Why bake with Xyla?

This was my very question. With the growth of alternative sweeteners that have no impact on blood sugar levels, I wanted to know what made xylitol stand out from the rest.

I’m a maple syrup and honey kind of girl. So I need to be convinced when something “new” and trendy hits the market. I also need to be 100% sure that it is 100% natural in order for me to even consider it.

Since Xylitol comes from a wood fiber, I thought I would give it a chance!

Some background:

Xylitol is… a natural sweetener found in fibrous vegetables and fruits, as well as in several hardwood trees.  It’s extracted and purified into a crystalline form to create a substance that looks, bakes, and tastes like regular white sugar.  But the similarities end there – xylitol has antimicrobial properties that don’t promote or feed dangerous bacteria and fungi.  Plus, it is all natural!

Where it can be used:

Anywhere you use sugar.  Replace it cup-for-cup in baking or sweetening.

The benefits:

- Alkalizing and anti-aging

- Slows a steady release of energy

- Inhibits yeast growth

- Increases absorption of B-vitamins and calcium

- Inhibits plaque and dental cavities by up to 80%, it also remineralizes tooth enamel, increases saliva production and protects saliva proteins, and reduces infections in the mouth and nasopharynx

- Natural insulin stabilizer, diabetic-friendly, and has a lower glycemic index than honey (and even lentils!)

- Diminishes sugar and carb cravings

- Prevents osteoporosis, middle ear infections, and maintains hormonal balance

This was news to me!

I had no idea I could use Xyla in anything and everything to replace sugar. I was told it has no after taste like stevia, so I had to put this to the test. I thought I would mix it in to one of my brownie recipes and see how it matched up. To be honest, I have to say that they turned out pretty good. I could definitely tell that they weren’t as sweet. And it’s not that they had an aftertaste, but more that I couldn’t taste the normal sweetness of what I usually use (namely maple syrup). It was definitely interesting pouring something WHITE into my recipe that looks just like sugar, but I can assure you that it’s not even close.

So will I continue to use it?

I think I will experiment with it in other recipes, but I am not ready to make any kind of switch over in my kitchen. I know it is extremely beneficial for those with diabetes and other blood sugar disorders and I would surely recommend it to such an individual. But for me and my regular crowd – I think I am going to stick with my tried, tested and true maple syrup, coconut nectar, coconut sugar and honey!

Chewy Chocolate Banana Brownies

What’s In It?

1 cup oat or spelt flour

½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 ½ tsp baking powder

¼ tsp salt

1 cup xylitol

1 mashed ripe banana

1/3 cup organic coconut oil

½ cup vanilla rice milk

1 ½ tsp vanilla extract

1/3 cup dark chocolate chips

How It’s Made

1. Oil an 8×8 baking pan and set aside.
2. Measure oat flour into a large bowl, add the cocoa, baking powder, salt and whisk together.
3. In a separate bowl, mix together xylitol, banana and oil. Add the rice milk and vanilla extract and blend well.
4. Add the wet ingredients to the dry, using a rubber spatula to mix the ingredients until just blended. Stir in the chips.
5. Pour the batter into the pan and smooth the top.
6. Bake for 35 minutes, or until tester in the center comes out clean. Let cool completely before cutting.

Maca Macqui Breakfast Granola bowl

It’s not hard to tell by now if you have been reading my blog that i am a smoothie fanatic. Coming out with new combinations all the time to get my morning fix for a super powered breakfast.

With the help of my friends at Navitas Naturals –  I am able to infuse my smoothie with the best of super foods.

I have been sampling this wonderful new dried berry powder from the Macqui berry.

Here are the specs.

Mak -ee

The edible purple berries of the native Chilean evergreen shrub (Aristotelia chilensis).

Anti-aging Berry

Maqui berries are native to the pristine Patagonia region of Chile, where they are regularly consumed by the Mapuche Indians – one of the longest-living cultures in the world. Recently, scientific research has confirmed a strong connection between the protective nutrients found in maqui berries and richer, disease-free mode of living.

The Power of Maqui

With an amazingly high ORAC value, maqui berries offer more antioxidants than any discovered fruit – with a particularly high potency of anti-aging flavonoids like anthocyanins and polyphenols. Recent studies have demonstrated these antioxidants to support a wide variety of bodily functions, including improved brain performance, heart health, liver strength, anticancer activity and – as the Machupe Indians likely know – overall longevity. Plus, the fruit offers a premium source of vitamin C, calcium, iron, potassium, and is a natural anti-inflammatory food.

Antioxidant Advantage

With such a profoundly rich supply of health-improving phytochemicals, even using just small amounts of maqui powder will vastly enhance the nutritional benefits of other foods or recipes. Containing a mild, unsweetened berry flavor, maqui is easy to use: try blending with other fruits or sweets in smoothies, desserts, or sprinkle on top of a breakfast bowl.

Maca (ma-kuh)

a herbaceous plant native to the high Andes of Bolivia and Peru. It is grown for its fleshy hypocotyl, which is used as a root vegetable and a medicinal herb.

Incan Strength

The root of the maca plant has been used in indigenous Andean cultures as a source of nourishment and healing for many millenniums. A radish-like root, maca is indigenous to the mountainous and ragged terrain of the Peruvian highlands. Although its foliage may be small and unassuming, the harvested root of the maca plant was traditionally used by Incan warriors in preparation for difficult expositions and battles, and was consumed to increase stamina and energy. So esteemed was this special root, that it later became used as a form of currency by the Spaniards — a practice which still carries on in some areas of Peru even today. Enjoying a massive resurgence in use, maca continues to be one of the most appreciated superfoods on the market. Navitas Naturals offers maca in 4 forms to suit all needs: a raw powder, a gelatinized powder, and a capsulated form of each.

Given that this is a superfood powerhouse, different from Acai – which I also greatly love, I am thrilled to have it part of my morning smoothie routine.

To complete my bowl I have added my

Maca Macqui Breakfast Bowl

1 cup almond milk

1 scoop Sun Warrior Protein

1/2 frozen banana

1/2 cup frozen blueberries

1/4 cup chopped spinach

1 tsp maqui powder

1 tsp maca powder

1 tbsp coconut oil

Place all ingredients in the blender and blend until smooth! Enjoy and top with some  GIRLNOLA granola!

Live the Fully Nourished Life with Me

Get into a groove this year and get FULLY NOURISHED!

Get started on the right path of healthy living the Fully Nourished way.  Take your health into your own hands and join this exclusive program.  For the next year, you will be given the tips, tools, ingredients, recipes and hands on experience – so that you can pave the path of health for the rest of your life!

The launch my new Fully Nourished Lifestyle Program has been quite the success. It is so simple, yet so comprehensive and perfect for just about anyone in any stage of their health journey. What this is, is a way for me to guide you step by step for one whole year on healthy living. Not only do you get to enjoy some of my favourite tried tested and true products twice during the course of the year, but you also get to come to 6 of my Fully Nourished cooking classes to learn new tips, tricks and essentials in the kitchen, with more than 50 recipes. Also part of this amazing program is a chance to sit down with me one on one to go over you health goals in a personal consultation. This allows you to discuss with me privately what you want to accomplish in the coming year as far as your health and lifestyle. And just to top it all off you will get all of my ebooks emailed to you at regular intervals during the year depending on the season and what is relevant at that time!

I can’t think of a better way to Nourish your life!

YEARLY MEMBERSHIP to the Fully Nourished Life ($1500 – value of more than $2500)

Fully Nourished Cooking Classes
Get hands on experience with whole foods in Marni’s Kitchen and learn how to make delicious recipes for everyday enjoyment
Come once with 5 of your friends, or share 3 classes with a significant other or come to a series of 6 yourself

Life Changing Consultations

Get your very own private time with Marni to set your goals and start to implement changes right away
1 discovery consultation – with some starter ingredients to get you going!
2 follow-up consultations  to track your progress

Nourishing Resources
You’ll be enlightened with Marni’s eBooks, which are filled with recipes, tips and ideas to help make the transition to a nourished lifestyle smooth and easy

Marni’s Essentials
Expect to get 2 fully loaded packages filled with Marni’s basic and most favourite products and kitchen ingredients from grains to seeds.

10% Off all Products and Services

With special first class access to exclusive recipes, products and other events throughout the year!

Why should you join this exclusive program?

TO GET INSPIRED!
This program will change your connection to food and healthy living. You will be empowered to master your meals everyday in the kitchen!

Looking for just a taste and not ready to commit?

Get a jump start on healthy living today. And for 3 months you will experience what it’s like to be fully nourished. With a consultation to get you on the right track and classes and products to give you a taste, you will have the opportunity to make positive lifestyle changes right away – and inspire others as well.

COMPLETE TASTING of the Fully Nourished Life ($500 – value more than $800)

30 min private consultation with Marni

1 follow up session

2 Fully Nourished Cooking Classes

2 of Marni’s Health E Books

1 Fully Nourished kit filled with sustainable products, superfoods and ingredients.

The investment of a lifetime!

To learn more about this amazing membership, send us an email at

gethealthy@marniwasserman.com TODAY!

Wean Green – Thinking outside the box!

With the growing consciousness for less packaging and waste it is worth investing in storage items that are long lasting, eco friendly and that look good.

I have recently gotten my hands on some fabulous glass storage containers from Wean Green.

A company whose philosophy is well rooted around creating small enough containers that mom’s could use to store baby food and kids snacks. Whether it’s a home made puree of vegetables or for other dried snacks.  It is nice to be able to have it all portioned out and ready to-use on demand.

These containers are not only eco, fun and come in different shapes and sizes but they can be used by anyone! Let’s think outside the glass box, as I am confidant that teenagers, adults and full time CEO’s can easily load their containers with foods and snacks will compliment their lifestyle and mealtime add-ons.

Some of these containers appear to be on the small side, but that just forces you to be more creative with the space you’ve got. It also is perfect because when you make a full batch of a recipe – let’s say for something like pesto, it’s nice to be able to portion it off for each time of use. The largest size is big enough for a hearty sandwich so before you start getting squeamish that there’s not enough room, let me give you some insight as to how some of these weeny containers can benefit your life.

Here are some of favourite uses for these containers:

Making sauces, dips and spreads. This is a perfect way to store them in indvidual sections so that they can be used without defrosting or using a whole batch of a recipe all at once.

In particular for something like pesto, or sundried tomato dip…both are great store, seal and freeze for future use.

Salad Dressings. Whether you are packing it up and taking it for lunch or keeping it in the fridge – either way it is sealed, airtight abd the best part is that it’s homemade! Try this one!

Trail Mix and dry snacks. Packed in your bag, purse of kit or in the cupboard you can use a slightly bigger container to store your fav nuts seeds and dried fruits. Give it enough room to shake and mix all in. Also portion our your favourite crackers, cookies, chips from my favourite companies. That way you don’t have to use a plastic baggie or eat right out of the box (which may sound good in theory, but there is something to be said about portion control when it comes to snacking).

Puddings, Yogurt or Frozen Desserts. Whether you are making a homemade sundae or parfait and having that all portioned out is great for not only portion control but makes it easy for your when you know you want dessert – it is all ready to go for those nights that you want to curl up in front of the TV with a yummy dessert in hand. it is also great for taking breakfast or a snack with you for the day. You don’t have to worry about peeling back the lid of a yogurt container – simply fill it up at home and you are good to go.

Banana Cream

2 frozen banana’s

1 tbsp coconut butter from Artisana

1 tsp lacuma powder from Navitas Naturals

Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until thick and creamy.

Remove, scoop into a wean green container and top with hemp seeds, goji berries and cacao.

I am doing a GIVEAWAY. I am offering you the chance to get your hands on one of these beautiful containers.

But first you must tell me…

Why you want to try a Wean Green container?

What you would put into your Wean Green containers?

Tweet about @weangreen and @marniwasserman and mention this post! (Sample Tweet below)

“I want to win an @weangreen from @marniwasserman to store my delicious food! #giveaway #ecohappy“

Become of a fan of Wean Green and Delicious Knowledge on Facebook and mention this post!

If you can accomplish all of this ++….you may just be the lucky winner!

TERMS & CONDITIONS: MUST live in Toronto!!! (no exceptions, the winner has to be able to come and claim prize)

Fuel Your Workout Right

Energy bars and protein bars are perhaps one of most poorly marketed food items. Advertising leads us to believe that many common ingredients found in these all-in-one nutrition bars are actually not that bad for us – or worse, even good for us. The problem is that most of them are not even made from foods at all, but instead from synthetic derivatives from poor-quality sources.

It can be tough to figure this out on your own, so be sure to keep these tips in your back pocket next time you go to grab an energy bar.

Common ingredients:
High-fructose corn syrup: Added as an inexpensive sweetener, it is worse than regular white sugar.  It is genetically modified, and is suspected to cause insulin resistance.

Soy isolate: It may sound natural and healthy, being a soy product, but it’s not something you could make yourself (warning sign!). Instead, it is put through several acidic and alkalizing baths to remove fibre, and separate and neutralize it. It’s also processed at such high temperatures that it can change the structure of some of the protein.

Whey protein: The most popular protein out there isn’t as great as many people assume it is. While it does have a high absorption rate in the body, it is also extremely allergenic. It doesn’t contain lactose, but because it is still a dairy product it can cause mild allergenic reactions such as inflammation and bloating.

Natural flavour: This is the most unassuming item on the list as one would think that “natural flavour” equals healthy, but this ingredient is actually MSG. Commonly known to reside in take-out boxes, MSG is added as a “flavour enhancer” and could have side effects like facial pressure, headaches, nausea, and chest pains.

Fractioned palm oil: A cheap oil used for its high heat stability.  It is bleached, filtered, melted, degummed, and refined before it’s ever added to a food product.  Look out for palm kernel oil as well, as it can’t be obtained naturally; it has to be extracted from the pit with a gasoline-like solvent.

Maltodextrine (corn): Another corn product finds its way into our food with this cheap, easily digestible sweetener. It is low calorie and absorbed as quickly as regular glucose. It is nowhere near a natural product, and is genetically modified.

Artificial sweeteners (malitol, sucralose): Common sweeteners found in “health food” products are maltitol and sucralose. Maltitol is a low-calorie hydrogenated maltose made from genetically-modified corn starch. Sucralose (yes, Splenda), is calorie-free chlorinated sugar. The problem with these low- or zero-cal products is that their sweetness tricks the body into thinking it is receiving some form of energy (sugar).  When it only receives a chemical sweetener, its craving for energy isn’t satisfied, and ends up craving more sugar.

Top five things to look for in a good nutrition bar:

• Natural protein source (nuts, seeds, quinoa, brown rice protein, hemp protein)
• Natural sweeteners (brown rice syrup, honey, maple syrup, stevia)
• An understandable, short ingredient list
• It doesn’t double as a candy bar (by containing 24 grams of sugar, which is the same amount found in chocolate bars!)
• Has as few processed ingredients as possible. When in doubt, just go for the nut and seed bar. Remember to check what the sweetener is!

You can also make your own whole-food energy bars instead, with this recipe.

Energy Granola Bar

Ingredients:
¼ cup raw sesame seeds
¼ cup coconut oil
1/3 cup honey
½ cup almond butter
½ cup rice syrup
2 cups rolled oats
1 cup puffed brown rice cereal
1 cup dried apricots and raisins
½ cup pumpkin seeds
½ cup sunflower seeds

Directions:
1. Line a 13×9-inch pan with parchment paper.

2. Preheat oven to low setting (180-200F).

3. In medium saucepan, lightly toast sesame seeds over medium heat until they brown. Remove from heat.

4. Add oil, honey, almond butter and rice syrup. Stir until smooth.

5. In a large bowl, combine remainder of ingredients. Pour liquid mixture over top, and stir to combine. Do not over-mix.

6. Pack mixture into pan, pressing down firmly with back of warm, wet spatula or hands.

7. Place in preheated oven for 20 minutes.

8. Allow to cool and cut into bars with warm, wet knife. Store in fridge or freeze up to three months.

Get even more fitness-focused recipes in my Fit and Fabulous cooking class on November 7th!

Share with us!

What do you eat after a workout?

What’s your favourite energy bar?

What’s your favourite type of protein to use?

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