Healthy snacks? The two words don’t seem like they should be seen together. LOL!

The Healing Fudge

But there really are many excellent and delicious snacks that are inexpensive and easy to make.

This morning I overheard my 13 year old daughter complaining to her mother (my wife):

“Mom, why don’t we have any chips around here like my friends have at their house? When my friends come over here and I show them what we can snack on, they say we are wayyyy too healthy!”

Mission accomplished! I consider her complaint a compliment! LOL!

I truly believe my family is healthier than most. I proclaim that not to brag, but because I want you to know that it can be done. But expect a few complaints!

Keeping junk food out of the house is about the only way to control your family’s consumption of it. If you have to buy some for a party or other special event, hide it out in the garage. I’d recommend my favorite hiding place – under an overturned bucket!

Here are some of my favorite healthy snacks:

1) Popcorn. Make sure you use grapeseed oil or coconut oil to cook the kernels and then pure melted butter for the topping with sea salt. It’s easy to fill up fast on popcorn. Forget any of the microwave varieties, they are likely among the most unhealthy of all snacks. Avoid movie theater popcorn like the plague!

2) The Healing Trail Mix. Why is it healing? Because healing demands specific nutrients for cellular rebuilding, stronger immunity, and optimum organ function. These recipe  ingredients specifically address these nutritional needs.For example, the raisins, dates and carob are high in fiber and anti-oxidants, the walnuts contain essential oils, the soy nuts are known to be a great protein source, and the sea salt is a healthier alternative than conventional salt because sea salt contains many minerals. The carob chips are a healthier alternative to chocolate. This recipe is a wonderful balance of fiber, healthy carbs, protein, and healthy fats. It’s also low glycemic and gluten free. And the taste? Fantastic! Kids love it!

The Healing Trail Mix recipe:

1 cup raisins

1 cup unsalted walnuts

1 cup roasted unsalted soy nuts

1 cup carob chips

½ cup chopped dried dates

1 /2 teaspoon sea salt

Mix thoroughly

3) The Healing Smoothie. Yes, this is really a drink but makes a great snack. What makes this healing? The cranberry juice is known to be an anti-bacterial (kills your bad bugs), the blueberries and green vegetable  are very high in anti-oxidants (keeps you fresh), the lemon juice is known to aid in detoxification( removes your pollution), the coconut water is high in electrolytes (minerals), the bananas are known to contain an excellent glycemic/fiber balance (won’t make you hyper), and the protein powder helps to minimize the insulin response( keeps you strong).

The Healing Smoothie recipe:

½ cup cranberry juice

½ cup blueberries

¼ cup fresh squeezed lemon juice

½ cup coconut water

2 frozen well ripened bananas

1 tablespoon whey protein powder

4 ice cubes

Add one green (preferably organic) vegetable i.e. green pepper, cucumber, or spinach leaves.

Blend all ingredients in a large blender for 1 minute on high. Makes two 12 ounce servings.

4) The Healing Muffin. What’s so special about this? The egg, olive oil and flax provide essential oils beneficial for cardiovascular and brain function. The sea salt contains trace minerals helpful for a strong immune system. The refried beans are a great protein source. The oatmeal, figs, and whole wheat flour are a great source of fiber and are low glycemic. The carob chips are a healthier alternative to chocolate.

The Healing Muffin

The Healing Muffin recipe:

1 egg (preferably from organically raised chickens)

¾ cup soy milk

½ cup extra virgin olive oil

1 cup whole wheat flour

½ cup flax

½ cup oatmeal

½ cup chopped figs

½ cup refried beans

3 tablespoons baking powder

1/3 cup honey

1 teaspoon sea salt

1 tablespoon vanilla

½ teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/2 cup carob chips

Mix all ingredients thoroughly, and fill pre-greased muffin pan receptacles about ¾ high.

Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes. Makes about 12 muffins.

5) The Healing Fudge. No you are not dreaming! Yahooo! Yes, fudge can be healthier and still taste great. This recipe avoids the excessive sugar and less healthy fat of traditional fudge. But remember, we still need to control ourselves! LOL.

The Healing Fudge recipe:

Sorry gang, this recipe is only obtainable when you purchase my book from this web site. If my withholding of this recipe makes you want to scream, I can assure you that you will scream in delight when you taste this fudge. You can order the book securely by clicking HERE. When you order, you’ll receive my free bonus ebook: The Healing Cookbook which contains the fudge recipe and a dozen or so of my other favorite healing recipes.

Again, we must control ourselves with all these recipes. You’ll likely feel fuller faster because of the wholesomeness of the ingredients.

So there you are, 5 healthy snacks that are easy to make, tasty, affordable, and delicious. I developed these recipes to complement my book Whole Health Healing: The Budget Friendly Natural Wellness Bible for All Ages.

Whoever said the food we healthy folks eat doesn’t taste good? Enjoy!

By the way,  have you seen my other popular blog/web sites?

For the general public: http://www.wholehealthhealing.com

Specifically for doctors: http://www.reclaimthejoy.com

Healthy Snacks: 5 Tasty Recipes to Get and Stay Thin

Farm life for me is a lot of work, but it’s fun work! Well,  most of the time. LOL.

This time of year, fall, involves getting many things done outside before it’s too cold to do them here in Wisconsin. I finished up with my firewood pile, started pulling out the garden plants, had the pigs butchered, now it’s time to blaze some trails. Yep, every fall I make some trails across my acreage for hiking and cross country skiing. My land is rented out to the government in a program called CRP, Conservation Reserve Program. The government planted wild flowers and wild grasses as a sort of prairie restoration. According to them, this gives the land a bit of a rest, allowing it to build up minerals and nutrients, and acts a refuge for wildlife. I see deer, turkeys, coyotes, pheasants, hawks and cranes all the time, I guess something the government does actually will work sometimes! LOL.

These wild grasses are taller than me!

As part of the CRP arrangement, I’m permitted to cut a trail for my personal use. It’s not easy to cut through wild grasses that are 8-10 foot tall. But leave it to me, the “Down-to-Earth” doctor, to get it done simply, economically, uniquely and in a fun way. For example, I use a mower that is 87 years old! LOL. And I love the thing. It’s a horse drawn McCormick Deering sickle mower.

Dr Tom Potisk with ancient sickle mower

Sickle mowers were popular around the turn of the century and used to cut grain and hay. It has a 6 foot long reciprocating cutting blade that slides along the ground essentially scissoring the grass off, leaving a perfect trail for my needs.

My fresh cut trail through prarie grasses

The way I found this gem of a machine was kind of funny. Since my gas powered riding lawnmower would never handle this “jack-and-the-bean-stalk” size wild prairie grass, I drove over to the local used farm implement dealer expecting to buy a big tractor for the job. I told the salesman there of my needs and I saw big dollar signs in his eyes.

“Well, I’m going to sell you this tractor for $3700.00 and this mower attachment for $1200.00,” he said gleefully with a big smile.

Just then I spotted this old sickle mower off to the side nearly covered in grape vines.” How much is that old thing?” I interrupted.

“Oh that’s  over 80 years old and to be used as  a lawn ornament. It’s $60.00,” he said as he attempted to wave it off and pull me towards his office.

“Well does it work?”

“It was brought here decades a go as a trade in, but it likely still works because those things are made tough, to be pulled by a horse. Now step over here and I’ll draw up the papers for your tractor and…..”

“Forget the tractor” I declared, “I’ll take the old sickle mower!”

The look on his face was like that of a child whose puppy had just been taken away. I’ve been using it successfully year after year. I pull it with my small skid loader.

I love it’s simplicity, “tank” like solidness, and that it does not burn any fuel itself. I often wonder what stories it would tell of the farmer that originally used it and the long gone horses that pulled it.

I bet it would also say “I’m made tough and I’ll keep going strong if you give me good maintenance!” Oh boy, I feel a blog post coming on about prevention of health problems.  LOL.

What would you tell younger people about your health maintenance?

Email me your comments at email@wholehealthhealing.net.

And by the way, have you seen my other popular blog sites?

For the general public:  http://www.wholehealthhealing.com

Specifically for doctors: http://www.reclaimthejoy.com

Farm Life – Blazing New Trails