yummy dip, try this out. It is perfect for tacos, nachos, veggie sticks, chips, you name it! We have also used this as a spread on sandwiches. It is a healthy alternative to using mayo on a sandwich :)

Creamy Avocado Dip

1 avocado
1/3 cup vanilla yogurt
juice of 1 lime
2 tbl taco seasoning

Blend together in food processor or blender. Chill in fridge and serve.

Make it today and enjoy lovelies!

 

XO Danielle

How to Add a Healthy Kick to Your Recipes

 
Who wants to add a sneaky, healthy kick to their recipes? I know I do! I am always aiming to sneak little healthy kicks into all my recipes. I have been doing this for a while, but I only recently started it on the blog. Many of you noticed and wanted to know what all the hullabaloo was about these "super add ons" I use in my cooking. Well I am here to share what they are, what I use them in, and where I get them from.

Let's get started....

Flax Seed


Flax seed is fully loaded when it comes to fiber and Omega-3 essential fatty acids. It helps your digestive system to regulate and work better. Flax seed may also help lower blood cholesterol and can help reduce your risk of heart disease. I add flax seed to literally EVERYTHING. My sauces, smoothies, chili, all baked goods, oatmeal, and anything else I can sneak it into. I buy it in bulk from Winco's bulk food section. It can be found in your local grocery store in the baking section or health food section. I purchase ground flaxseed, since it can absorb into your body more quickly than the whole flax seeds.



Bran


Bran is the it factor when it comes to adding more fiber into your diet. By adding 1-2 tablespoons to your cereal, oatmeal, yogurt, sauces, or baked goods, you will be upping your daily fiber intake considerably. Fiber slows the rate that sugar is absorbed into the bloodstream. This keeps glucose levels from rising to quickly. Fiber makes your intestines move faster and actually cleans you out as it works through your system. Oh and it keeps you regular if know what I mean. I purchase my bran in bulk from Winco for way cheap.

Chia Seeds


You may remember these seeds from the popular Chia Pets, but these seeds are making a comeback in the kitchen. These little black seeds are packed with nutrients. Like flax seed, chia seeds are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. They also have antioxidants, protein, and fiber. We throw chia seeds into our smoothies, cookies, and sprinkle it over yogurt. I usually use about one tablespoon when I add it to my recipes. I purchase my chia seeds from Whole Foods. They are a bit more expensive than my other healthy kicks, but they are very worth it.

Nutritional Yeast

Picture Source HERE

In many of my new recipes this year, like my black bean chili, I have mentioned adding nutritional yeast to them. Nutritional Yeast is quite a gem when it comes to adding a healthy punch to your everyday recipes. Nutritional yeast is packed with a ton of healthy goodness, particularly B-vitamins, folic acid, selenium, zinc, and protein. It’s low in fat and gluten-free. It is great as a substitute for cheese on popcorn, mac n' cheese, and with eggs. It is a low-fat alternative to using cheese. It can be baked or thrown into smoothies. I typically add 1-2 tablespoons into our smoothies, our chili, our rolls, and sauces. I purchase my nutritional yeast from Winco in their bulk food section.

Purees


I was first turned onto using purees when I first read Deceptively Delicious. Jessica Seinfeld uses vegetable and fruit purees in all of her recipes. It is a great way to get your family eating more fruits and veggies, unknowing to them. I started off small, adding pureed carrots or squash to our pasta sauce. I then moved onto adding cauliflower to my mashed potatoes. My family loved the recipes and never realized they were eating veggies and fruits. It was great to be so sneaky. I was like a super spy in the kitchen. I continued on and still do today. I replace eggs in recipes with my fruit and veggie purees. I prepare mine throughout the month and store them in my freezer. At certain times in the year I puree more. Around Halloween I was able to get huge pumpkins for $2.50 each, through Bountiful Baskets. I bought about 5 pumpkins. I cooked all of them and pureed the insides. I now have bags of 1 cup servings of pumpkin puree.  I store them in my freezer chest and now I have enough for the year. I do this with other fruits and veggies throughout the year too. I prepare in advance and save money that way. You can also buy bagged frozen veggies and use those for purees. Look for sales and plan ahead. Store and add them to your meals. Your kids and your hubby will never be the wiser:)

Giving your meals an added nutritious kick does not have to be hard. By picking one or two of these add ons, you will be arming your family with the nutrients they need to live happy, healthy lives. As with all my tips, start off small. Pick one thing and try it out. See how it works for your family. I didn't start all these things at once. I started off slow and learned. I am still learning everyday. I am constantly learning, growing, and sharing on this blog. I am always thankful for your continued support and sweet comments. If you have some other healthy ways to add goodness to your recipes, share in the comments. I would love to hear what you guys and gals do.

PS
I have a little Blissful Exchange taking place on the Blissful and Domestic Facebook page. The topic is green cleaning. Come and give your two cents ladies and gents.

XO Danielle