Maple Banana Mug Muffin – Gluten-free, No Added Sugar

When you wake up more frazzled than fabulous, you can still make yourself an amazing warm breakfast in minutes and redirect the salvaged time toward getting your life in order for the day. Welcome to my recipe for Maple Banana Mug Muffin, a delicious “hug in a mug” that is designed to both fuel you up properly and minimize morning chaos.

This easy mug muffin cooks up in 1 minute and provides a warm, nourishing breakfast on your busiest days! Gluten-free.

So, don’t even thing about grabbing a bar or eating cereal out of the box– this two-minute mug muffin can be prepped and cooked before your coffee finishes brewing.

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Grilled Banana Sundae with Coconut Cream, Date Syrup & Walnuts (and Superfood Cookie Crumbles)

Going B-A-N-A-N-A-S for my Grilled Banana “Sundae” with Date Syrup, Coconut Whip, Walnuts and Cookie Crumble. It’s a fruit dessert I don’t have to feel guilty about eating even though it’s just oozing with amazing flavor. Grilled Banana Sundae with Date Syrup

If you know me, you’d know I’d take a sweet treat over salty snack any place, any day. Only problem is that I try to avoid eating empty calories and refined-sugar foods. I’m not against healthy, functional carbs though – I need them to fuel me through my running and workouts – and to keep my brain from fogging over. This easy grilled banana delivers everything I need, read on to get the recipe for this Paleo banana dessert: Continue reading

Healthy Desserts for Sweet Sleep

It’s almost bedtime and you’re feeling a little hungry for a sweet treat, should you cave to the cravings, or not? You’d be surprised to find out that a bedtime snack is NOT bad for you. In fact, the right snack may even be able to help you sleep (in addition other great body function support, like muscle and weight management – see my post on this HERE). Healthy Desserts for Sweet Sleep

If you are looking for healthy desserts for sweet sleep, read on to learn about some nutritious foods (with easy recipe ideas) for your after-dinner dessert. The healthy treats are made with foods known for promoting relaxation and sleep! Continue reading

Pumpkin Maple Peanut Butter Panini with Bananas

 

Busy morning school routines combined with dwindling daylight hours can make waking up in September a challenge. My boys have become snooze button beasts, but not anymore! They are up and at ‘em earlier with much more enthusiasm now that I’ve added some yummy breakfast eating options to the morning menu.

Pumpkin Maple Peanut Butter Panini with Pepperidge Farms Swirl Oatmeal Bread

We all are totally loving the new Pepperidge Farm Swirl Oatmeal breads, the thick and hearty whole grain slices make a yummy foundation for slathers for spreads, sandwich fillings, and such. Today, I’m sharing ways to use this delicious breakfast bread, including my Pumpkin Maple Peanut Butter Panini with Banana! Continue reading

Buh-Bye Bloat! Dandelion Greens Detox Smoothie

Dandelion Greens Detox Smoothie is a low-cal way to cleanse your system and tame tummy troubles.Oh, we all have those days when the dreaded bloat is out of control. Personally, sometimes my tummy can stick out more than my butt.  I’ve reduced my family to tears of hysteria (and fear) on more than one occasion by sticking out my distended middle as far as humanly possible – I look like a skinny 6-month pregnant woman or have an awful basketball sized tumor!  Maybe it’s too much salt, not enough water, low fiber intake, that time of the month . . . or all of the above. I think we can all agree that being bloated and retaining water is not only an uncomfortable feeling, but also a self-confidence shaker – even though we all know that by eating healthfully, this gut grief not a lasting situation. Can’t believe I’m doing this, but I’ll share pictures of me taken within a short period of time — before dinner and already bloated (left) and feeling fabulous early one morning (right)! .

Rather than staying swollen up like a balloon, you can stop the suffering and get on the path to that slim and trim you with my Dandelion Greens Detox Smoothie.  Packed with all sorts of healthy ingredients that promote healthy digestion and hydration, this green smoothie recipe is also very light, so you don’t have to fret about overdoing the liquid calories.

Dandelion Greens Detox Smoothie is a low-cal way to cleanse your system and tame tummy troubles

detox smoothie nutrition

For under 120 calories, you get a 20-ounce glass of goodness that has no added sugar, progresses you towards your daily fiber needs, and even has a touch of protein from the dandelion (surprise!) It’s also rich in many vitamins and minerals, especially potassium, magnesium, calcium and vitamin K.

Here’s a rundown on the ingredients and how they can tame your tummy troubles.

Cucumber: Not only is this veggie is loaded with water (95% to be exact) which helps improve hydration, it also is a good source of a flavonoid antioxidant called quercetin that help reduce inflammation and puffiness – that’s why  we have all long-loved to put slices over our eyes.

Coconut Water: High in potassium and other electrolytes, this watery juice from inside the coconut helps to flush sodium out of the body and restore healthy hydration levels. For convenience, I love to have this Coconut Water Powder on hand.

Banana: Bananas are rich in potassium, a mineral that helps manage fluid levels in our bodies and can assist in shedding salt-related water retention. Also, this dietary fiber in this popular fruit keeps things moving along in your digestive system.

Ginger:  This root is a wonder when it comes to health benefits, anti-inflammatory, anti-nausea, migraine relief and more. It also contains an enzyme that optimized the absorption of proteins and Lessing protein-related bloating and gas in the process.

Dandelion Greens: Dandelion greens (as well as the root) are a fantastic detox food that cleanses the liver, flushing toxins and excess water out – perfect if you have lots of water retention. Dandelions have a surprising amount of protein for a “green” and even more calcium than spinach.  You can also use the greens (mainly found in the early spring) in salads or sautés or reap benefits from drinking a dandelion tea or taking a dandelion root extract or supplement.

Dandelion Greens Detox Smoothie is a low-cal way to cleanse your system and tame tummy troubles

Linking Up With: Happy Fit Mama, The Fit Foodie Mama, Hello to Fit, Fairy Burger, Chocolate Runner Girl, Jill Conyers,

Have you ever tried dandelion greens before? What do you do to beat bloating? Please share in the comments below – XOXO, Jennifer 

Dandelion Greens Detox Smoothi
Prep Time
5 mins
Total Time
5 mins
 
Tame your tummy troubles with this low-cal smoothie filled with bloat-busting ingredients like cucumber, dandelion greens, coconut water, ginger and more.
Course: Beverage, Breakfast, Smoothies, Snack
Cuisine: American
Servings: 1 20-ounce smoothie
Ingredients
  • 1 cup unsweetened coconut water
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh dandelion greens can swap spinach, if unavailable
  • 1/2 cup banana slices
  • 1/2 cup peeled and seeded cucumber, cut in chunks
  • 1 teaspoon fresh squeezed lemon juce
  • 1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger root
  • optional couple drops of stevia
  • 1/2 cup ice, more if needed
Instructions
  1. Add all ingredients to blender and process until smooth, adding more ice if necessary. Pour into tall glass and enjoy immediately.