Superfood mood-boosting vegan cookies

As you know, yesterday USA celebrated the  National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day (probably one of the best national food holidays, maybe except of National Whipped Cream Day and Ice Cream For Breakfast Day). Due to this how so important event, we connect with our American fellows by preparing those little black beauties - maybe not EXACTLY choco chip cookies, yet I believe a really nice (and healthy) variation of them. Vegan, gluten-, sugar- and guilty-free. Moreover, they contain the whole range of superfoods, which benefits are summarised below: 

COCOA

One of its most appreciated values is the antidepressant effect, which is due to the presence of phenethylamine - a mood-boosting neurotransmitter. Cocoa is also the source of magnesium, essential for proper functioning of muscles and nerves). It is also rich in dietary fiber, improving digestion and, hence, beneficial in terms of weight loss.

GOJI BERRIES

They contain all of the essential amino acids, contain 15 times more iron than spinach and are loaded with vitamin C and dietary fiber. Moreover, goji berries have the highest protein concentration of all fruits - and these are only a few of their numerous health benefits! They really are superfoods, aren't they?

BANANAS

They contain tryptophan - amino acid which is turned into serotonin, a neurotransmitter responsible for good mood and happiness. They are also a source of vitamins and minerals: vit. B6, vit. C, magnesium, potassium and dietary fiber. Due to the presence of natural sugars (sucrose, fructose and glucose) they are perfect energy-boosters.

WALNUTS

Apparently, even though containing pretty large amount of kcal / 100g, walnuts aid in weight loss, as their consumption results in satiety. This is due to large amounts of fats, proteins and fiber they contain. They are also a great source of antioxidants, which prevent heart diseases, as well as of omega-3 fatty acids, which help in stress reduction and brain functioning. Eating walnuts also aids proper sleep, as they increase the amount of melatonin in your organism .

COCONUT OIL

The benefits of coconut oil surely need a separate post to fit in, but these are some of the most important (and interesting) ones: it helps fat burn (YES, we couldn't believe that either at first), prevents infections, reduces LDL (bad) cholesterol levels, increasing the level of HDL (good) cholesterol at the same. 

If you are looking for more recipes which can positively affect your health and naturally elevate your spirits, check out our smoothie of happiness as well.

Vegan oatmeal-banana bars / Wegańskie batoniki owsiano-bananowe

Ingredients

3 cups of oatmeal

3-4 bananas

1-2 tbsp of coconut oil

1 tbsp of flaxseed

1 tbsp of sunflower seeds

1 tsp of cinnamon

0.5 tsp of nutmeg

Preparation

1. Mix all of the dry ingredients in a vessel.
2. Skin the bananas and mash them with a fork or a blender.
3. Add mashed bananas and coconut oil to the vessel.
4. Mix everything together (you can use your hand).
5. Cover the baking sheet with baking paper or oiled foil (we used the second one).
6. Put the oatmeal-banana mass onto the baking sheet and form a rectangular shape of approximately 1.5-2 cm hight.
7. Bake for 25-30 min in 180 degrees.
8. Take the baking sheet out of the oven and, after cooling down, cut the baked mass into nice, rectangular bars.

This is a perfect solution when you are in rush in the morning and you don't have enough time for a proper breakfast or if you get hungry between meals. Putting one or two bars into your handbag can proven you from eating junk food suffused with fat, salt and sugar.

Enjoy!

Składniki

3 szklanki płatków owsianych

3-4 banany

1-2 łyżki stołowe oleju kokosowego

1 łyżka stołowa siemienia lnianego

1 łyżka stołowa pestek słonecznika

1 łyżka stołowa cynamonu

0.5 łyżka stołowa gałki muszkatołowej

Przygotowanie

1. Wymieszaj wszystkie suche składniki w misce.

2. Obierz banany i rozgnieć je za pomocą widelca lub blendera.

3. Dodaj rozgniecione banany i olej kokosowy do miski.

4. Wymieszaj wszystko razem (można użyć rąk).

5. Na blasze połóż papier od pieczenia lub natłuczonej foli (my użyłyśmy tego drugiego).

6. Na blasze ułóż masę bananowo-owsiankową, formując równy prostokąt o wysokości około 1.5-2 cm. 

7. Piecz w 180 stopniach przez około 25-30 minut.

8. Wyjmij formę z pieca i po ostygnięciu pokrój w małe regularne prostokąty.

Jest to świetna alternatywa gdy rano nie masz czasu przygotować porządnego śniadania lub jeżeli zgłodniejesz między posiłkami. Wrzuć dwa lub trzy batoniki do torebki, a uchronisz się przed jedzeniem fast food-ów pełnych soli, cukru i tłuszczu.

Sugar and gluten-free vegan banana bread / Bezcukrowy i bezglutenowy wegański chlebek bananowy

Ingredients

5 ripe bananas

2,5 glass of corn flour

0,5 glass of walnuts

3-4 tbs of coconut oil

1 teaspoon of: 

cinnamon

nutmeg

baking powder

baking soda

additionally: coconut oil and gluten-free breadcrumbs for a drip pan

Preparation

1. Heat the oven to 180 degrees.

2.Mix all of the dry ingredients in a glass or plastic vessel.

3. Use a fork or a blender to mash the bananas. 

4. Add the bananas and coconut oil to the vessel.

5. Mix everything together until you receive an even mass.

6. Smear the drip pan with coconut oil and sprinkle with gluten-free breadcrumb.

7. Put the drip pan into the oven. Bake for around 30 min. (the dry stick rule).

Enjoy!

Składniki

 5 bananów

2,5 szklanki mąki kukurydzianej

 0,5 szklanki orzechów włoskich

3-4 łyżki stołowe oleju kokosowego

1 łyżeczka: 

cynamonu

gałki muszkatołowej

proszku do pieczenia

sody 

dodatkowo: olej kokosowy i bezglutenowa bułka tarta

Przygotowanie

1. Nagrzej piekarnik do 180 stopni.

2. Wymieszaj wszystkie suche składniki w plastikowej lub metalowej misce.

3. Użyj widelca lub blendera aby rozgnieść banany. 

4. Dodaj olej kokosowy i rozgniecione banany do suchych składników .

5. Mieszaj wszystko do uzyskania jednolitej masy.

6. Posmaruj keksówkę olejem kokosowym i posypać bezglutenową bułką tartą.

7. Przełożyć masę do keksówki, wstawić do piekarnika i piec przez 30 minut. 

Po upieczeniu poczekać aż wystygnie i...

 ...Smacznego!