A December Ambassador Challenge

The holidays are challenging all right... My month started out with dirt and major light problems. 

I'm swinging into mid December to answer the #1 Food Revolution HQ's December Ambassador Challenge = Healthier, Happier Holidays! 

Here are some tips from Jamie on how to have a bit of a healthier one and here are the top four hitters in my holiday line up:

First batter UP:

With the new Star Wars movie coming out, we're watching every.single.one up to the big event this week. The kids LOVE helping me make popcorn from scratch and this encourages us to "use the force". Here's a great article on the WHY you should ditch the microwave pop action.

Shake and Bake Family Movie Night Popcorn
(Couldn't help to link to this super fun video we made 2 years ago... oh my babies are so BIG now!)

1. Heat up 2-3 T coconut oil in your biggest pan (with a clear lid if possible so you can see it all pop!) on medium-high heat.
2. Put 2-3 kernels in and heat with lid on until they pop.
3. Dump 3/4 cup in the oil, relid. Using oven mits, vent the lid and gently shake shake shake to coat all the kernels with oil. You'll know it's done when you only hear a few pops left (just like the microwave).
4. Shake some seat salt on top and EAT! Make it more holiday-ish by spreading the popcorn out on a cookie sheet, melt some dark chocolate in a double broiler, crunch up dye free peppermint sticks and drizzle it all over the top of the popcron. Oh yea... but you gotta wait till it dries unless you want goey chocolatey fingers all over your house (no thank you ma'am).


Second batter UP:

I recently made a simple whole grain swap to my pancake recipe! Loving this article on The Truth About Grains - Whole & Refined. I'm getting there... My kids actually prefer this recipe and it saves my more expensive flour blend for other baking and cooking projects.

You gotta try this home run recipe:

Simple Oaty Banana Pancakes 

1 cup of whole oats (I grind the oats into a fine flour with my nutribullet - It takes less than 30 sec!)

2 pastured eggs

1 mashed banana

1 T avocado oil 

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp sea salt

1 c almond or cashew milk (or whatever milk you want)

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

A few shakes of ground cinnamon

In a medium bowl, mix all ingredients well with a whisk. Pour silver dollar sized pancakes on an oiled skillet (I like to use ghee) and flippy floppy about 3-4 minutes on each side or until bubbles come to the surface.

I always feel pressed for time on school mornings, but these pancakes take less than 15 minutes to make now that I keep all the ingredients grouped for easy access in the morning. My kids love extra cut up bananas, strawberries or raspberries on top with a drizzle of grade B pure maple syrup!


Third batter UP:

We'll also be making my last year's NO BAKE collaboration with the 52 New Foods Cookbook! This year, I am going to soak my dates for 15 minutes before processing and I am also adding mini dark chocolate chips to my mint icecream! Let me know if you give these mamacitas a try with your kids this holiday season! Ho Ho Ho with Holiday G-Hoppers (Video Link HERE or below)!

Forth Batter UP = "cleaning UP"

Personally, I am trying to avoid all refined grains (with or without gluten) and attempting to keep my refined sugar to less than 32 grams a day (4 grams = 1 tsp). It's hard, but boy does it work.

Holiday Party Game plan = I am milking 2-3 drinks MAX a night (with a huge glass of water in between each drink). Gotta keep it classy - It's holiday party dress up time and I am in love with this camo skirt + anything plaid! 

Cheers to
Enjoying Star Wars popcorn nights
Making more pancake breakfasts
Cutting back on adding sugar (OOOF)
Dressing up with girlfriends
Savoring good food + drink at holiday parties
Learning how to meditate + slow it down

Note to self: PLEASE wrap the presents before Xmas eve this year and don't forget to suck in your core (at all times).

Xoxo

L

ps

Coming soon... A brand new Holiday Ambassador Smash with my soffritto sister Terri. Here is a little sneak peak on her Instagram page!