Organic Coconut Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

A few years ago I looked for a simple banana bread recipe and found the foundation of this…on the Internet! Over the years I have tweaked the recipe and experimented with different combos. This is one of my favorites. 

3-4 ripe organic bananas

1/3 cup melted butter organic butter

1 cup organic sugar

1 egg beaten (I use organic, free range – local when possible)

1 teaspoon of baking soda 

1 teaspoon of vanilla (this can also be organic if available)

pinch of salt

1 cup of unbleached organic flour

1/2 cup of almond meal (this is a the secret ingredient that always catches people by surprise. I usually get my almond meal at Trader Joe’s in the baking/nuts section)

1/2 cup of shredded organic unsweetened coconut

1/3 cup of organic dark chocolate chips

All you need for this recipe is a large mixing bowl and a wooden spoon. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Mash bananas. Add the butter and sugar. Mix in the beaten egg. Add the baking soda, vanilla and salt. Add the flour and almond meal and mix well. Add the coconut and chocolate chips and stir once or twice. Pour into lightly greased bread pan. Set timer for 45 minutes. Test the center after 45 min passes. If still slightly sticky, turn off oven and leave bread in for another 5-10 minutes. Remove and cool for 20-30 minutes. I like it warm and gooey so sometimes I don’t wait that long. After 30 minutes I usually remove the bread and keep it in foil to maintain the moist middle that the almond meal produces. 

For another more simple combo try the banana bread with walnuts. 

ENJOY! 

Sweet and Salty Roasted Chickpeas – Love this Twist!

So I finally checked out Pinterest and man is it addictive! What I LOVE about it though is quick access to delicious and healthy recipes. I made this last night because thankfully had everything in my kitchen already (accept the parchment paper so just put a little olive oil on the cookie sheet before roasting the chickpeas). This recipe is from the Cupcake Project (not at all where I would have guessed it came from) – it was a huge hit with my family so give it a try! 

• 1 can (14 oz) chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon or your spice(s) of choice    (I added cardamom in addition to cinnamon – gave it a nice kick!)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

1. Place chickpeas on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a Silpat.
2. Bake at 450 F for 30 minutes. (You didn’t miss anything here.  You don’t oil or season them until after they are done.  In fact, for an extra healthy treat, try them when they get out of the oven before even adding the oil.  They are enjoyable all on their own.)
3. Transfer chickpeas to a bowl and mix thoroughly with the rest of the ingredients.
4. Enjoy hot, or bring to room temperature and store in an air-tight container.  Like popped corn, the chickpeas are never as good the next day.  However, they are still quite enjoyable 3-4 days after making them.   

Why Work with a Health Coach?

Fox Business recently featured an article, “Do You Need a Health Coach?” The writer, Donna Fuscado, did a great job of explaining how health coaches support more than just nutrition and exercise goals. 

“When it comes to living a healthy lifestyle, it’s more than just what you eat and how you exercise. The quality and quantity of your sleep, how you deal with stress and your emotional well-being also play a role in your overall health. While doctors and physicians can diagnosis and treat illnesses, health coaches can teach preventative measures that thwart a visit to a doctor altogether.”

The article points out the difference between health coaches and other health practitioners. For example, personal trainers primarily work on fitness, with some also providing nutrition advice. Health coaches will provide nutrition and exercise support as well as stress relief, overall life balance, spirituality, and relationship support. We look to our medical doctors generally for specific health concerns and our health care system rarely allows for an in-depth look at a patient’s nutrition and physical activity. Health coaches can be a great compliment to medical doctors’ intervention approach with a proactive and often preventative approach to overall health.

As a new health coach, one of my goals is to work with clients on choices that are not just healthy for them, but also for the planet. While helping you determine what foods are best for your body, I’ll help you prioritize what to buy organic. If a detox is part of your program, we’ll also explore potential toxins in your home that could be disrupting your health. Have a family? We’ll discuss the best methods for creating a healthy, eco-friendly home.   

Want to more about how a health coach can support you to be your most energetic, vivacious, creative and happy self? Email me for a complimentary health history consultation: as@greenlivingconsulting.com

Can’t wait to get you on the right health path! 

Addie

Health Holiday Recipe #1

Sweet Potato, Broccoli & Kale Stew

Compliments of Jackie Damboragian, IIN Class of 2012 Simplified Wellness

Ingredients
2 tbs extra virgin olive oil
1 large onion, sliced
4 cloves of garlic, minced
1 28 oz can (or two 14.5 oz cans) of stewed tomatoes
1 can of garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
2 ½ cups of water
3 medium sweet potatoes, cubed
1 medium head of broccoli, cut into medium sized chunks
2 cups of kale, coarsely torn, hard stems removed
salt and pepper
½ tsp of cayenne powder (optional)

Directions
1. Heat olive oil in a soup pot over medium heat.
2. Add the onion and cook until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.
3. Stir in the garlic and cook for 1 more minute.
4. Add the tomatoes, garbanzo beans, water, sweet potatoes and a bit of salt.
5. Simmer, partially covered, for 15 minutes.
6. Add the broccoli and kale, cover and simmer until the sweet potatoes and broccoli are tender and the kale has softened up, about 5 minutes.
7. Season with salt and pepper to taste. If you like a little kick add a bit of cayenne powder.
8. Enjoy!

Green Holiday Tip: Alternative Tree Ideas

Looking for a fun, creative alternative for your Christmas tree this year?  I got this idea from CB2.com. It’s prefect for city dwellers who don’t have much room for a large tree, those that want a mess-free option, or those that just want to keep trees in the ground. Also perfect for people like us with small children who love to pull things, knock things over, and create a path of destruction throughout the home  

Some of these ornaments are also from CB2 – couldn’t resist the fuzzy orange, white and turquoise astro-like ornaments. The top one is recycled paper.  

You can easily make your own ornaments. Here are a few resources to check out:

Queen of Crafts – Martha Stewart ideas

Those increasingly popular Owls

New twist on plastic bottle recycling

Get step-by-step instructions on making ornaments from recycled newspaper

WANT MORE GREEN HOLIDAY IDEAS? Check out Planet Green’s Top 10 Holiday Tips

Sustainable Food and Living Recipes Coming Your Way!

As Green Living Consulting shifts focus to holistic health and wellness combined with all of our sustainability expertise, we are excited to start sharing with you recipes for healthy and sustainable living. Now you won’t have any excuse not get on the health wagon because we will be loading you up with easy-to-make recipes for delicious meals and other info to keep your whole house healthy! 

TODAY’S RECIPE: Make Your Own Veggie Wash for Pesticide-Free Veggies

 from Planet Green

1 tbs organic lemon juice
10 drops grapefruit seed extract
2 tbs baking soda
1 cup filtered water
3/4 cup white vinegar

1. Mix well in a sprayer bottle.

2. Shake before use.

3. Spray produce (except mushrooms, because they absorb and retain water) and let sit for 5-10 minutes.

4. Rinse well

Expanding Services to Include Health and Wellness

Whether or not you care about the environment, you most likely care about your own personal heath (I hope!) and want to make the most of this life.  By living a well-balanced life – one in which our family, friends, career, spirituality, and health all blend positively together – you are not only supporting your own wellness, you may also be doing something positive for the environment without having to put any extra effort into it!

Living green is about understanding how our actions impact the health of the planet. But focusing on the environment can be tricky when most of us have a hard time focusing on our own health. Since these our own health and that of the earth are very interconnected, it makes sense to integrate health and wellness consulting with the sustainable lifestyle consulting that Green Living Consulting already provides.

To do that, I am training as a certified health coach through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, based in New York City. This new educational journey is one that is both personal and professional for me. Three and half years ago we lost my husband’s mother to cancer. Over the years I have watched many other family, friends, and colleagues confront various diseases and illnesses, or lose loved ones to them. Not just that. Many family and friends have struggled to wake up feeling good and often rely on caffeine and sugar to help them manage through the day. As mother to a nearly 10-month old, there are many a day that I walk around dazed and groggy, but I notice that when I really focus on my own personal health – and make nutritious food, exercise, and rest a priority – I am not only a happier, more present parent, I have so much more energy and enthusiasm to get other things done (like write this blog at 9:30pm when I could easily zone out to the TV!). So I decided to take this personal and passion for living a well-balanced life to a more professional level. I enrolled in the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and am already embarking on a comprehensive health coach training. I can’t express in words how cool it is to be part of a whole community dedicated not just to healthy living, but helping others do the same.

So what does this mean for you? More services offered by Green Living Consulting in the area of health and wellness. Soon I’ll be offering health consultations to help people identify their personal health goals. I’ll be offering workshops, group classes, and individual coaching to help you develop the health plan that works for you. The way I see it, if we aren’t living the best and healthiest life we can, then we may just barely be living. 

 I look forward to sharing more of my health coaching journey – and expanding our services soon! Don’t hesitate to contact me with questions or ideas – or a health challenge you’ve been facing (info@greenlivingconsulting.com).

Healthful wishes! 

Adrienne (Addie)

Founder and Principal Consultant

New Position for GLC Founder Brings New Products

Nine months ago I moved into a new position – motherhood. WOW! What a life changing experience. Running a small business now feels a lot easier after taking on this new position. But no other job could be more rewarding than being a parent.

Being a new mom has meant learning to scale back a few aspects of my business, but it has also sparked growth in some areas and the development of some new services. The mission of Green Living Consulting is still to help people live healthier lives that are truly good for them and the planet. If the earth is not functioning well, then neither will we so it’s important that we consider both when mapping out our healthy living strategies!

No one needs consideration of human and environmental health more than babies. Their tiny little bodies can only filter so many toxins without severe health and developmental risks. Figuring out the right products and practices for your soon-to-arrive or recently arrived baby can be so overwhelming – believe I know! So I came up with any easy way to get ready for your new bundle of joy: An Eco-Checklist for New Moms and Dads! You’ll get all you need to know about getting the nursery ready, must have baby care items, and what to prioritize in terms of eco-friendly and baby-friendly.

ECO-CHECKLIST for NEW MOMS AND DADS: $20

Want a one-hour phone GREEN NURSERY CONSULT too? Get a package for $175 (Eco-Checklist for News Moms and Dads, One-Hour Phone or Skype Consult, GLC Green Living at Home Resource Guide, Better Life Green Cleaning Starter Kit)

READY to ORDER? Email us at info AT greenlivingconsulting DOT com, SUBJECT: Eco-Checklist for New Moms and Dads. 

Welcome to Green Living Consulting!

Hello and welcome to Green Living Consulting!

In today’s economy, greening your business is not just about helping the planet. It’s about making smart decisions for your long term financial success. Integrating green practices into your daily operations can lower operating costs, create a healthier workplace that increases employee productivity, boost your image among current customers and clients while also opening you up to new markets. The right green business strategy puts money in your pocket while reducing your impact on the planet!