When the student is ready, the master appears. ~Buddhist Proverb
School is back in session! One of lives joy is sitting down and chatting with your children about their day while it is top in their mind. They share more when a healthy snack is within reach. Here are 5 healthy gluten-free and vegan snacks (some raw) that will Feed Your Body and Mind Royally!
1. Fresh Fruit & Vegetables cut up with Raw Ranch Dressing Dip
We all know fresh vegetables and fruits are healthy snacks and should be eaten everyday. The school season is underway and this raw, vegan and gluten-free Ranch Dressing Recipe is the perfect dip partner to serve up with cut up carrots, celery, peppers, grape tomatoes, jicama, and sugar snap peas. It also works as a zesty salad dressing or a dip with crisp autumn apple slices. Have a plate ready to go when the kids get home from school.
2. Hail Merry Raw Nuts & Seeds
Our nuts, seeds and grawnola contain omega fatty acids 3, 6 & 9, a category of polyunsaturated fats that are used as an energy source in the liver and muscles and for brain function. Excess fatty acids are stored as fat in the body to provide energy for later use in cellular function. In addition, nuts and seeds contain B vitamins that help the body release energy. A handful of Hail Merry grawnola, nuts and seeds provide energy in the form of healthy plant oils, B-vitamins and calories. Plus, kids love the clean taste!
3. Hail Merry Macaroon Parfait:
Hail Merry’s® gluten-free, vegan, raw-oil macaroons do not contain refined sugars. They do contain organic and cold pressed coconut oil which not only offers a richness of texture but many health benefits including: antiviral, antibacterial and anti-fungal properties, improved vitamin and mineral absorption, immune system support, weight management, blood sugar levels stabilization, and this amazing oil also contributes to good cholesterol. Plus the shredded coconut is loaded with fiber. Layer our luscious macaroons with fresh fruit and coconut yogurt and Viola- a dessert with benefits!
Here is one of our favorite chocolate vegan & gluten-free dessert recipes containing 1/2 tablespoon of organic raw coconut oil per serving. This Chocolate Chia pudding is a nutritional powerhouse delivering antioxidants, fiber, calcium and iron from the cocoa and chia seeds, and plenty of energy from the medium chain fatty acids in the coconut. Perfect for a quick pre workout snack to keep energy levels high and mind alert.
5. Banana Nut Muffins and Raw Almond Butter
Kids love banana muffins but so many store bought varieties are filled with refined flour, sugar and oils. So, I converted a traditional Banana Nut Muffin recipe to a gluten-free and vegan one, replacing the eggs with an omega-3 rich chia seed “slurry” and substituting almond milk for cow’s milk. I also used local honey in place of white sugar and a combination of flax seed meal and coconut oil for canola oil. If you are not “Beegan” please use maple syrup instead. The result is a less refined, moist aromatic treat that satisfies any muffin craving. Slap on some raw almond butter for added protein and healthy omega fatty acids.
Why Hail Merry Snacks?
Hail Merry® is a women-owned company that was created 3 years ago when founder Susan O’Brien fell in love with Superfoods like the virgin organic coconut oil, found in Hail Merry’s macaroons, and started hand-making these healthy snacks and desserts in her own kitchen and personally delivering them to local natural food stores.
Today, Hail Merry’s GLUTEN-FREE and DAIRY-FREE treats are made in a dedicated kitchen in Dallas. Susan and her two partners, Sarah and Ali, are committed to using only the finest ingredients, like the organic maple syrup from a family farm in Vermont used to sweeten the granola, to the fair trade cocoa powder that flavors the macaroons. All the snacks are peanut-free and grain-free and less than 150 calories.
Made by moms, for you and your family, Hail Merry's Desserts and Snacks make it easy to Feed Your Body Royally!
These are some awesome looking snacks. I recently made some pretty tasty banana blueberry muffins but the banana nut muffins that you put together here look so much more nutritious. Well done.