Gerbs Eating Well Blog

You are here: Home / Archives for Uncategorized

Uncategorized

Blueberry Granola Smoothie Recipe

by Leave a Comment

Blueberry Granola Smoothie Recipe

Blueberry Granola Smoothie

Gerbs Blueberry Granola Smoothie Recipe

Ingredients

2/3 cup Flax Milk – (sub any milk)

1/2 cup blueberries fresh or frozen

1/2 banana fresh or frozen

½ cup Gerbs Granola (any flavor)

¼ cup Gerbs Super 5 Seed Meal

1/4 cup kale chopped, stems removed (sub. Spinach)

1 ripe avocado – sliced

½ Tablespoon Pure vanilla extract

Touch sea salt

Directions

In a food processor, blend the milk, kale (substitute baby spinach), 5 seed meal, and avocado together until well combined. Scrape sides and add vanilla, yogurt if you want a thicker smoothie, blueberries, banana’s, and blend again until smooth. Serve in a chilled glass, top with granola and fresh mint.

Cranberry Granola Bites – Simply (no baking) Recipe for a healthy breakfast staple!

by Leave a Comment

Cranberry Granola Bites

CRANBERRY (DARK CHOCOLATE) GRANOLA BITES

Gerbs Cranberry Granola Bites

 

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 cup Gerbs Rolled Oats

½ cup Gerbs 7 Seed Granola (any flavor works)

2/3 cup Gerbs 5 Seed Ground Meal

1/2 cup Sunflower Butter

½ Cup Gerbs Cranberries

1/2 cup Gerbs mini Dark Chocolate Chips (optional)

1/2 cup local Honey

1 tablespoon Gerbs Chia Seeds (optional)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

 

DIRECTIONS:

Stir all ingredients together in a medium bowl until thoroughly mixed. Cover and let chill in the refrigerator for half an hour.

Once chilled, roll into balls of whatever size you would like, we like to roll them onto the Cranberries or Dark Chocolate Chips for a better presentation. These are 1” but smaller are great for smaller fingers. Store in an airtight container and keep refrigerated for up to 1 week.

 

Makes about 20-25 balls.

Baked Granola Stuff Apples Recipe

by Leave a Comment

 

Baked Granola Stuff Apples Recipe

Gerbs Baked Granola Apples – perfect fall breakfast/dessert

Gerbs Granola Baked Apples

 

Ingredients

4 large apples, we love local McIntosh freshly picked

1 cup Gerbs 5 Seed Granola (any will work)

1/2 cup Gerbs Rolled Oats

½ cup Gerbs dried Cinnamon Apple Cubes

¼ cup Gerbs Bread Crumbs

1/2 cup Brown Sugar

2 tablespoons coconut sugar (unsalted butter sub)

4 tablespoons coconut oil – split in half

3/4 teaspoon Gerbs ground cinnamon

1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

1 tsp. sea salt

Powdered Sugar

1 cup apple cider – Fresh is best

Other Options:

Gerbs Dark Chocolate Chips – mini’s

Gerbs Jumbo Raisins (soak & re-hydrate)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Scoop out inside of all 4 apples. Place the apples in a small baking dish. In a small bowl, mix together the granola, sugar, vanilla, salt, dried apple cubes, coconut oil and cinnamon. Spoon & stuff the granola mixture into the apples. In another small bowl, add rolled oats, bread crumbs, brown sugar, & oil (butter) mix together – top onto apples.

Pour the cider around the apples in the dish, loosely cover the dish with foil and bake, basting occasionally, until the apples are tender when pierced with a fork, about 45 minutes. Set aside to cool (15 minutes) coat with powder sugar (optional).

Level: Easy

Total: 1 hr.

Prep: 15 min

Cook: 45 min

Yield: 4 servings

5 Reasons to Eat Sunflower Seeds Every Day!

by 4 Comments

5 Reasons to Eat Sunflower Seeds Every Day!When you think of baseball season, you probably don’t think of nutritious foods- hot dogs, cracker jacks, ice cream, beer- there is no shortage of junk food at the ball park. But, there is one healthy, delicious, allergy-friendly food found in most dugouts across the country: sunflower seeds! Sunflower seeds became part of major league baseball tradition once we learned that chewing tobacco was unhealthy. Fast forward a few decades and now, sunflower seeds are a favorite of little leaguers, big leaguers and fans everywhere. And, if you’re looking for a healthy snack, sunflower seeds are perfect. So, what is it about these tiny kernels that makes them such a good choice? Here are 5 reasons to eat ‘em every day!

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that can protect us from cardiovascular disease and can reduce inflammation linked to many other diseases such as arthritis, cancer and asthma. Sunflower seeds are an excellent source of vitamin E-  a ¼ cup serving provides over 80% of your daily needs.

Portability

Sunflowers are the perfect on-the-go snack! They contain protein, fiber and healthy fats to help you feel full. They don’t require refrigeration and are allergy-friendly. Keep a bag of Gerbs in your car or travel bag for emergency snacking!

Trace Minerals

Trace minerals support many functions in the body. You don’t often hear about these nutrients, but they are incredibly important to your health. Trace minerals are involved in everything from cell function to hormone regulation. Sunflower seeds are a great source of several trace minerals, including copper, manganese, selenium, magnesium and iron.

Versatility

Sunflower seeds can be added to a vast array of dishes. At breakfast, add some to your oatmeal or pancake batter, stir them into a yogurt or on top of a smoothie bowl. For lunch, throw a handful on a green salad or even in a chicken salad. At dinner, use sunflower seeds in place of almonds in green bean almondine.

Fat (the good kind!)

Sunflower seeds are high in polyunsaturated fats- specifically, linoleic acid, an essential fatty acid also known as Omega-6. This fat is considered “essential” because our bodies cannot synthesize it, we must get it from food sources. This healthful fat helps keep our heart healthy, cholesterol levels in check and contributes to healthy skin and hair.

There are many reasons to enjoy sunflower seeds- whether you’re at a ball game or in your office. Check out these fun, healthy recipes, featuring sunflower seeds! And, please tell us…how do you like to eat them?

The Delicious Way to Prevent Colds and Flu

by Leave a Comment

Here we are. It’s January and we are at the height of cold and flu season. Not fun! In my house, it feels like someone has a new sniffle or cough every week! So, how do we ward off illness and prevent colds and flu during these long winter months?

The traditional everything-your-mother-told-you advice – wash your hands, get plenty of rest, drink lots of fluids – is helpful but what you might not know is that there are easy and delicious ways to prevent illness and recover from colds through the foods you eat.

In particular, certain nutrients can boost our immune systems making us less likely to fall ill and better equipped to fight off illness if we do catch something. Here’s a breakdown of some important immune-building nutrients and some healthy and delicious ways to enjoy them!

  • Zinc—Gerbs takes great pride in having found its beginnings through our delicious roasted pumpkin seeds. Pumpkin seeds are a fantastic source of plenty of vitamins and minerals. In particular, they contain tons of Zinc. This mineral is indispensable in maintaining strong immunity, as well as in healing and recovery. Enjoying a one-ounce serving of pumpkin seeds, provides nearly 29% of your daily Zinc needs.
  • Vitamin A—Vitamin A is found in meat and is fortified in many dairy products. There are some plant sources that are allergy and vegan-friendly though, including orange and red fruits and vegetables. Try our no sugar added dried apricots as a great source.
  • Vitamin B6—This vitamin can be difficult to find in our diets when avoiding dairy and eggs. It is primarily found in animal products. One other place to find it, though, is in seeds; this is especially true of sunflower seeds. On our site we carry a variety of sunflower and pumpkin seed mixes. Try the lightly salted bag for extra flavor, as well as a bonus immune-boosting mineral: Iodine.
  • Vitamin C—Rather than taking an Emergen-C when you feel a cold coming on, ward it off by eating plenty of Vitamin C year-round through citrus fruits and berries. Our Super-5 dried fruit mix is a perfect way to enjoy multiple tasty sources of Vitamin C in one convenient snack.
  • Vitamin E—Commonly found in plant oils, this vitamin and antioxidant is abundant in nuts and seeds. If you’re looking for a sweet way to nosh on this vitamin, our dried papaya strips should be a satisfying choice.
  • Selenium—Guarding one’s immune system is a 24-hour job. Get plenty of sleep then enjoy a hearty bowl of oatmeal for breakfast. Oats are a fantastic source of selenium, a mineral that is essential for optimal immunity. Doesn’t a bowl of warm oatmeal hit the spot on cold mornings?!

We would love to hear your tricks to prevent colds (or make sure they don’t linger!)- please share in the comments or on our Facebook page!

We wish you a happy, HEALTHY winter! Stay warm!

Edible, Allergy Friendly! Holiday Gifts

by Leave a Comment

There is something magical about homemade gifts. As a giver, it feels great knowing that your gift is customized and made especially for your loved one. And receiving a homemade gift makes you feel extra loved. You know that a great deal of thought went into the gift and that it was made with your interests and preferences in mind. Fortunately, the wonderful thing about homemade gifts is that they don’t need to be complicated to be special.

As a foodie, I’ve always gravitated toward edible homemade gifts. And as a busy mom, I really appreciate gifts that are simple, don’t require a ton of time, and don’t make a huge mess of my kitchen! I have a hunch that I’m not alone. So, I’ve created a round-up of my favorite edible (and allergy friendly!) holiday gifts.

Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix

Who doesn’t love a steaming mug of hot chocolate in the winter? Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix is a fun, crowd-pleasing and delicious gift for kids and adults alike. I like to put this mix into recycled spice or jam jars or you could use small mason jars. Tie with a ribbon, add a little holiday tag with preparation instructions and pair it with a festive mug. Makes a GREAT gifts for teachers! And, the kiddos can help.

Edible, Allergy Friendly! Holiday GiftsYou can really get creative with this easy base recipe. Try adding some of Gerbs’ Cinnamon and Cayenne Pepper for a Mexican-style Hot Chocolate!

Homemade, Allergy-Friendly, Hot Chocolate Mix

  • 2 cups white sugar
  • 1 cup Gerbs Dutch Cocoa Powder
  • Optional flavorings: beans from 1 vanilla bean, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp nutmeg and/or 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

Sift together all ingredients. To make hot chocolate, combine 1 tablespoon of mix with 1 cup of hot dairy or non-dairy milk. Enjoy!

Herb-Infused Olive Oil

Edible, Allergy Friendly! Holiday Gifts

Olive oil is a staple in most kitchens. I love the idea of gifting a bottle of custom-infused olive oil. The flavor combinations are endless and there really isn’t a recipe. It’s more of a “ratio” than a recipe. Here’s my favorite way to do it:

  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil (enough to fill your oil bottles 3/4 way full)
  • 1/4 cup dried herbs or herb mixtures (I love Gerbs’ Italian Herb Blend)
  • 1 tablespoon Garlic Powder
  • 1/2 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper

Combine all ingredients in clean, sterilized oil bottle. Place in a cool dark place for 3-4 days. That’s it! I like to add a gift tag with suggested ways to use the oil, such as in pasta dishes, as a finished drizzle on pizza or to dip with fresh bread.

Chocolate-Dipped Pretzels

This idea is a no-brainer but the neat thing about chocolate-dipped pretzels is that they look fancy and gourmet. And, kids really LOVE to get involved in this one because it feels like an art project. Again, there are endless possibilities for topping combinations. I love the idea of using chopped dried goji berries or cranberries and pumpkin kernels (salted or unsalted) to make the rods red and green! Of course you can also use sunflower seeds, colored sugar or sprinkles. Anything goes! I like to wrap these in cellophane and a ribbon. They make a great hostess gift or bring them to the party for guests to enjoy!

Like the oil, there really isn’t a recipe for this one. But, here’s what you’ll need: Edible, Allergy Friendly! Holiday Gifts

  • Gerbs Chocolate Chips 
  • Regular or Gluten-Free Pretzel Rods
  • Toppings of your choice (dried cranberries, seeds, sprinkles, colored sugar, etc.)

Melt the chocolate in a double-boiler or microwave safe bowl. Dip each rod into the melted chocolate, ensuring even coverage. Sprinkle toppings and set onto parchment or wax paper. Allow to cool fully before wrapping. Enjoy!

 

Wishing you and your family, a happy, healthy holiday season and a wonderful 2018! 

Safe & Healthy Summer Snacking

by Leave a Comment

Summer is a great time to hit the road with your family and spend some quality time together. With the kids home for the summer, there’s no better time to take that family vacation you’ve been dreaming about. But when you or a family member lives with food allergies, traveling can be stressful. It’s hard to know what’s safe to eat especially when you’re on the road. Don’t worry. We have your back. Check out this new recipe video series we’re working on! This one has two parts and includes two different recipes for healthy and safe road trip snacking with Gerbs. Click here for the recipes!

And while you’re at it, check out our feature on Gerbs on Boston 25 News! We’re all about safe, healthy eating. Enjoy!

PART I

PART II

Spring Clean Your Family’s Diet

by Leave a Comment

Spring has sprung! It’s time for spring cleaning. And, it’s the perfect time to clean up your family’s diet! Eating well can be challenging but, small dietary changes make a big difference. Here are some simple swaps and easy tips to help your family eat more healthfully this spring.

A Sweet Solution

Dates and Strawberries

Craving sweets? Try swapping fruit for candy. Fresh and dried fruit are great ways to satisfy your sweet tooth. Spring offers delicious seasonal fresh fruit (strawberries!) and fortunately, dried fruit is in season all year long! If you are a fan of gummy candy, try swapping the gummies for good quality dried fruit, like Gerbs Dried Cherries. More of a chocolate fan? Dip fresh fruit in melted Gerbs Dark Chocolate.

Lighter Fare

 Green Salads

With the warmer weather comes a preference for lighter foods- like crisp green salads! Be sure to finish off your salads with healthy toppings. Swap out traditional croutons and add some crunch and flavor with Gerbs Salad Mixes! Salads are the perfect way to increase your vegetable intake and enjoy seasonal produce. Make salads more appealing to your kids by involving them in the process! Here are some simple ideas:

  • Garden! Help your kids plant a simple container garden featuring salad greens or tomatoes
  • Visit a farmer’s market and invite your kids to select one new vegetable to try each week
  • Involve your kids in salad prep- smaller kids can tear lettuce into bite-size pieces, and older kids can help cut veggies

Watch the Salt

Pumpkin Seeds

Many Americans eat too much salt. While some salt in our diet isn’t usually a problem, too much can contribute to heart disease, so it’s wise to be aware. Prepared foods (restaurants, frozen foods, canned goods) tend to be the biggest sodium culprit so cooking at home whenever possible is a great start. Here are some great ways to keep salt at bay in your family’s diet:

  • Add flavor with garlic, onions, citrus fruits, herbs and spices instead of salt when cooking
  • Be strategic- use salt judicially and be sure it’s used to enhance the flavor of healthy foods such as whole grains and vegetables
  • If you’re craving a salty snack, choose wisely. Trade potato chips for Gerbs Lightly Salted Pumpkin Seeds.  Like chips, Gerbs pumpkin seeds are crunchy and a little salty but, unlike chips, they are a healthy snack- rich in protein, fiber and magnesium.

What foods do you crave that you wish you had a great healthy alternative for? Comment here on the blog or on social media and we’ll do our best to give you a healthy swap!