Gluten Sugar and Dairy Free Breakfast "Cookies"

I have spent quite a bit of time lately searching for a good homemade replacement for my son's favorite cereal bars (the Kashi strawberry are his favorite). Everything I found online seemed like it had too much sweetener, even if it was honey, for me to feel comfortable giving it to him as a breakfast bar. Or they had protein powder in the recipe, usually most protein powders have artificial sweeteners or the better ones on the market have real sugar, but there again I wanted something that tasted good with real whole ingredients and no sugar! After playing with a few ideas and adding my own twist I think I finally have found the recipe our whole family loves. A close friend told me I should start selling these things because they are just that good. But they are so simple to make yourself, I thought I would just share my recipe with you instead.

Liam's GSD Free Bars
(I usually double this recipe as these tend to disappear fast in our house)

1 banana
1/3 c. almond butter (read more about the almond butter I buy below)
2/3 c. applesauce
1 tsp. cinnamon (more or less to your liking)
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 c. raisins (optional of course)
1 1/2 c. certified gluten free oats

Preheat oven to 350
Mash banana until smooth and all the chunks are gone. If you have a dark brown banana they tend to mash bet Add almond butter, my local Fred Meyer store has a grinder to make your own almond butter. The grinder is just loaded with almonds, nothing more is added to this almond butter. It comes out smooth and delicious just the way it is. This is my favorite almond butter to use for us and especially with how many my kiddo eats. Then I add the applesauce, this helps dilute the almond butter and mix it in more easily. Add the vanilla and cinnamon. This is where you can customize it to your tastes! I add raisins because we love oatmeal raisin cookies, but you could add nuts or other dried fruit if you want! Add the oats last and mix well so that the oats get wet equally. Let sit for about 10 minutes or more so that the oats can absorb the moisture. Measure out the dough as you would with any cookie and place each one on a greased cookie sheet. These do not spread as they cook, so press them down a little. My son has a hard time with a round shaped cookie, so I form these into rectangle shapes, or bars that he has an easier time with. Since these cookies do not spread you can form them into just about any shape you like! Cooking time will vary depending on your preference, for us we like a chewier cookie so we cook them for about 15-18 minutes. If you want them a little crunchier cook them a little longer. These need to be stored in an airtight container, and if you like them chewier like we do you will probably want to store them in the fridge. Left out the moisture tends to let them mold quicker than the average cookie/bar.

My two year old loves these and is constantly asking for another "cookie." I usually hesitate at the word cookie and try to get him to eat something "healthier" like a banana or some applesauce. Wait, what did I just say? These cookies are the healthiest snack in our house! They are loaded with protein and fiber and taste like any other processed and packaged cookie or bar you could buy. Sometimes the word cookie throws me! I hope you and your family enjoys them as much as we do!

The Biggest Loser Inspiration

The Biggest Loser is one of those shows that I just can't get enough of. But I have to admit, in the past it was just good entertainment. I'm not anywhere near obese, not even overweight. At 5'6" I'm 130 on a bad day. So my usual habit was to plop down to the latest episode of the Biggest Loser with a nice bowl of ice cream, maybe a bag of chips. But more recently I have found inspiration and personal application to the amazing things the contestants are able to achieve.

I have to be honest about something, and it may come across harsh at first, but I needed to be honest about it with myself. It used to make me angry when people had trouble walking or accomplishing daily tasks due to being overweight. I would say to myself, it's not fair. They could lose weight and be fine, I can't ever do something like that and feel good. But only in the last year or so did I realize how wrong I was. I am facing the same mountain they are. Whatever the reason is that someone gets to the point of being overweight, whether it's a loss in the family, depression or just lack of self control, I can relate! I am emotional eater. I attach to sugary items when things are just not going my way. And I am killing myself and my body with these foods. Sugar aggravates inflammation and in turn aggravates MS. And I know better! We will just add gluten and dairy in to the mix here too because they are usually in the comfort foods I reach for. All of these things can create havoc for someone with MS, like myself! I really needed a reality check. I was no different than these people I was "jealous" of. I can change my diet and lifestyle and it can change my future.

So now that I have been through the process and panic of drastically changing my diet, I am inspired by people who do the same for various reasons. This season I was rooting for Danni, she was all alone on her team for quite a while. But she achieved what no one, not even Jillian Michaels, expected. She became the Biggest Loser!

What is your challenge overcome when making change in your life?