Carob Cherry Oat Cookies (vegan)

A cookie a day keeps the doctor away. That's how I feel about THESE cookies at least. A healthy dose of goodness and no guilt if you have two. I love to have a little treat. Just something as big, or as little, as a cookie. Just a little bit of sweetness and something to truly savor. YUM!
Change is upon us. Summer is coming to a close, school will be starting in the next few weeks, and new adventures are coming our way. I feel this way even though I am not returning to school this fall. Yet, this time of year always brings about a time to reflection of a "new year" upon us. The summer was fabulous, but yet it must come to an end... and this fall is different that any other in the past. The new big thing happening has never happened to me before... a baby is coming. Change is a brewin'. Who knows what this will mean for me and my family. We will have a little person soon living with us and new adventures to behold. Diapers, feedings, and more....what to expect, not really sure. But change is the theme for sure.

Making gluten-free changes can seem this way at times. A new thing, or adventure and not really sure where it will take you. Anxiety about your health, chronic pain, or unanswered symptoms may have thrown you in this place of eating gluten-free or making other drastic food changes. It can be scary, especially if you have no one to support you. It can be a continuous challenge that you are just waiting to see results with, and the change may seem like something you are ready to give up on. I know. It's hard. It may even seem impossible.

I want to encourage you. Especially to RELAX! Sometimes stress can cause just as much pain as eating the toxic food, so first of all chill out! It is always surprising to me how many people I talk to about a healthier gluten-free diet, but their biggest health issues come from being over-stressed and not getting good rest in their life. It is a disease: the fast paced life of toxic stress. So maybe meditation, yoga, or relaxing therapies will be more beneficial than a new diet...something to think about alongside a possible gluten-free change.

Gluten-free living can be a new adventure to embrace. This may be the "time of year" to start fresh with a new diet plan. Eating gluten-free is not just for the one that is allergic or who has a disease. It could be for anyone. It could be a way to restart your gut health and get you to a healthier state of your whole body. Many people have reported that eating gluten-free for a season helps with concentration, sleep disorders, skin issues, anxiety, mood disorders, and of course gut health. So, why not try a new adventure that may result in a healthier place? If you are up for the challenge, then embrace the change and start something new.

But if you do, do it for you. Many people think I eat gluten-free because it is trendy, or maybe they think the same when I talk about vegan-ism... that is is just a "cool" trend to become a part of and will eventually fizzle out. Well, my response to that is... " I eat gluten-free because I have to!" I get sick if I don't. It's not about being cool or trendy or on top of the latest health craze for me. I eat this way because I know without a doubt that I can be at my best health if I am not sick with gluten and even dairy in my system. If I know what is hurting my body, why wouldn't I avoid it, right?! Right! Once you get started you may feel the same way, its hard to go back to bad habits of eating when you know how crappy you will feel after you go there. Feeling at your personal best is the BEST motivation for healthier living for sure.

All of that said, eating gluten-free doesn't mean you have to give up your life. Just find new ways to embrace the changes and make baby steps to a healthier you. And maybe make some cookies...

Yes, cookies for sure. These cookies are a good example. A chewy yummy cookie that will leave you asking," what change?!" These cookies are perfectly yummy in every way. I hope you find new ways to freshen up your life this fall, whether than be health commitments, finding time to relax or learning something new. May you find peace and rest in this crazy world!
Carob Cherry Oat Cookies Recipe

1/2 cup of white rice flour

1/2 cup of almond meal (or 1/4 cup of coconut flour or other GF flour if you want to avoid nuts)

2 TB of chia seed meal or flaxmeal

1/3 cup of carob powder (or pure cacao if you ant to include chocolate)

1 1/2 cup of cooking gluten-free oats

1 1/2 ts of baking powder

1 ts of baking soda

1/2 ts. of sea salt

1/2 cup of sucanat (or other powdered sweetener)

1/2 cup of raw agave nectar, or pure maple syrup

4 TB of So Delicious coconut milk beverage

1/3 cup of coconut oil or Spectrum organic palm oil shortening

1/2 cup of dried cherries

Mix all of the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl, then add the wet... and mix well. Add the cherries last and then roll into small little TB sized balls and flatten on a baking sheet. This recipe will make about 2 dozen cookies. If you want them large you can do that. They do not expand too much in the baking process so make sure you press them down on the sheet, or make them larger if you desire. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes. Make sure to let cool for a few minutes from the oven so that they stay together. Make sure not to over bake because they will loose their chewiness if they are cooked too long.

Hope you enjoy! Much love to you!

xoxo

Stephanie