Meals That Heal – Cookies For Breakfast

 

Most mornings I wake up early enough to sit down and enjoy my breakfast at home while I catch up on the latest news and views. On those odd days when I find myself flying out the door, these cookies work nicely. They’re just sweet enough to feel like a treat and quite good when dunked into hot tea. The outer part of the cookie has a nice crispness while the inner cookie is similar to a hearty, whole grain muffin – specifically the top part of the muffin which everyone knows is the best part.

Eastern View: Bananas are not only a delicious food beloved by everyone from babies to the elderly, they are also a great source of cancer-fighting antioxidants and a revered aphrodisiac and building food. Ripe bananas are sweet, warming, and heavy with a post digestive effect of sourness.

Banana has a sweet and sour taste. The sweet taste is said to bring about a sense of heaviness but the sour taste is known to stimulate agni (the digestive juices), thereby supporting digestion and helping in building up metabolism.

Bananas pacify Vata but increase Pitta and Kapha. However they are used as an aphrodisiac, a demulcent, a building food and they help in controlling appetite. They also enhance taste (good for the elderly or sick), support  muscle tissue and help in anorexia.

Bananas are specifically used for any kind of urinary problems.

Western View: An instant energy booster, banana is one fruit that is commonly available across the globe. A look into the nutritional breakdown of bananas and it reveals the following: per 100 grams, it contains 0.3 gm total fat, zero cholesterol, 1 mg salt, about 360 mg potassium, 2.6 gm dietary fiber, 12 gm sugar and 1.1 gm protein. If you still need reasons as to why you must include bananas in your diet, here are some –

Bananas are loaded with fiber, both soluble and insoluble. The soluble fiber has the tendency to slow down digestion and keep you feeling full for a longer time. Which is why bananas are often included in a breakfast meal so that you can start about your day without having to worry about the next meal.

High fiber foods are said to be good for the heart. According to a study done by University of Leeds in UK, increasing consumption of fiber-rich foods such as bananas can lower risk of both cardiovascular disease (CVD) and coronary heart disease (CHD).

Banana is a heavyweight when it comes to nutrition. It is loaded with essential vitamins and minerals such as potassium, calcium, manganese, magnesium, iron, folate, niacin, riboflavin, and B6. These all contribute to the proper functioning of the body and keeping you healthy.

Cookies For Breakfast

Ingredients

• 1 ¼ cups rolled oats (gluten free if you have a sensitivity)
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 1/2 cup almond flour
• 1/4 cup brown rice flour
• 1/2 cup mashed ripe banana
• 1/2 cup smooth almond butter
• 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
• 2 tablespoons ground flaxseed
• 3 tablespoons coconut oil
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup add-ins of your choice (I like a mix of blueberries, pumpkin seeds, and chopped almonds)

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
• In a large bowl, stir together the rolled oats, cinnamon, baking soda, sea salt, almond flour, and brown rice flour until combined.
• In the bowl of a food processor, combine the mashed banana, almond butter, maple syrup, ground flaxseed, coconut oil and vanilla. Process on high until the mixture is smooth.
• Scrape the almond butter mixture into the large bowl with the oats and flour mixture. Throw your add-ins into the bowl. Stir the mixture with a spatula until you have a unified and stiff cookie dough.
• Drop 2 tablespoons of dough per cookie onto the prepared baking sheet. Flatten each mound of dough with the palm of your hand. Slide the baking sheet into the oven and bake until lightly golden brown, about 15 – 17 minutes. Cool cookies completely before storing in an airtight container.

Like this recipe? If you could use a little extra help in planning out healthy meals that are personalized for you – check out my ultimate healthy personalized meal plans here!

In health,