Homemade KIND Bars

Holistic Kindness

KIND bars are one of my favorite snacks. They are all natural whole nut and fruit bars made with ingredients you can see and pronounce. If you check out their website they claim they are founded on the principle of holistic kindness. I liked the sound of this, so I researched a little more and found their mission statement:

Holistic Kindness:

  For us “being KIND,” means to “Be KIND to your body, your taste buds, and the world.”®  KIND to Your Body and to your taste buds is manifested through the use of all natural wholesome ingredients you can see and pronounce® like whole nuts and real fruit.  The KIND social mission is embodied in the KIND Movement, which inspires unexpected KINDINGS – ie, unexpected acts of kindness.  Here too, the act of KINDING someone else makes both the recipient of the kindness, and the person doing the KINDING, just a little happier.

I have a new word in my vocabulary KINDING. I truly believe being kind to others makes us happier! Here is my recipe for homemade KIND bars:

Clean Eating Nutty Coconut Granola Bars

(Makes 12 bars)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup walnut pieces
• 1 cup slivered almonds
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 1 cups dried cranberries, fruit juice sweetened
• 1 cup traditional oats (I used gluten free oats)
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 3/4 cup dried coconut
• 1 cup organic brown rice syrup
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the walnuts, peanuts, cranberries, oats, coconut and cinnamon. Stir well to combine.
2. In a small to medium sauce pan, combine the brown rice syrup, honey and vanilla extract. Bring to a boil while stirring occasionally.
3. While the sweetener is still hot, pour it into the mixing bowl and stir everything together.
4. Working quickly, transfer the mixture into an oiled baking dish (Mine was 9 x 13).
5. Using a piece of parchment paper that is large enough to cover the entire surface area, press down the mixture down using your flat hand(s) to compress it tightly. If you don’t pack it down tight enough, these will not stick together when you cut them.
6. Place the baking dish in the freezer overnight and cut into bars in the morning.

Storage: Once these have been cut, it’s best to wrap them individually in parchment or plastic wrap and store in the freezer. If they warm to room temperature, they start to fall apart.

Back to School

Institute for Integrative Nutrition  

Nothing makes me happier then when someone approaches me and says they tried a recipe on my blog! Recently a lot of my friends and family have asked me to help them get healthier and have asked for nutrition advice. I am always happy to share what works for me, but I know that everyone is different! I am also not an expert in this area, and have a lot to learn. This, paired with my love of learning, led me on a search for a health coach program. I did a lot of research and finally decided on the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. It is the world's largest and most reputable nutrition school. This is not what sold me, however. Their mission statement did. Here it is:

Our mission is to play a crucial role in improving health and happiness, and through that process, create a ripple effect that transforms the world.

As we work towards that mission, we hold ourselves to the following core values. These values reflect what is most important to Integrative Nutrition.

Be a source of positive change.
Do what you love and love what you do.
Set an example of self-development and growth.
Live each day with the freedom to choose what’s right for you.
Support each other in the global shift to better health.
Embrace learning and new ways to do things. Create balance in all areas of life.
Simplify everything.

I thought that was really powerful and connected to it, so here we go! I officially started this week. Wish me luck!

NAMIWalks

Every journey begins with that first step!

A group of my friends and family participated in a NAMIWalk in Delaware. NAMIWalks is celebrating their 11th Anniversary this year. These walks are the largest and most successful mental health awareness and fundraising events in America! Through NAMIWalks' public, active display of support for people affected by mental illness, they are changing how Americans view people with a mental illness. This is leading to ensuring that help and hope are available for those in need. Find a NAMIWalks in your area!

We had a group of 35 people who walked under a Bring Change 2 Mind Team. We were one of the top fundraising teams for the day; we raised $2,771. It was a beautiful day with family and friends!

No One's Fault!

Learn the Facts

Imagine if you were blamed for having cancer, 

if you were called weak for Multiple Sclerosis,

or if you were told your diabetes was all in your head. 

The message below is from Bring Change 2 Mind's website.

One of the best ways you can help someone with mental illness is by understanding what it is — and what it isn't. After all, myths about mental illnesses contribute to stigma, which in turn prevents those who are living with one from seeking help.

The fact is, a mental illness is a disorder of the brain — your body's most important organ — and 1 in 6 adults lives with a brain-related illness including depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD and schizophrenia.

Like most diseases of the body, mental illness has many causes — from genetics to other biological, environmental and social/cultural factors. And just as with most diseases, mental illnesses are no one's fault. The unusual behaviors associated with some illnesses are symptoms of the disease — not the cause.

But most importantly, mental illnesses are treatable through medication and psycho-social therapies — allowing those who live with them the opportunity to lead full and productive lives.

Change a Mind About Mental Illness

Change a Mind about Mental Illness....

and you can change a life.

Check out Bring Change 2 Mind's anti-stigma Public Service Announcement. They are currently producing a new PSA in support of Mental Health Awareness month.  In this video Jessie Close, Glenn Close's sister, shares that the stigma surrounding mental health can be just as painful as the disease itself. Imagine the difference we could make if we replaced that stigma with positive energy and support for those struggling with a mental illness. 

Stand Up Against the Stigma of Mental Illness

Take the Bring Change 2 Mind Pledge

May is Mental Health Awareness month. What can you do this month to stand up against the stigma of mental illness? Take this pledge from Bring Change 2 Mind, that will only take you two minutes to complete. The last two bullets were very powerful for me:

• If someone I know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, I will take it seriously and make every effort to ensure they get help.
• I will not perpetuate or tolerate stigma of any kind and will commit myself to changing the way society views people living with mental illness.

Comment on this post or my Facebook post if you took the pledge!

Dad: A girl's first love

Keep your words positive and notice a change in your life! 

Cold Oatmeal

Cold Oatmeal

I have the tendency of finding a new recipe that I love, eating it nonstop and then getting sick of it. After an entire winter of eating Apple Pie Breakfast, I was sick of steel cut oats! Then last week my friend at work, Karen, brought me in some of her Cold Oatmeal. This is an added bonus to starting a blog. People are always letting me try their delicious food they make, and sending me good recipes. It is awesome! I loved the consistency and taste of the cold oatmeal. Needless to say, I am back on the steel cut oatmeal wagon, and happy to be there because they are so filling!

Cold Oatmeal

1/2 cup of steel cut oats

1/2 cup of any kind of milk (I used almond milk)

1 tablespoon of plain greek yogurt (I used almond yogurt)

Sprinkling of cinnamon

Fruit (I used blueberries)

Mix all ingredients together in a small container. Let it sit in the fridge overnight. When you are ready to eat add whatever fruit topping you like.