Gluten Free Carrot Pecan Muffins are the perfect homemade treat for the spring & Easter season! They’re soft, moist and filled with flavourful spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. These muffins are made with simple and natural ingredients like almond flour, carrots, eggs, coconut oil, pecans & maple syrup, so you can feel good about enjoying them!
DID YOU KNOW? Carrots are rich in beta carotene, which your body converts into vitamin A. This nutrient promotes good vision and is important for growth, development, and immune function.
However, beta-carotene is a fat soluble nutrient that needs to be coated in fat for greatest absorption. In addition, the absorption rate is better (up to 6.5-fold) if the carrots are cooked vs. raw.
Lastly, opt for whole carrots vs. baby carrots. Baby carrots are misshapen mature carrots that have been shaved down to a smaller more uniform size. The outer part that’s thrown away is much more nutritious than the inner core. The greatest concentration of nutrients is in the skin and the tissue right below it. When you remove the outer portion of the carrots, you also remove on-third of its phytonutrients.
So, to get the most health benefits from carrots, buy them whole then cook (sauté, steam, bake) them in a high-quality fat like avocado oil, coconut oil or olive oil.
Boost your beta-carotene intake by adding carrots to your homemade healthy treats. Try these yummy Carrot Pecan Muffins. They’re perfect for the Easter and Spring season!
What you need for Gluten Free Carrot Pecan Muffins:
Gluten Free Carrot Pecan Muffins are the perfect homemade treat for the spring & Easter season! They're soft, moist and filled with flavourful spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. These muffins are made with simple and natural ingredients like almond flour, carrots, eggs, coconut oil, pecans & maple syrup, so you can feel good about enjoying them!
1cupfinely shredded carrots, I used a food processor for this
1/2cupchopped pecans
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350F and place liners in muffin tray.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk almond flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda and salt.
Mix in eggs, oil, and maple syrup.
Stir in the shredded carrots and chopped pecans.
Distribute batter evenly in the muffin tray.
Bake for 20 minutes. Let cool before removing from tin. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week or store in the freezer for longer.
Notes
TIME SAVER TIP: Use a food processor for steps 2 & 3, if you have one.
Scrambled Eggs with Kale Pesto is an energizing breakfast recipe you’ve got to try! Made with a few simple & wholesome ingredients like eggs, kale & shallots. You’ll fall in love with this easy paleo, low-carb & keto egg recipe!
You’ve probably heard that eating cholesterol and saturated fat raises cholesterol levels in the blood, BUT did you know that more recent (and better) research doesn’t support this hypothesis.
“Well-designed cholesterol feeding studies (where they feed volunteers 2-4 eggs a day and measure their cholesterol) show that dietary cholesterol has very little impact on blood cholesterol levels in about 75% of the population. The remaining 25% of the population are referred to as “hyper-responders”. In this group, dietary cholesterol does modestly increase both LDL (“bad cholesterol” and HDL (“good cholesterol”), but it does not affect the ratio of LDL to HDL or increase the risk of heart disease.
In other words, eating cholesterol isn’t going to give you a heart attack. You can ditch the egg-white omelettes and start eating yolks again. That’s a good thing, since all of the13 essential nutrients eggs contain are found in the yolk. Egg yolks are an especially good source of choline, a B-vitamin that plays important roles in everything from neurotransmitter production to detoxification to maintenance of healthy cells.”
Get more choline & nutrient-rich egg yolks into your diet with this delicious Scrambled Eggs with Kale Pesto breakfast.
Scrambled Eggs with Kale Pesto is an energizing breakfast recipe you've got to try! Made with a few simple & wholesome ingredients like eggs, kale & shallots. You'll fall in love with this easy paleo, low-carb & keto egg recipe!
Fried Eggs on Vegetable “Rice” is the perfect wholesome and nutrient-packed breakfast! Vegetable “rice” is the perfect base to soak up golden and runny egg yolks. Give this hearty paleo & keto breakfast dish a try!
When I started a gluten and grain free diet, fried eggs just weren’t the same because I missed soaking up runny yolks with bread.
Not only are egg yolks super yummy, but the yolk is also the most nutritious part of an egg – and some would argue that the yolk is what makes the egg one of the most nutrient-dense foods out there.
So, me needing runny egg yolks in my life has lead to this delightful egg breakfast that soaks up the yolk just like bread, BUT way healthier!
For this recipe I used leftover Vegetable “Rice” that I made earlier in the week, which meant breakfast was served within 5-minutes since all I had to do was fry some eggs.
Give this nutrient-packed breakfast a try. You won’t be disappointed – and you definitely won’t miss bread. You’ll get all the satisfaction you need from Vegetable “Rice” soaked in egg yolks!
TIP: Look for free-range or pastured eggs in your grocery store. Free range and pastured hens are allowed to roam, wander, perch and have a good quality of life, which makes a difference in the quality of their eggs. Theses eggs are a much better option to ensure food safety & a high nutrient profile, and support ethical farming practices.
Fried Eggs on Vegetable "Rice" is the perfect wholesome and nutrient-packed breakfast! Vegetable "rice" is the perfect base to soak up golden and runny egg yolks. Give this hearty paleo & keto breakfast dish a try!
If using leftover Vegetable "Rice", remove from fridge and warm it up on the stove. You can also serve the vegetable "rice" cold or at room temperature, it doesn't need to be heated.
Once the Vegetable "Rice" is ready, fry eggs in avocado oil and sprinkle with turmeric, parsley, salt and pepper while cooking. I suggest cooking the eggs sunny side up.
Place Vegetable "Rice" on a plate and top with fried eggs.
My favourite part ... let those golden yolks run into the Vegetable "Rice" and enjoy!
Tiger Nut “NOatmeal” is a delicious nut & grain free version of oatmeal. This nutrient-packed breakfast is the perfect way to start your day!
Despite what the name might have you believe, tiger nuts are not actually nuts, but rather small tubers.
They’re rich in a variety of nutrients and have been linked to several health benefits — including improvements in gut health.
Here are a couple of ways tiger nuts can support gut health …
FIBER
Tiger nuts are high in insoluble fiber, which passes through your gut without being digested. Insoluble fiber adds bulk to your poop and helps food move through your gut easily, reducing the likelihood of constipation.
In addition, insoluble fiber captures toxins, waste, fat and cholesterol particles and expels them from your system.
Tiger nuts contain more fiber per serving than many other recommended high-fiber foods, like quinoa or chia seeds. One serving of tiger nuts contains 10 grams of fiber, providing you with almost half of your daily requirement.
RESISTANCE STARCH
Tiger nuts contain resistant starch, a type of prebiotic fiber that can feed the friendly bacteria in your gut, helping your digestion run smoothly.
It’s a good idea to introduce resistant starch prebiotics into your diet gradually. This can help you avoid any temporary gas or bloating you could experience otherwise.
2tbspcoconut manna (for nut free "NOatmeal"), or nut butter of choice
Optional toppings:
Fresh fruit, cacao nibs, shredded coconut
Instructions
Add drained tiger nuts, cacao nibs and cinnamon into food processor and process until everything is finely ground. Tigernuts may take a bit of time to break down, so just run the processor until you get the right consistency.
In one bowl beat eggs and milk together.
In another bowl, mash banana and coconut manna together with a fork.
Combine all ingredients in a saucepan. Turn heat to medium-low heat and begin mixing ingredients together using a spatula.
Cook for 5-minutes or longer, stirring regularly so "NOatmeal" doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan. Cook for less time if you want a more runny consistency or cook longer if you want a more dense consistency.
Feel free to top your "NOatmeal" with fresh fruit, cacao nibs or shredded coconut!
This refreshing Strawberry Pineapple Smoothie is the perfect summer time drink for when you’re chilling on the porch or kickin’ it poolside! It’s not only delicious, but packed with antioxidants and vitamins–and sweetened with Mother Nature’s candy. Only 3 simple ingredients needed to make this AIP, paleo and plant-based friendly cold drink!
DID YOU KNOW? Pineapples contain a group of digestive enzymes known as bromelain.
Bromelain is a mixture of proteolytic enzymes which work together to help your digestive system break down and absorb proteins from the foods you eat.
These enzymes can be especially helpful for people with pancreatic insufficiency, a condition in which the pancreas cannot make enough digestive enzymes.
Additionally, bromelain from pineapple can help relieve stomach aches, heartburn and diarrhea, according to some research.
This refreshing Strawberry Pineapple Smoothie is the perfect summer time drink for when you're chilling on the porch or kickin' it poolside! It's not only delicious, but packed with antioxidants and vitamins--and sweetened with Mother Nature's candy. Only 3 simple ingredients needed to make this AIP, paleo and plant-based friendly cold drink!
Nutty “NOatmeal” with Blueberries is the perfect way to start your day! This grain free oatmeal is made from nuts, seeds, eggs, banana & warming spices, making it low-carb, keto & paleo. This breakfast dish will leaving you feeling satisfied and energized!
Relationship FAQ …
Q: “When did you know that your boyfriend was a keeper?”
A: “When he made me “NOatmeal” :)”
That’s right, my man makes me “NOatmeal” — and a mean latte to go with it!
I’m uncertain if it’s the act of him preparing ME breakfast (in his butt accentuating track pants) that melts my insides OR if it’s simply that his grain free oatmeal is so damn good. Whatever it is, I die and go to heaven almost every Sunday morning.
You might be wondering – “What the heck is “NOatmeal”?”
Basically, it’s oatmeal with no oats. So if you’re following a grain free, paleo, low-carb or keto diet, this recipe would be a great alternative for you.
What you need for this Nutty “NOatmeal” with Blueberries …
Nutty "NOatmeal" with Blueberries is the perfect way to start your day! This grain free oatmeal is made from nuts, seeds, eggs, banana & warming spices, making it low-carb, keto & paleo. This breakfast dish will leaving you feeling satisfied and energized!
1/4cupunsweetened coconut or almond milk, (omit if soaking nuts & seeds overnight)
1banana
1tbspalmond butter
1/2cupblueberries
Instructions
Soak nuts and seeds in a jar of water overnight. Drain and rinse thoroughly before use.
Put nuts & seeds and spices into food processor and process until everything is roughly ground.
Add eggs, banana, almond butter (and nut milk, if you didn't soak the nuts & seeds) to the food processor and continue to process until everything combines.
Add mixture into a small saucepan and turn heat to medium-low heat.
Cook until the mixture thickens (~5-minutes), stirring regularly so "NOatmeal" doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan.
Transfer to a small bowl, top with fresh blueberries and enjoy!
Notes
*Soak nuts and seeds in a jar of water overnight to help make them easier to digest. Drain and rinse thoroughly before use. If you do not soak the nuts and seeds, you will need to use 1/4 cup nut milk in the recipe.
My mission is to help women heal their gut, lose weight and feel great through simple and delicious smoothies, whole food nutrition & healthy lifestyle habits.
