Redefining Snacking One Cookie at a Time

I love to snack. My entire family loves to snack. Who DOESN'T love to snack?

As a student of holistic nutrition, a gluten-free baking enthusiast and a general snack connoisseur, I've taken it upon myself to develop some alternative recipes for traditional foods (mainly baked goods) that I feel have the potential to be more "functional."

For a food to be functional, it has to serve a purpose beyond just being tasty - it has to benefit your body in some way.

While I strongly believe there is room for all kinds of food within a healthy diet (this is true balance), I also think that many of our favourite treats can become beneficial with just a few thoughtful tweaks.

Lately I've been experimenting with fun & wholesome snack options for my family and today I want to share one of my favourite recipes with you:

The Coconut-Almond Power Cookie

These chewy cookies are gluten & dairy-free, high in protein (~3g/cookie) and lower in sugar than typical cookies. They're also a good source of dietary fats & fibre!

STEP 1:

Combine ingredients

• 2 cups of unsweetened, shredded coconut (don't use the old stale stuff in your pantry, get some fresh stuff!)

• 1 1/2 cups of almond flour

• 1 tbsp ground flax (not essential but adds a boost of Omega-3s + fibre)

• 2 large eggs

• 1/2 cup of coconut oil, melted

• 1/2 cup of maple syrup

• 1 tbsp of organic, dark cocoa powder (if you're making the chocolate version)

STEP 2:

To form each cookie: use a soup spoon/large dinner spoon, scoop out some batter and roll it in your hands to form a ball (it will be wet & gooey). Place these on a baking sheet with parchment paper, then press down on each ball to flatten slightly (there is no exact science to this part).

STEP 3:

Bake at 350F for ~20 minutes or until the sides start to turn brown*

*They will almost look underdone when it's time to remove them. This way they are nice and chewy!

This recipe makes roughly 18-20 cookies.

A Note About My Approach:

I put emphasis on fibre & protein in the snacks I create because these nutrients can help increase satiation and balance blood sugar (and reduce those pesky cravings!)

Protein is also very important for our kids' growth, our energy stores, tissue repair (ie. post-workout), weight-loss journeys and many other daily functions.

Finally, I am no expert baker but I am passionate about creating easy, functional & tasty snacks for busy families - I hope you enjoy this one as much as I do!

xo

Ciara Morin, R.H.N.