I love Hummus!

The title of this post says it all... I really really really love hummus! I eat it just about every day and so does my baby boy, Tilman. I don't really like the store-bought stuff though, too much garlic for me and I don't like all the additives. PLUS, it's actually cheaper to make at home once you buy the staples (tahini & jarred organic garlic - both last a LONG time). One of my favorite combos is jalepeno cilantro hummus...

We just finished off a batch and now we are on to pumpkin hummus!! Who would've thought pumpkin could be whipped into hummus?? It's surprisingly AMAZING!



HERE'S A BASIC HUMMUS RECIPE
What you need:
1 can organic garbanzo beans, drained
1/4C water
1TBSP tahini
1TBSP crushed garlic (I use organic from a jar)
2TBSP cumin
1tsp sea salt

How to:
Blend it all together!

OPTIONAL FLAVORS:
Jalepeno Cilantro: 2TBSP tamed jalepenos from a can & 1/4C chopped cilantro

Pumpkin: add in 1/2C canned pumpkin & 2tsp chili powder

Red Pepper: 1/2 red bell pepper, roasted or grilled

Back by popular demand...

Hummus!!! I love it... My son loves it... My husband, well... he likes it ;-)

We used to go through a big tub every week... now I make our own. We still go through a ton, but I love knowing every ingredient that goes into it - all organic. I also love trying out new variations (beet, jalepeno, red pepper, classic, avocado...etc).

Our son eats it by the spoonful and would probably be happy simply eating hummus for his entire meal. On some days, that's all I can get him to eat. His favs are classic and jalepeno flavors (he's almost 2).

After his sandwich, he asked for more "dip"

Almost every day, I eat a sandwich with Dave's Killer Bread, hummus, beets, cucumber, jicama, tomato, spinach & avocado. It's my go-to lunch and I love it!! Tilman (our son) often eats a sandwich with Dave's Killer Bread, hummus and Tillamook sharp cheddar.. with a side of peas. Yum!

Here's how I make it...

CLASSIC HUMMUS
What you need:
1 can organic garbanzo beans, drained
juice from 1/2 lemon
2-3tsp cumin
1tsp sea salt
1TBSP tahini
1-2 cloves garlic
2-5 TBSP water (depending on the consistency you like)

How to:
Blend or use food processor.

Optional add-ins:
1/2 avocado (try adding some chili powder too)
1/4C steamed & sliced beets
1/4C roasted or grilled red peppers
1/4C jalepenos (we get tamed in a jar)

Butternut Squash Hummus

If you follow this blog, you already know that my son loves hummus! It's one of his favorite foods - he eats it as dip with chicken and pita, mixed in with rice, on toast and by the spoonful. Since I also love it... we make it A LOT around the Miller home. I like to mix up the flavors often so we don't get bored. Today, I tried roasted Butternut Squash Hummus for the first time and it was a great treat, the perfect twist! Tilman was scooping it right out of the Magic Bullet as soon as I blended it... and this was after he had just polished off a big lunch!

HERE'S MY RECIPE...

BUTTERNUT SQUASH HUMMUS

What you need:

1 can garbanzo beans, drained

1/4C diced, roasted (or sauted) butternut squash

1/4C water (add more or less depending on the consistency you like)

1-2TBSP lemon juice

1/2TBSP minced garlic

1TBSP tahini paste

1tsp sea salt

1/2TBSP cumin

Optional: a few dashes of cinnamon or chili powder depending on the flavors you are going for. 

How to:

Blend all ingredients in a Magic Bullet, blender or food processor. Enjoy!

Mac & Hummus

It seems like all kids like Mac & Cheese... it's like the go to food when your toddler doesn't want to eat anything. Now... not there's anything wrong with this meal, but I just can't bring myself to feed my one year old white noodles with processed cheese. There just isn't any nutrition in that, and it panics me - haha! I know, I'm a bit overboard. BUT, my goal in feeding Tilman is to do things in moderation and to let him try "kid" foods... but to make things as healthy as possible for the most part. Don't get me wrong, he's had ice cream & loves goldfishes but I want meal-time to be nutritious! So, I adapted the typical Mac & Cheese made and created Mac & Hummus - he loved loved loved it! Yay!!

Here's how I made it (it was just as simple as boxed mac!) I cooked some whole grain noodles, tossed in frozen peas & then topped his portion with 2 scoops of homemade hummus (see my recipe for BEET HUMMUS). These ingredients made the meal Elyse Approved! He got whole grains, veggies, protein & fiber! It was a winning meal for us both! Then, he hit the gym - LOL!!

Teach Them Young

I've been a mama for almost 9 months…. Being healthy means more now, than ever. Not only do I want to be healthy and fit so I can live a long, active life with my family, but I NEED to be in tip-top shape to keep up with my non-stop baby boy!

Since the moment I found out I was pregnant, my focus on health heightened. I've always eaten smart in terms of fitness… but I haven't always eaten pure & natural. Years ago, I would drink several bottles of Diet Mountain Dew a day!!!! Yikes! I ate a lot of "diet" foods with chemicals and fake sweeteners. I've also loved veggies and lean meats, but I didn't eat organic. This all changed once I learned I was growing a human ;-) I cut out ALL fake sweeteners, processed meats, "fake" protein bars, soda, etc… I'm not saying that we need to eat 100% pure, natural and organic… but we should try to do it a little more… and that's what I've done. (Side note: I do use Stevia for sweetening since it is all natural)

I make all of our baby's food. He eats a variety of veggies, fruits, grains, legumes & dairy. All of his food is certified organic. Now that he is 8 1/2 months old, we're introducing him to more mature tastes like lentils, broccoli, hummus, bell pepper, eggs.. etc. I'm blown away that he LOVES hummus! I think it's his favorite food, well, besides oatmeal. Every week I make a big batch of steelcut oats with coconut milk, cinnamon, unsweetened pumpkin puree & flaxseeds. We both have this for breakfast every day, topped with plain Greek yogurt.

I give Tilman "grown up" foods instead of sticking to regular baby food. I hope and pray that teaching him to eat healthy foods from day one (in my belly) that he will grow up to be a strong, healthy man.

TIPS FOR FEEDING YOUR BABY

*Remember, you start feeding him/her while you are pregnant 

~ Eat organic when possible. Most importantly buy organic strawberries, apples, grapes, celery, peaches, spinach, bell peppers, nectarines, cucumbers, potatoes, cherry tomatoes, summer squash & kale.

~ Eat healthy fats! Add avocado, coconut oil, nuts, seeds & egg yolk to your diet. Egg yolk contains choline, an essential nutrient that is crucial in the development of your baby's brain. Avocados are a great source of Vitamin K, folate, Vitamin C, potassium & B6. An easy way to sneak in healthy fats - puree them with other foods. I mix coconut oil into a lot of Tilman's veggies & mango.  

*Check with your doctor before feeding your baby nut butter.

~ Try 10 times before giving up. If your baby doesn't seem to like a food, keep trying. Offer the food a total of 10 times (doesn't have to be in a row), before taking "no". It takes babies a little while to get used to new tastes and textures. Try mixing the new food into a food that he/she already likes.

~ Go Greek. Babies should not have cow's milk as a drink for the first year, but many doctors agree that it's beneficial to give babies Greek yogurt. I use plain, no-sugar-added yogurt and blend it with mixed berries. Greek yogurt is packed with muscle building protein and calcium.

~ Make your own food…. this goes for what YOU eat AND what your baby eats. Pre-packaged foodd often have a lot of additives that you may not be aware of. Try to make your meals and make your baby's meals at home… it's always healthier and more pure.

*Tip: Make food in bulk so you're not cooking every day.

(Greek yogurt w/ mixed berries, zucchini squash puree, broccoli w/ coconut oil puree, cinnamon pears, cooked carrots, lentils, lemon basil hummus)

*P.S. Tilman's doctor has okayed all of these foods for him. Check with your baby's doctor to see if there are any foods you need to avoid.

Happy boy after polishing off a bowl of lemon-basil hummus & broccoli coconut oil puree.

Beet Hummus

I started making my own hummus about a year ago, and I'll never go back! It's so much better than the store bought stuff - more fresh, no preservatives, less fat & I love making up new flavors and combos.

Last week our neighbor gave us some steamed beets... like a LOT of steamed beets ;-) (thank you, Lindsay!)... We had so many that I wanted to try out some new recipes. That's where this recipe came from. Simple, delicious & nutritious!! (that's the theme of my recipes ;-))

BEET HUMMUS

What you need:
1 can organic garbanzo beans
1/4C steamed beets (can used canned or fresh, but steam the fresh ones first)
1TBSP tahini
1 clove crushed garlic
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp sea salt
1/4C water, add more if you like thinner. Add less if you like thicker

How to:
Blend all ingredients. I topped with 2 TBSP crushed almonds

Simple Healthy Toddler Lunch

When it comes to lunch, we often get stuck into eating the same things over and over... mainly because I'm so exhausted that I can't even think of what to make half of the time so when I find something Tilman likes, we just stick with it until he's sick of it.

When we get fresh grape tomatoes, he eats them like they are candy with EVERY meal!

Some of his favs are tomatoes & chicken, eggs cooked in coconut oil with Dave's Killer Bread on the side, a PB sandwich NO jelly!, soba noodles, smoked salmon with peas and hummus & cheese sandwiches.

Eggs, soba noodles & carrots

The other day, he came across a package of saltines in our cupboard. It was one of those little packages that come with soup when you eat out and it's been in our cupboard for months. Anyway, he really wanted to try them and he fell in love - haha... with saltines - yes. So, we went to Target on a mission to get some more. We ended up with the whole grain round ones and he liked those even more. That's all he wanted to eat that day, so we turned them into a healthy lunch! A few crackers smeared with organic PB and a few with my homemade classic hummus (recipe here), with a side of carrots & snap peas (he didn't like those) and my little boy was a happier... healthy dude!!

Butternut Squash Quesadilla

Clearly, I am on a butternut squash kick (another post coming tomorrow- hint: lasagna!!).

We got a two pound package of diced butternut squash from Costco this weekend, so I'm testing out new recipes. Last night, I made butternut squash & kale quesadillas, and used the squash hummus (below) as a dip. It was soooo good!

Here's the scoop...

I added shredded chicken for this one - I leftovers

BUTTERNUT SQUASH QUESADILLA
What you need:
1/4C roasted butternut squash (I roasted the entire 2LBs at once. Cover bottom of baking dish with olive oil. Spread out diced squash. Sprinkle with sea salt. Bake 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes)
1/4C mozzarella cheese
1C kale or spinach
1 whole wheat tortilla
1/2TBSP olive oil

How to:
Heat skillet with olive oil. Saute spinach & remove. Layer cheese, squash & spinach on one side of the tortilla. Close tortilla and grill on skillet. Use hummus, salsa or Greek yogurt as dip.

Lazy Tostada/Pizza

I wasn't in the mood to cook. We had company that just left so I've been cleaning all day and making some of our bulk foods like steelcut oats and hummus. I just didn't want to cook dinner. So, I whipped up these simple, yet tasty and unique pizza/tostadas.


I'd been excited to try these out after spotting them at Target - whole wheat pop cakes...

They're basically a large rice cake. Right when I saw them, I knew they'd be perfect for a twist on a tostada. Tonight, I tested them out...  I just warmed up a can of organic refried beans. Then layered the pop cake with mashed avocado (I added in some cumin and salsa), scooped on some beans, added chopped organic tomato, peppers, enchilada sauce and cilantro. It took 5 minutes and tasted rather gourmet... for a tostada ;-) Simple, healthy and delicious! My favorite kind of meal!!

*This darn plate makes the creation look orange. For now on, white plate for food pics!

POP CAKE TOSTADAS

What you need:

1 can organic refried beans
1-2 (per person) whole wheat pop cakes or tostadas
Topping ideas: tomato, cabbage, lettuce, avocado, cilantro, peppers, enchilada sauce, jalepenos, onion, salsa, a little cheese, Greek yogurt as sour cream sub
*Of course you can also add lean ground meat... but then you have to COOK haha!

-Eat right after topping the pop cake or it will get soggy!

**Next I am going to use these as a pita for a crunchy Greek delight ... Hummus, chicken, tomato, cucumber & feta

*Another option... Add some PB and a drizzle of honey and/or banana

The varieties are endless! I'm on a roll ;-)

Grab and Go Snacks

One of the biggest problems I see in peoples' lifestyles is skipping snacks! It's so common to eat 2-3 large meals and nothing else throughout the day. This causes your body to hold on to anything you do eat and then store it (as fat) for later. You see, our bodies are super smart. It'll hoard food because it thinks it will need it later since you aren't feeding it frequently. This slows down your metabolism and causes weight gain. On the flip-side, when you eat small meals/snacks throughout the day... you are basically tending a fire (your metabolism). Each small log (food) keeps the burn going. Makes sense, right? That's why fit people eat frequently!

I know what you're thinking ... "What do I eat? I don't have time to make food all day and pack it up". There are TONS of easy/fast options for people on the go. Here are my top 10 favorites...

TOP 10 

ON-THE-GO HEALTHY SNACKS

1. One piece of fruit (apple, orange, banana, peach, pear) & 12-15 almonds or 1TBSP nut butter

2. A snack pack of beef jerky or turkey jerky
3. 1C carrots & 2-3TBSP hummus
4. Quest bar (all-natural protein bar) I LOVE these!!!
5. PB wrap: 1 whole wheat tortilla w/ 1TBSP nut butter
6. Cheese & crackers: 1 string cheese w/ 1 serving whole grain or rice crackers
7. 1/2C Cottage cheese w/ 1 piece of fruit
8. Cocoa Greek yogurt: 1C plain Greek yogurt w/ 1TBSP unsweetened cocoa powder, cinnamon & Stevia
9. Protein Pancake (this is my FAV!!!!) Get the recipe HERE
10. Trail Mix (try making your own w/ a combo of nuts, seeds & unsweetened raisins and/or banana chips). One serving is 1/4th cup.

Easy Meat For Babies & Toddlers

Introducing meat to your baby/toddler can be a little scary. I still worry about our son choking on meat and he's 2 and a half. Fruits and veggie purees just seem so safe and easy, but there are a lot of great nutrients in meat and the different textures are also important for your child to get used to so they don't become picky eaters later.

But how do you introduce it? Slowly, purely and somewhat bland. Offer small portions at first so their digestive tract can get used to it, buy organic and free-range, skip processed meats (hotdogs, sausage, chicken nuggets, fish sticks, fast food) and don't over season it.

Of course you can buy baby food that has pureed meat mixed with veggies, but I personally have never fed my son anything that I wouldn't eat and that stuff makes me want to gag just looking at it. YUCK!

A mistake I've made with our son is that I always seem to offer his meals as seperates - a protein, carb and veggie. The problem is... he doesn't like his foods mixed. He wants his meat in one place, his veggies on the other side and carbs seperate too. So, he won't eat a burrito. He won't eat sandwiches. He won't eat a hamburger (he eats the meat and will have some bread but doesn't like them together). If I give him a bite of chicken with a pea... he usually spits it out. He will eat the chicken and he will eat the peas but not in the same bite. Soooo.... I recommend mixing up how you serve things. Below I have given serving suggestions to help add variety. Have fun and enjoy the learning process with you and your little one! Oh... and don't give up if they don't like something the first time you try... give it 3-5 shots before accepting that they don't like it.

GROUND CHICKEN & SPINACH
1LB ground chicken
1C finely chopped spinach
1tsp sea salt
1tsp oregano
optional: 1/2 sweet onion, finely diced

How to:
Spray skillet with non-stick spray. Saute onion, if using. Add chicken and seasonings. Cook on medium until no longer pink. Add in spinach and cook on low until spinach is wilted.

Optional: Add in 3/4C low-sugar marinara

Serving suggestions:
Add whole grain noodles on the side

MEXICAN BEEF
1LB grass-fed beef
1/4 sweet onion, finely diced
1tsp chili powder
1tsp sea salt
1 clove garlic, minced

How to:
Spray skillet with non-stick spray. Saute onion for 5 minutes. Add in garlic and cook 2 minutes. Add meat and seasoning. Cook about 10 minutes until meat is no longer pink.

Optional: Add 1/4C mild salsa

Serving suggestions:
Serve with a side of black beans & brown rice
Make tacos with soft corn tortillas or soft wheat tortillas

SIMPLE TURKEY CHILI
1LB ground turkey (You can use chicken, beef or buffalo)
1/2 sweet onion, finely diced
1/2 green bell pepper, diced
1 can kidney beans
1 can black beans
1 can organic diced tomatoes
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp garlic powder
optional: a dash of pepper

How to:
Spray skillet with non-stick spray. Add onion & pepper and cook 5-7 minutes. Add meat and cook through (about 10 minutes on medium). In a large pot, combine all ingredients, including meat mixture. Cook on low for 30-60 minutes or on high for 10-15.

Serving suggestions:
Of course... AS CHILI haha
Try mixing it into scrambled eggs for a savory breakfast
Wrap some into a whole grain tortilla for a messy burrito

BABY BUFFALO BURGER
1LB ground buffalo or grass-fed beef
1tsp sea salt
1tsp pepper
1tsp cumin
1 egg white (this makes them more moist and soft)
optional: chopped spinach

How to: Combine all ingredients and make small patties. Grill or cook on the skillet until cooked through (a little pink inside is ok!)

Serving suggestions:
Make mini burgers with whole grain bread, no sugar added ketchup & mustard
Grill some asparagus while you're at it and serve it on the side
Try crumbling the burger up and putting it into a whole grain pita w/ hummus