Truffles and Muffins, Oh my!
Sneak healthy fruits and vegetables into tasty seasonal treats the kids will love! Requested guest post by Vanessa Gatelein, health coach at Juice Plus+
(Contains: Soy)
Ahhhhh, the holidays…It’s the most wonderful time of year! With cooler temps setting in (depending on where you live), it's the perfect time to unpack the decorations, dust off last year’s parka, and gather with family. And nothing says bonding more than cooking up some delicious snacks and meals together!
Changes in temps also mean that the flu and cold season is setting in. While parents are always looking for ways to keep everyone in the house healthy, these recipes are the perfect blend of warm spices that taste how the holidays feel - and your kids will love them too. Preparing a meal together is a great way to spend time during the busy holiday season, and there are plenty of ways for kids to get involved! Have them count out the ingredients, hit ‘start’ on the blender, mix the batter, or roll the truffles into shape.
Not only are these recipes easy and delicious, but they’re actually good for you too. It can be hard to sneak in all your fruits and veggies when you’re surrounded by turkey, potatoes, and countless holiday treats. To bridge the gap between what you do eat and what you should eat, combine Juice Plus+ products with your favorite foods to elevate your nutritional intake.
Juice Plus+ products are vegan, certified non-GMO, whole-food based, immune boosting, and rich in antioxidants providing dietary support for different stages and ages. Made from 30 different fruits, vegetables & berries with added vitamins and other plant ingredients, Juice Plus+ Essentials Capsules help support the function of the immune system.
Below are recipe ideas using Juice Plus+ Complete, which features a balanced blend of soy protein, fiber, and prebiotics, and Juice Plus+ Essentials Capsules, which support cognitive function, immune function, and cardiovascular health.
Fruit, Vegetable & Berry Smoothie
with Juice Plus+ Essentials Capsules
INGREDIENTS
1 cup coconut water
1⁄2 cup blueberries
1⁄2 lemon, juiced
1⁄2 banana
A handful of spinach or kale ice cubes (optional)
Juice Plus+ Trio Capsules
○ 1 Fruit Blend Capsule
○ 1 Vegetable Blend Capsule
○ 1 Berry Blend Capsule
DIRECTIONS
Add all ingredients to your blender. Hit that blend button and enjoy!
(Note: If you don’t have a strong blender, open each capsule and pour the powders into your smoothie for best results.
Recipes for picnics and packable snacks
Like your wardrobe, your picnic basket deserves some flair! So, skip the usual suspects, like brownies and cookies, and choose colorful snacks with a healthier twist. With these treats, you’ll enjoy a fun outing while sticking to your whole food nutritional goals. Plus, they’re easy to make and easy to take!
Pumpkin Spice Muffins
with Juice Plus+ Complete
INGREDIENTS
2 servings vanilla Complete
1-3/4 cup oatmeal, blitzed to make oat flour
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp pumpkin spice
2 tbsp coconut oil, melted 1 cup almond milk
1 banana, mashed
2 eggs (or a non-dairy alternative)
Pecans for decoration
1 tbsp brown sugar (optional, if you like your muffins sweeter)
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Prepare your muffin tray with muffin liners.
DIRECTIONS
Create oat flour by processing it with a kitchen machine or blender
Mix the wet ingredients in the food processor
Add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix well
Pour the batter into paper-lined muffin pan cups
Place one pecan nut on each muffin
Bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 min (Mini muffins bake quicker than larger ones). Enjoy warm or keep in the fridge for 3 days.
Vegan Truffles with Juice Plus+ Complete
INGREDIENTS
300g dairy-free dark chocolate
3 tbsp coconut oil
240ml light coconut milk
1 tsp of peppermint/orange/vanilla/almond/coffee extract
Cacao or carob powder
Desiccated coconut
Chopped up nuts
DIRECTIONS
Break the chocolate up into little pieces in a large bowl
Add the coconut oil and coconut milk to the bowl
Mix together and transfer to a saucepan
Heat the mixture on low heat until the chocolate is fully melted and combined with the coconut oil and coconut milk
Remove the warm mixture of coconut milk, coconut oil, and chocolate from the stove and transfer back into the bowl
Add your desired extract and gently mix it together. Leave the mixture to stand and cool down for at least 30 minutes to an hour – until it is completely cool
Cover the bowl in cling wrap and transfer to the fridge
Leave to cool for four hours – or even overnight
When the mixture is nearly set, remove from the fridge. If it’s been overnight, you may have to allow the mixture to warm for 15-20 minutes
Now, the fun part! Get yourself a few bowls and fill with your desired toppings. Use a teaspoon to scoop small amounts of the chocolate truffle mixture and roll them into balls in your hands. Now roll them in your favorite toppings! I personally love cacao powder, chopped nuts, and desiccated coconut
Recipes provided by Health Coach Vanessa Gatelein
About Juice Plus+
The Juice Plus+ Company is a highly successful health and wellness company operating in more than 20 countries today with a mission to inspire healthy living worldwide. The company’s fruit, vegetable, and berry capsules are supported by more than 40 independent clinical studies conducted by researchers at leading hospitals and universities. The study results have been published in peer-reviewed scientific journals making Juice Plus+ capsules the most researched brand name nutritional product of its kind in the world. Juice Plus+ provides consumers with a simple and convenient way that helps bridge the gap between what they should eat, and what they actually do eat, with added nutrition from a wide variety of plant-based and wholefood-based ingredients.