Before being “crunchy,” I baked all the time and was known for it.
Anytime I went to an event, friends would ask me to bring one of my elaborate cakes.
But when a health crisis hit our home and we started cleaning up our nutrition to get well, the sugar and white flour had to go.
One of the things I made often that was always a hit was a delicious pumpkin loaf.
Friends asked me to make it even in the summer….in Florida!
Seems sort of wrong to eat pumpkin when it's 102 degree heat index outside, but here we are.
Living our best peninsula life, and eating autumn squash with reckless abandon.
When I went to clean eating, I didn’t want to give up my favorite treat, so I found a great recipe for a grain-free, refined-sugar free pumpkin goodness.
Then enter kids, and we needed quick, easy snacks that would nourish their bodies, so muffins became a thing.
If you have been around little ones, you know sometimes getting enough nutrients in them can be a challenge.
Their varying appetites, growth spurts, moods and preferences can affect their nutrient intake greatly.
Sometimes they only wanted a microscopic few bites at dinner. I felt like they were living on air!
So, my goal became finding nutrient dense foods that bite-for-bite were going to provide solid fuel for growing brains and bones and all the rest.
The idea of nutrient dense food isn’t unique to me-many families are realizing the importance of making each bite count, especially for children!
We soon discovered that muffins are pretty much magic kid food.
They’re perfectly sized and portioned (little ones can hold one with two hands…meanwhile my oldest son grabs 3 at a time!), fairly un-messy, easy to transport, freeze well for make-ahead, and come in every variety you can dream up.
That’s why I have tried many ways to pack even more nutrients into the muffins that come out of my kitchen.
Chia seeds, ground flax seed and grassfed beef collagen often find their way into my mixing bowl, just to name a few.
My love for pumpkin loaf and desire to make nutrient dense foods for my children that they’d enjoy is how we arrived at these muffins.
Magnesium is one of the most important minerals to your body for so many things.
I am constantly talking about the benefits of Magnesium.
So I pumped up these muffins to make them magnesium-packed as well…..hence the name Pumpkin Mag Muffins!
Each muffin has 100 mg of magnesium in it-how about that!
The recipe uses a variety of food sources that are known for being full of magnesium, along with other powerful nutrients like omegas - chia seeds, flax seeds, and almond flour to name a few.
If you want to use a boxed mix, like my favorite one from Simple Mills, you can add up to ½ cup of magnesium rich seeds like chia and flax, and even substitute some of the liquid in the recipe for pureed pumpkin to do a semi-homemade version.
This recipe originally appeared in and has been adapted from Paleo Running Mama.
3 large eggs
1 cup organic pumpkin puree
1/3 cup organic coconut milk (The fattier the better! Full fat coconut or raw cow are my faves)
1/3 cup organic coconut sugar
2 Tbsp pure maple syrup or honey
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 3/4 cups blanched almond flour
1/4 cup tapioca flour or arrowroot
3 tbs whole chia seeds
2 tbs ground flax seed
1 Tbsp coconut flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 Tbsp pumpkin pie spice
½ -1 tsp cinnamon
small pinch of salt
- Preheat oven to 350 and line a muffin pan with parchment liners
- Whisk wet ingredients and sugar until very smooth
- Add dry ingredients to the wet and beat by hand until very smooth and blended
- Fill each cupcake liner ¾ of the way with batter. *sometimes I like to put a couple of pumpkin seeds on top to decorate them!*
- Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes, checking with a toothpick for doneness.
These muffins store wonderfully in the freezer for grab-and-go breakfasts or travel, and they’re great “help yourself” snacks for bigger kids (and grown-ups!).
Do you like having baked goods on hand for quick snacks? What’s your favorite thing to make? I would love some more ideas!
Without a doubt, both “crunchy” people and mainstream experts agree that hand washing is crucial for us all!
But sometimes we just can’t, so what do we do then?
And how do we cut down on the germs covering public surfaces we have to use, like shopping carts and toilet seats?
Enter sanitizers.
Problem solved!
Well, almost.
See, we have two major issues with hand sanitizers (but don’t worry-keep reading for my easy solutions!).
- The FDA has over 100 sanitizers listed that "don't even "work."
- Most on the market are full of toxins that hurt us (even affecting fertility!)
We know we can pretty effectively kill lots of junk with 60% alcohol (like some strong 160 proof spirits).
But…other than carrying around a bottle of vodka to soak our hands in...what's a person to do!?
- Preferably, wash your hands. Even with just water, it's the most effective way to remove germs.
- When you can't wash them, choose a sanitizer that is safe and effective
There is now a small selection of better brands to choose from, or you can even make your own!
I do both of the above, cause why not switch it up?
To save you time and money, I’ll share here my two favorite choices for both options:
DIY and Ready-to-use!
DIY
The alcohol in this recipe must be at least 120 proof (60% alcohol) in order to “officially” kill germs according to mainstream guidelines.
My recipe uses the power of essential oils to add a broad range of ick-busting power, benefits and super pleasant scent that doesn’t affect your hormones and lungs!
Blend all the ingredients together in a glass container, then pour into spray bottles.
I like these glass spray bottles- I use them to make many recipes including plant spray for my veggie garden and houseplants, and coop spray to keep my chickens’ home fresh!
I wish I could tell you why I chose the essential oils above. I'm not allowed to (thanks, FDA).
So the best I can do is let you know that I researched extensively which ones would be the most powerful for this recipe, and these are what I confidently choose.
Ready-To-Use
When I don’t want to play apothecary in my kitchen and gather all the supplies, I get these items that are ready and waiting or me to grab and go.
They check off all the boxes for what I want, and the essential oil scent is absolutely incredible!
I am always asked “what are you using it smells so good!?” when I’m sanitizing while out and about.
Thieves Hand Sanitizer
Kills 99.9% of germs and eliminates common, harmful bacteria
Formulated with powerful essential oils and plant-based ingredients
Lightly moisturizes with aloe vera and vegetable glycerin
Perfect for on-the-go
Leaves no chemical residue behind
Contains no petrochemicals, mineral oil, parabens, sulfates, phthalates, synthetic fragrances, dyes, preservatives, or toxic ingredients
Thieves Spray
Contains naturally derived, plant-based ingredients
Doesn’t require rinsing after use and has no harsh fumes
Easy to throw in a backpack, purse, or luggage with its on-the-go size
Cleans many different surfaces, such as counters, sinks, toilets, and door handles
Safe to use around the whole family, including children and pets
Whatever you choose, remember to use enough to thoroughly wet your hands, and scrub until they’re completely dry.
Which did you pick? I’d love to hear.
What if I told you the #1 thing you can do to improve every single system in your body is absolutely FREE?
Yep!
You don’t need to buy a single thing to boost your immune system.
When I started doing this one thing, here’s what happened to me:
My skin cleared up at least 70%
Dark circles all but disappeared
I had more sustained energy all day
I ate less without trying (actually lost a few pounds accidentally)
I could think clearer & had less brain fog
Are you ready for it?
*stops to take a drink of water*
As it turns out, grannies advice to drink more water was absolutely correct.
See the thing is, in the morning when you wake up, you’re already dehydrated.
At just 5% dehydration, your energy is reduced by 25%!
Without adequate amounts of water, your brain chemicals and hormones can’t travel freely to flow where they need to flow so that you can GO where you need to go and do what you need to do.
Your body needs you to drink more water.
A few of the more critical functions in the body regulated by water include:
- removal of waste through the gastrointestinal and urinary systems,
- blood and lymph flow throughout the body,
- transfer of nutrients to the cells and the removal of toxins,
- regulation of body temperature,
- balance of hormones, and
- the cushioning and regulation of all organs, including the brain.
- In Water for Health, for Healing, for Life, Dr. Batmanghelidj writes that water normalizes the blood-manufacturing systems and “increases greatly the efficiency of the immune system in the bone marrow, where the immune system is formed.”
Dehydration, even subclinical dehydration-meaning you feel thirsty- is a breeding ground for your pathogens. It makes draining mucus and phlegm more difficult... making easier for you to get sick.
Are you convinced? Good.
So before you go to bed tonight, fill a glass of water and place it by your bed. In the morning, before your feet hit the floor, sip it down. Before the coffee or tea or whatever. Then, refill that glass after you brush your teeth. Before you shower. After hanging up your purse when you arrive back home.
Grab a free printable water tracker for a visual reminder and encouragement.
Start with the morning one, because starting your day by flooding your body with hydrations releases that brain fog, moves your blood and lymph and helps you get going on the right foot.
Make drinking water enjoyable so that it’s easier to incorporate to your day.
Are you excited to do this? I would love to hear your gameplan!
Enjoy being HYDRATED!
