Granola bars have always been my weakness when it comes to snacking. I just didn’t want the sugar the store bought ones have. So, I made this recipe, so i could enjoy my granola bars without guilt. These bars are so delicious and hearty, you can eat them as breakfast or snack. I also like the fact that they are softer than what you would expect from a granola bar.
Author: maggie's food stories
Growing up respect for all living beings and the environment always had a special place in my heart and mind.
When i was 15 I decided to become a vegetarian and my journey began! I went through so many phases with my eating habits, I can't even remember all of them! Gaining and losing weight on the way, straggling with vitamin deficiencies and the nagging that went with it (let's be honest, back then Cyprus was not ready for a teenager vegetarian!)
In my mid twenties I decided to start learning all about healthy eating and lifestyle and I was transformed! Gone were the constant flu symptoms and fatigue i always felt, my skin and hair started to look and feel healthier, my weight was finally stable!
Little did I know that I would fall in love with cooking - the people who know me cannot believe I actually found my way to the kitchen!! - and start experimenting with all sorts of vegetarian and vegan recipes! I learned so much about the health benefits clean eating, nuts, various vegetable and fruit groups, power foods, grains and seeds and I will be sharing these with you! You feel better, you look better, you live better!
The funny thing about my choice is that you suddenly find people who share this passion! One of these is my good friend Daniel Plackett, who I'm honored to say is a contributor to maggie's foods stories! Daniel is passionate about so many different things, his energy is amazing! He cooks, bakes, does yoga, plays in theater - just to name a few!
I hope you enjoy the recipes and tips as much as we enjoy cooking, learning and sharing them!
maggie x
Matcha latte
Matcha is an easy and simple way to add powerful health benefits to your everyday diet. Amongst other benefits is packed with antioxidants, boosts metabolism, is rich in fiber, chlorophyll and vitamins! So if you know all these why not incorporate it in your daily routine. As a tea, as a latte, in smoothies or sweets! This latte is delicious you won’t want it to finish.
Spicy Curry Soup
How comforting it is to have a warm, spicy soup on a cold winter’s night! I can really have soup every day! This soup has such an amazing aroma and the combination of curry, coriander and peanuts is just perfect! You can adjust the spiciness according to your taste buds.
Healthy Peanut butter cookies
While I was making these cookies I was thinking about how to indulge kids! I think it’s a common issue between mums: how to get their kids to eat healthier snacks. So i tried to combine healthy, nutritious and delicious into these cookies.
Of course is not only for kids, but for adults as well! Great to have in hand as an indulgence healthy snack or breakfast!
Wellness tips from maggie
New Year, New You!
To be absolutely honest I am tired of listening and reading about New Year resolutions and wish lists! You don’t need, or at least you shouldn’t wait for, the beginning of a year to want to do things for you! You should love yourself enough to want to be well and happy with your life and your choices, every day, every year!
And that is all life is: a sequence of choices, some are small and some are big.
No one becomes healthy or happy by wishing, making excuses, or waiting until next month or next year. Here are a few tips that I really hope will help you, as they helped me:
Eating habits
The easiest first step is to change your eating habits. It immediately makes you feel more empowered and good about yourself and these feelings motivate you. Some healthy tips for your daily routine:
- As a general rule say a big NO to processed foods.
- Forget about sugar: sugar is bad (full stop). It makes you fat, messes with your skin, hormones and mood, and recent research links it to all sorts of diseases, including cancer.
- Water: more than 70% of our body is made of water! That alone tells you how important drinking water is to keeping healthy. Try drinking water first thing in the morning to help your body wake up.
- Berries: they are rich in antioxidants and fibres. I choose frozen ones because they are always available.
- Greens and fruits: ‘eat your greens’ – one of the most frequent phrases everyone remembers from their childhood! We hated it then, but boy it is important! Spinach, broccoli, peas, any green veggie really provides our bodies with so much goodness. If you don’t really enjoy them, try adding them in your juice or smoothie. The same for fruits.
- Nuts and seeds: are great sources of amongst others – omega fats, vitamins, protein, magnesium, iron! Great as a snack, adding them into your breakfast, lunch or dinner, make healthy bars and bites!
- The word ‘fat’ scares us. But the truth is we shouldn’t be scared of ‘good fat’, we should include it in our diet. Sources of good fat: avocados, coconut, nuts and seeds.
Put movement in your life – your body will thank you!
Most of us have jobs that require us to sit on a desk all day long. That’s bad – for our body and spirit.
- Try standing up and going for a small walk at least 3 times during the day. Even stand up while talking on the phone or with a colleague.
- Incorporate some activity in your daily routine. Maybe an early morning 20 minute walk or jog (if you have a dog it usually motivates you!). If you are not a morning person (like me) do it at night. You need to force yourself at the beginning, but after a couple of weeks your body and mood will beg you for it!
If you are not up for it, try yoga, pilates (my personal favourite!), some stretching, a walk in the park or really any other form of exercise you will be looking forward to do – just do something to keep your body alive! Take the stairs, instead of the elevator, park a bit further away from where you want to go. Every little change you can make, go ahead and make it!
Lifestyle habits
There are a few more tips, always from my personal experience, that can help you even on a bad day:
- Always always be grateful. Count your blessings, not your problems. And if you count more problems than blessings, then count again because chances are you left out things you take for granted.
You might think it’s easier said than done – well at the beginning, yes. But then it becomes a way of living, it changes your perception of how you see and deal with whatever comes your way. Slowly slowly you become more positive and you attract positive energy in your life.
- Do something you love every day. That is how I started my blog! It can be anything that makes your heart and soul smile! Helping others, reading, writing, cooking or anything else!
- Practice empathy and compassion. I think very few feelings are better than the feeling you get when you help others, knowing that you might have changed their lives in some positive way. It can be a smile, a compliment, listening to what someone has to say, volunteering for an organization or an animal shelter, raise awareness about the things that matter to you the most.
- Be social, but also have your alone time. Connect with others whenever you get the chance, we are after all social creatures. But never underestimate the importance of spending time with yourself.
Enjoy the new you, this year and every year!
Cacao and Maca warm chocolate
I love warm chocolate, especially when it’s so cold outside! It’s such a comforting and delicious treat, from the warmth you feel from holding the cup to actually drinking it! The reason why I have chosen to add maca powder is so it gives you that extra energy kick! You can easily substitute this drink with your coffee.
Banana and Turmeric Smoothie
Like ginger, also turmeric is considered a powerful natural antibiotic. So, why use it only for cooking – be creative! You can make turmeric tea or smoothies or even desserts! You can enjoy this any time of the day.
Ginger and Lemon drink
Ginger is one of nature’s most powerful antibiotics. It’s known as an immunity booster and i have heard people swear by it for not getting colds! It’s also supposed to be good for our digestive system. This drink also has lemon juice, which due to its many nourishing elements like vitamins C, B, A and E is a great way to cleanse your body and boost your immunity.
You can enjoy this every morning before coffee or breakfast or really any other time.
Maggie's Food Stories 