I know, I know, it’s still a chocolate brownie, right? How can it be good for us? Well, it’s all in the substitutions and additions!
chocolate brownies that are good for you!
dairy free
Creamy mayo & why fats are great for you!
Fats, fats, yummy fats! We are programmed to love a combo of fat and salt, or fat and sugar – think French fries, or cake. But are fats bad for us? Definitely not! In fact, they are essential. Hence my delicious mayo recipe (intolerance friendly of course, with egg white-free version, oil options for low salicylates and citric acid free).
Vanilla cakes or cup cakes
For birthday cakes, I use sugar. My cakes are already gluten free, dairy free, grain free, soy free and egg free. So I figure, if I want kids who are used to “normal” cakes to eat my kids’ birthday cakes, I better put at least one familiar ingredient in there. And it usually works. Kids who are used to some home baking or gluten free, love this cake. It is moist and doesn’t crumble too much, so it slices really well for birthdays.
Apple quinoa crumble
Apple crumble is a delicious, warming dessert. My crumble is low in sugar, full of fibre and high in protein. The apples are packed with insoluble fibre, as I leave the skins on. The crumble topping is made with almond meal, quinoa and coconut sugar – a natural sweetener packed with nutrients.
It is gluten free, and dairy free and can be used as a topping on apple crumble muffins too….
Chickpea vegetable curry – mild and coconut creamy
This creamy, coconutty vegetable curry with chickpeas is one of my simple go-to dinners. You can use whatever veggies you have in the fridge, so it’s a great way to use up excess, or if you’re just not sure what to do for dinner!
The chickpeas add a bit of protein to the dish, without the need for meat or fish. There’s extra calcium from the anchovies (any edible fish bones are packed with calcium). And it’s nice to have an easy dinner that can be whipped up in one pan in minutes!…
BBQ plum sauce
I needed a pizza sauce that had no tomatoes and no citric acid. Plums are naturally low in citric acid, unlike most other fruits! And BBQ sauce is pretty awesome, so this tasty (little bit sweet, little bit sour) sauce was born….
Stewed apples (for constipation) and which dairy intolerance are you?
Stewed apples are so easy to make! With skin on, they’re a good source of insoluble fibre, which is great for lowering cholesterol, as well as keeping your bowels healthy.
Delicious stewed apples can be used in apple crumble, muffins, on pancakes or just enjoyed plain.
They’re delicious served on natural yoghurt. We use sheep’s milk yogurt, which is less reactive if you’re intolerant to casein, the protein in cow’s dairy.
If you’re intolerant to lactose, you should be fine with any natural or Greek yoghurt, as the bacteria used to make yoghurt eats the lactose, which is a sugar. So don’t waste your money on lactose-free yoghurt!…
Gluten-free bread – soft & healthy, no egg, dairy, grains, soy
Gluten-free doesn’t necessarily mean healthy. Lots of the gluten-free breads on the market are very ‘white’, made from modified tapioca starch and white rice flour. These are not healthy choices for our bowels, as they don’t feed the good bacteria. They are not good for our energy either, spiking our blood sugar and then making us crash later.
It’s also pretty hard to find gluten free bread on the market that caters to multiple food intolerances, such as dairy, egg and soy. And if you do, it’s usually full of additives and costs $10 for a small loaf!
I think it’s easier (and definitely cheaper) just to make my own. This one also has no grains, just buckwheat and tapioca flour (not starch). Buckwheat is very high in protein compared to grains (it’s actually a seed), and high in fibre, so it keeps you fuller for longer. It also naturally contains B vitamins and minerals, such as magnesium and selenium. …
crispy kale chips
kale chips – crispy, tasty
I’m sure you’ve heard of them before… but have you tried kale chips yet?
Kale chips are a hit in my family and a delicious way to get leafy green veg into the kids’ diet. They are rich in anti-cancer properties too, just like broccoli, cabbage and brussel sprouts.
They’re also really easy!…
Easy Baking – Banana Bread **or apple crumble** Muffins
I am all for baking! I absolutely love baking… and, let’s be honest, eating my baking. But I no longer have any desire for high-sugar, wheat-filled, inflammatory and unhealthy muffins and cakes! No thank you! Gluten-free whole-food healthy baking and treats for us now.
sugar-free sweet banana muffins
Sugar free is healthier
My intolerances led me to gluten-free baking, but it’s my desire for a healthier lifestyle that has kept me creating new and healthier treats. There is really no need to eat a lot of processed sugar, and we all know it’s not healthy. The less sugar you eat, the healthier you’ll be.
apple crumble alternative
Fruit adds sweetness and goodness
Fruit has the benefit of being the whole package – fibre, vitamins and minerals, in a perfectly sweet package. This allows the slow release of energy over time, keeping us fuller for longer, and without spikes and troughs in our blood sugar (which can lead to disease over time). Using bananas for sweetness is a perfect way to get a tasty treat without added sugar, and some B vitamins for energy, to boot! **And now, a new apple quinoa crumble version below!…