Raspberry Energy Balls

I don't usually post recipes, but today I am! I tried this out on the weekend and was very happy with the results! No sugar and really good for you! Even my kids like them. I got the recipe from The Eye Opener magazine, #4 Fall 2008 issue.

Raspberry Energy Balls

1 and ¼ cup raisins
4 tablespoons dried currents
1 cup sunflower seeds
1 cup pumpkin seeds
1/2 cup sesame seeds
2 tablespoons coconut flour
3 tablespoons extra virgin coconut oil
¾ cup fresh or frozen raspberries
3 tablespoons cashew butter
Unsweetened shredded coconut, for rolling in

Pour boiling water over the raisins and currents, just enough to cover and let sit for 5-10 minutes. Drain and save liquid. Put all seeds in a food processor and blend until almost a powder – do not let them turn into butter! Put into a bowl. Place the raisins and currents and raspberries into the food processor and puree. Add to the bowl and mix together well with the coconut oil, cashew butter and coconut flour. I find it easier to use my hands. Roll into balls about and inch across and then roll in the shredded coconut. This will take some time! Put them into the freezer and thaw just before serving.

Have fun!

September 2008

I haven't written anything for quite some time! But I'm feeling inspired at the moment because I've begun running a very successful Nutrition E-Class. My students sign up for an 12 week program for $120 in which they learn about many aspects of healthy eating and living. It's a great way to learn at your own pace and I supply tons of materials to read. Participants can read as much or as little as they want to. They also participate in an on line chat group where they can share their experiences or questions throughout the course. If you'd like to check it out, just visit my website page 'Services' and download the introduction. Thanks for your interest!

The week . . .

It's been quite the eventful week here in Black Creek. We had one of the biggest dumps of snow that I've ever seen here! And because we live quite a ways out of town, our road didn't get ploughed for several days. It's been quite beautiful, despite the inconvenience of it all.

In another side of my life, I started a new part time job this week. I'm learning a lot more about different brands and types of supplements, which is always helpful, but at the same time I'm sometimes asked where in the store they keep the Cheese Wiz!

The new environment at my new job has air conditioning system and the air is quite dry. I'm finding that my eyes and nose are becoming irritated almost like I'm getting a cold. I have to remember to drink lots of water, take my EFA's and keep up my antioxidant levels. I'm taking Vitamin C and Cod Liver Oil in the morning as well as a glass of water with Chlorella. All good things to take to keep the immune system healthy in the winter months.

Another perk of the job is getting to try new products. This morning I'll be having my fruit smoothie with hemp protein. I'll let you know how I like it! Have a great rest of the week everyone!

Snowy December 1st

Today on Vancouver Island we've got tons of snow coming down! Looks like we'll be playing in the snow and snuggling up in front of the fire! Not a bad way to spend the day!

I want to share some art with you on this snowy Saturday. My friend, Jennifer Weber, is a local Comox Valley painter and I absolutely love her latest 'Lily' painting. Please check out her website at http://www.jenniferweber.ca/ and see what else she's been up to!

Winter Vitamin D

There's been a lot of talk in the news in the last few months about Vitamin D. Coincidentally (well, there are no coincidences, but that's a topic for a future post!), I did a presentation about Vitamin D just before all the new studies were in the news. Here on the west coast we didn't have much of a summer and therefore, most of us didn't get a chance to stock up on our Vitamin D before our long winter hit us. A lot of my friends are having a difficult time this fall and I think that one of the reasons is that we are all deficient in Vitamin D.

Vitamin D is important for a myriad of processes in our bodies, two of which are our immune system and our bone health. It's very important to keep up the supply of Vitamin D during the winter. If you take a supplement you want to take one with D3 (not D2) and the foods that contain Vitamin D are egg yolks, fish, organ meats and butter. D3 is far more bio-available to our bodies than D2 so if you're buying a supplement make sure you get the right kind, but in my opinion taking cod liver oil or krill oil is the best choice.

Along with your vitamin D intake make sure that you're getting enough calcium and magnesium to keep your bones strong. I find that if I take cod liver oil every day all winter then I manage to stay completely cold and flu free! Carlson's is a good choice. Any heavy metals in the fish liver have been filtered out.

And when summer comes make sure you are getting outside for 15-20 minutes every day and exposing as much of your body to those warm rays as you're comfortable with. Just don't burn that precious skin!

Now, have a great weekend and go off to the store and buy some delicious cod liver oil (lemon flavoured!).

Welcome to my blog!

As I go about my home and work life, I'm always asked questions about health and nutrition. I also come across new products and recipes that I love to share with others. I hope that this will be a weekly journal were I can post all this great information! As we move into spring in a few months I'll also be sharing pictures and information about my garden. In the mean time please check out my website to see what I do! http://www.foodworksnutrition.com/