Quarantine, for the majority, is causing a lot of us to stay in our homes at longer periods of time, making our daily lives a bit sluggish. The Honors Office compiled a few baking recipes and a safe outside activity that you can do to brighten up your day just a little! Not to mention, the recipes are made from nutrient packed ingredients. If you are in the mood to switch up your diet from junk food to healthy snacks, use the following recipes!
Raw Bars (Healthy Granola Bars!)
These raw bars are packed with fiber, protein, and calcium. They are perfect for snacking before your next Zoom class or after a morning run! They are also super easy to make. Go ahead and try making this nutrient powerhouse. 🙂
Ingredients:
1. 1 cup Quick Oats
2. 4 tbsp Chia Seeds
3. 1/4 cup Sunflower Seeds
4. 1/4 cup Coconut Oil
5. 15 Dates, Seeded and Chopped
6. Unsweetened Coconut Flakes for Topping
Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 350 degree Fahrenheit.
2) Mix the oats, chia seeds and coconut oil together in a bowl, evenly coating the granola mixture with the oil. Spread on the parchment paper.
3) Bake for 15 minutes, stir, and then bake for 15 minutes more, or until golden brown.
4) Let cool for five to ten minutes.
5) To create the bars, mix the warm granola with the chopped dates in a large bowl and stir with a large wooden spoon, cutting the mixture together until it is completely combined.
6) Line a glass dish with parchment paper, and evenly press the date and granola mix into the prepared dish. Sprinkle coconut flakes on top.
7) Cover the top with plastic wrap, and freeze the bars for two to three hours.
8) Slice and serve.
9) To store, wrap the bars in parchment paper and store in the refrigerator
10) Enjoy! 🙂
Pumpkin Bread (with a chocolate kick!)
Your inner child will thank you for this healthy holiday treat. This is bread is incredibly moist, but also has just the right amount of sweetness to satisfy any pumpkin cravings! It’s also extremely easy to make.
Ingredients:
1. 1/2 cup organic pumpkin puree (canned but make sure there is only one ingredient)
2. 1/2 cup maple syrup
3. 2 eggs
4. 2 tablespoon of coconut oil
5. 1 1/3 cup almond flour
6. 1/2 cup of rolled oats blended into flour
7. 1/2 tsp baking soda
8. 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
9. 1/2 teaspoon pink salt
10. 1 1/2 teaspoon of pumpkin spice seasoning (more for topping)
11. If desired, add 1/3 cup of semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips! (for that chocolate kick) 🙂
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. Combine all wet ingredients and blends well, and add dry ingredients and mix.
3. Bake in a bread pan for 35-40 mins. When it’s done, a toothpick inserted in the middle will come out clean
How to have a Picnic, Safely
The winter chill is lifting. So are some of the strictest stay-at-home orders. The following are some strategies to dine outside while still protecting yourself and those around you.
(1) Plan your location
If you have your own private green space, like a backyard, consider holding your picnic close to home. Or, plan your park visit in advance so that you can try and go at an off-time to avoid crowds. Choose wisely as well! Popular outdoor spots might be jammed with people coming all over the city. A neighborhood park might be safer.
(2) Pack heavy
Any good outdoor tool kit contains a mask, hand sanitizer and gloves. If you’re visiting a park, keep in mind that park services might be closed. Don’t count on open bathrooms or functioning water fountains. Instead, bring plenty of water with you!
The safest people to picnic with are your quar-pod (meaning the people from whom you’re not distancing), but if you invite others, each quar-pod should bring its own setup. Remember, set up your blankets to be six feet apart!
(3) Prepare the menu
When planning your menu, think of dishes that can do well outside, like finger foods! Get some pita chips or potato chips and make some dips. You also can’t go wrong with a cheese and meat platter.
Or, if you’re in the mood for something sweet, bake anything! Brownies and cupcakes take under an hour to make. If that’s too long, you can always mix pretzels and chocolate for a sweet trail mix. 🙂
(4) Play a game
Leave the Frisbees and soccer balls at home, especially since you can’t control where they might land (potentially in the middle of another socially distanced picnic).
Bring several different game apps instead! The app Heads Up! is a fun option. This is a game where you hold your phone to your forehead and the screen will show a “name”. (You are the only one who cannot see it, so you are the only one who doesn’t know who “you” are.) Try to guess, from your friends’ clues.
Charades is also great. Have each group make its own suggestions, and draw from its own hat.
(5) Stay safe
Most importantly, make sure to wear your masks and social distance from other groups. Fighting the virus is a team effort. Stay safe everyone!