Benefits of Pilates Outside of the Studio

When I first started Pilates, I was a running and participating in triathlons.  I didn’t know what I didn’t know and I thought I was doing the best thing for my body! Until I sustained a stress fracture in my hip from overuse (or more specifically – misuse!)!  While I truly believe movement is good for our bodies, I also believe there is a smart way to move.  We are made with predispositions and our bodies will fall into patterns, unless we specifically train to avoid bad patterns and rebuild good ones! That’s where Pilates comes in! Pilates resets our bodies and retrains bad patterns in order to make everything better! Not only is Pilates great for retraining and aligning the body, it also helps me be SO aware of my body, what it is feeling, my breath, the list goes on! There are so many,  “Benefits of Pilates outside of the Studio”.

 

Tools in your Toolbox

I tell my clients all the time, Pilates gives you tools in your toolbox, so when life happens, you know how to move, stretch, and help fix your troubles, before they become big problems!  I struggle with low back tightness on a regular basis.  Through lifting kiddos and not always getting to take care of my own body before others, my back gets tight! The second I feel it coming on, I know I need to stop and take a few moments for myself, stretch out and regroup! Because of the Pilates method, I am able to know exactly what to do that is helpful and makes me feel better within minutes!

“Concentrate on the correct movement each time you exercise, lest you do them improperly and lose all vital benefits” – Joseph Pilates

My teacher heart loves to help clients do the same.  Often times, clients will come in with an ailment that happens often and I love to be able to teach them the tools to feel better on their own!

Breath Work

“Never slouch as doing so compresses the lungs, crowds other organs, rounds the back and throws you off balance.”

-Joseph Pilates

Breath work in Pilates is VITAL (and also one of the hardest parts for new clients!)!  When new clients come in, I tell them that the Pilates breath of inhale through your nose and exhale through an open relaxed jaw (as if you’re fogging up a mirror) is one of the most important, but foundational pieces to Pilates – and also, one of the last things you will feel accomplished with!  As we inhale, we are expanding our chest, ribs, back, belly and contracting the diaphragm. Often times, new clients will inhale their shoulders up and belly in.  We have lost the ability to expand through our ribs and chest!  During exhalation, our ribs draw down and together, our abdominals engage and the diaphragm relaxes and returns up to push the air out.

While this can be challenging to accomplish at first, it can aide in our movement, stress levels and even the birthing process! If I didn’t have Pilates breath work to help guide me, the delivery of my two kiddos would have been a lot more challenging! Breath work is also great to help decrease my heart rate when stressed or anxious.  I focus on making my inhale and exhale gradually longer.

I recently read that 80% of fat is excreted through respiration!!!! WHAT?!?! Fatty acids oxidize and are released in the form of CO2. (From Ben Greenfield Fitness) Wow, that’s huge! Breath is SO important and underutilized as a resource!

Pilates can help in make your daily life and movements better!  We would obviously love for you to try us out, but the goal is just to share the resource of Pilates as a way to feel better and do better through your days. Find a teacher you love and stick with it because it is transformational!

We also have on-demand videos  that are a great way to get your body moving!

In Strength and Confidence,

Stephanie

Goal Setting How To!

 

If you’re anything like me, goal setting and reflection is not something that comes naturally!  It is a skill that needs to be honed and practiced!  Over the past few years, I have really made goal setting at the beginning of the year a priority and I attribute that consistency to my Passion Planner and the book “High Performance Habits” by Brendon Burchard!! Goal setting is a great way to focus your efforts and consistently check in to see if the small steps you are making each day aligns with your greater picture!  Another way to think about that is, are you spending your time where you need to be in order to meet the goals you want to accomplish (what would your Netflix say?)?? In an effort to help make this process a little smoother, I have included some ways to help “Goal Setting for 2021” below!

Tip 1: Create a master list of all the things you want to accomplish!

This list can then be categorized in short term, mid-range, and long term – Don’t exclude anything!  After organizing the list, circle the three things that will make THE MOST difference!

Tip 2: Create a list of all the steps it takes to accomplish these goals.

Go through to each of the circle goals and create a list of all the tasks it takes to make this happen! Adding a timeframe will also help here, but not necessary! After brain dumping onto the page, organize the list in chronological order!

Tip 3: Plan it!

Plan into your weeks, the steps from Tip 2! If you see it on your calendar and work it into your schedule, you are WAY more likely to work on it!

Tip 4: Give yourself grace!

Goal planning is a process! It isn’t about it being perfect, or having hard deadlines.  This process can be fluid, rearranged, and you can return to this process periodically throughout the year or as you meet your goals! This process truely helps my brain to calm down and relax because I have a plan in place! It also makes me feel like I am always making progress instead of getting stuck in the grind!  This is also a great thing to do with a small group of close friends! It really opens up great conversation and even brainstorming! I hope you enjoy! If you try it, let us know what you think!

In Strength and Confidence,

Stephanie

Lessons Learned

As most people around this time of year, I enjoy reflecting on the past year and making a plan of action for the upcoming year! It helps organize my sometimes chaotic brain and focus my efforts.  It’s no secret, 2020 was a doozie of a year!! When I took over The Pilates Barre Studio back in 2016, I calculated my risk in owning a fitness based business…then 2020 hit. So, here are my 3 lessons learned from 2020 in my “Lessons Learned” post!

Lesson one: Pivot!

This lesson was learned not just from pivoting a shutdown, to moving exclusively virtual, and back to in studio, but from pivoting my focus and efforts! As any small business owner may know, your business is your livelihood, your passion, and your pride and joy!  Having a forced shutdown has made me realize that my babies are so young, I don’t get this time back and I need to pivot my focus to find balance! This has allowed me to have times that I turn off my phone, step away and enjoy my family.  This doesn’t make me any less passionate about the studio.  It makes me better at both, being a mom and studio owner/teacher.  It allows me to categorize my brain instead of always being in “on” mode.

Lesson two: Gratitude!

I have always known gratitude is important, but when you are at a low point emotionally, and people continue to show up, support, and encourage you, my gratitude has found a new depth! All of our clients and teachers have continued to show up and support the studio as a loving and supportive community.  This isn’t about “me” and “my” studio. This is about the relationships it has built, the community and connection it brings, and the support we have for each other!!  I don’t take it lightly that we are still open.  While other fitness businesses are closing around us, I know the depth of gratitude for being able to still have a place of restoration and rejuvenation!! We can persevere!

Lesson three: Regroup

We don’t go through hard times just to be able to say we’ve been through hard times! We go through hard times so that we can learn lessons and then pick up the pieces to move forward! The ability to regroup and move forward is just as much a skill that needs honing as anything else! 2021 hasn’t brought much change yet, but its time to stop wallowing in our sorrows, pick ourselves up, dust off, and move forward.

For me, this means I am going to do the things that bring me joy (albeit they may look different than they used to), and make sure I tell those around me how I feel!  Over the holidays, my husband jokingly said, “I think you are the only one in our family that has been wearing real clothes!”.  And while that was true, it is what I am walking into 2021 with! I am trying my best to not “save that for later”, or think “that’s for a special occasion” because we need to celebrate the days! Get dressed up, wear your fancy things, and shine! We all need your shine!

This tough season has made me feel all the feels! BUT! I am ready to move forward and keep reaching for my goals.  I’m not putting my goals off any longer, and neither should you! Keep an eye on the blog for next week’s goal setting post!

In Strength and confidence (and all your fancy things),

Stephanie

Local Gift Guide

 

Local Gift Guide

Being a local, women-owned, small business, we are always looking for ways to support other small business efforts! This year more than ever, we will be working to support other small businesses! Even though Amazon is a 2 click process and the gift is on your doorstep, these small businesses that are in out Local Gift Guide this year go ABOVE and BEYOND in so many ways! We have curated this list based on our favorite things around town and each shop has a unique reason why we love them! Enjoy the list and SHOP LOCAL!

Local Gift Guide:

  1. Soothe Massage Therapy and Body Work

Adrienne Schaefer, with Soothe, helps promote health and wellness for the mind and body through the healing art of massage therapy and bodywork. Specialties offered at her facility, Soothe Massage Therapy & Bodywork, includes swedish, deep tissue, myofascial release, prenatal, and aromatherapy! Your body will thank you!

2. Source Juicery

The Source team is knowledgeable, approachable and, most of all, passionate about providing people with healthy cold-pressed juices, homemade smoothies and a fresh mix of foods and snacks to-go. They are a definite go-to  for all your juice needs!

3. Skinn Fitness

With Lynnette you will receive individualized and personal care at every appointment! Epionce, Skin Script RX, and Baby Foot are just a few products you can purchase from her! Services include, micro dermabrasion, derma plane, chemical peels, enzyme exfoliation, relaxing facials, microcurrent and much more! www.skinnfitness.com

4. Loverly

Loverly Clothing & Textiles is a new upscale women’s boutique. Skip the drive to St. Louis and visit them for your holiday shopping needs! They offer complimentary gift wrapping and can arrange private shopping visits before and after hours!

 

5. Petaled Pail

Amy & Harley are the amazing mother-daughter team behind all of the beautiful arrangements! Every Petaled Pail design is created by their own hands providing you with the most beautiful results! Petaled Pail offers individual orders as well as subscriptions. With their subscription service give the gift that keeps on giving!

 

6. Young Living

Young Living in an essential oil company that is committed to the quality of their products!  If you are looking to reduce chemicals in your home and make a safe environment for your kids and animals this is your go-to!

 

7. Performance Chiro +

Dr. Pablo is committed to helping each patient find their path to pain free living.  He has a deep understanding of the body and its functional movement! He individualizes each plan to fit your needs!  Services include chiropractic care, adjustments, dry needling, muscle work, functional rehab, pre/postnatal pain relief, clinical fitness, pre/postnatal fitness, and youth fitness!

8. Goshen

Start your morning with a cup of coffee and Avocado Toast from Goshen Coffee Company! Not only do they have great coffee, but their other menu items are some of our favs in town such as avocado toast and the overnight oats!

 

9.  The Pilates Barre Studio and lululemon

Many don’t know that we sell lululemon as well as our Pilates and Barre services! If you don’t want to wait in the line for the store, try shopping our little retail section! We make regular orders, so we are happy to write down items you’re looking for to help meet your needs!

10. Plan, Shop, Live

Over at Plan Shop Live they believe the best way to support a balanced lifestyle is to make food that is fresh, healthy, and convenient for those on the go moments! Cover your loved ones next balanced, healthy meal from Plan Shop Live!

We are so blessed to have such an amazing array of local shops to choose from in our community! Even if you don’t choose from our Local Gift Guide, we hope you choose to shop local!

Enjoy your friends and family this holiday season!

In Strength and Confidence,

Stephanie

The Pilates Barre Studio

 

How to add more Feel Good Foods to your Feel Good Food!

You As the breeze begins to get a bit cooler and the trees start to become bare, there’s really not much that sounds better than warm comfort food. I’ve found myself on a major soup kick lately! The only thing that might be better than a warm cup of soup for dinner in November, is knowing that you don’t have to kick your yummy cold weather recipes to the curb. Instead, we’re challenging you to brainstorm how you can add more vegetables to your meals so you’re able to keep your bellies full and your brains fueled! Here are a few ways to add more feel good food to your feel good food!

Spaghetti & Meatballs

A healthy spin: Use grass-fed, organic beef or lean turkey to make your own meatballs. To add in extra protein and fiber, cook quinoa and mash it in with your beef. Whether you make your own sauce or purchase it in a jar for a quick recipe, chop up onions, green peppers, mushrooms, and/or garlic (garlic is a superfood!) sauté them and throw them in the pot of spaghetti. 

Muffins

A healthy spin: First things first- use your herbs and spices! Nutmeg, ginger, and cinnamon are a few go to’s of mine!  You can use whole wheat flour, or if you prefer gluten free, choose whichever makes you feel best! These are perfect for little ones because they’ll never know what’s in them once they’re cooked! Or, if they’re all about veggies, let them help you add in the extra vegetables. You can choose carrots, zucchini, apple, broccoli, spinach- go crazy with the color, friends! Your babies (and their growing bodies) will love you for it!

Chili

A healthy spin: Add canned pumpkin into your chili! If you’ve been to the studio, you might have seen this recipe on the front desk! It’s delicious and pumpkin is full of vitamin C and antioxidants!

Mac ‘N Cheese

A healthy spin: A crowd favorite.. so simple, so easy! Try adding in Butternut Squash! My favorite way to do this is to peel, seed, and cube a fresh butternut squash, roast it with cinnamon and local honey, and then mash it up and mix it in. But, if you’re looking to keep the simplicity, you can grab canned butternut squash from the store! Both ways get the job done!

These are just a few examples, but vegetables can really be easily added to so many of your current recipes. My favorite thing about more vegetables is that they make our plates look so beautiful! I know first hand that it’s easy to get stuck in a recipe funk, but don’t worry! If you need more help, don’t hesitate to reach out to us! We love talking about all things nutrition and are always happy to help.

In Strength and Confidence, 

Harley

Frequently Asked Questions!

Frequently Asked Questions!

Getting started in anything new, there are ALWAYS questions! Since Pilates is something that is SO new and different to many, we understand that there can be a lot of questions! We are here to help!! Here are our most Frequently Asked Questions (or Comments)!

+ “I am not flexible, so I don’t think I will be good at it!” – YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE FLEXIBLE to do Pilates or Barre – That is why we do them!! Most of our teachers are not “naturally flexible” – I certainly am not! It is something I have to work at through the practice of Pilates and Barre! The movements in both classes help to work at the end range of my natural movements, so that I build strength and mobility to increase range of motion!

+ “I am new to exercise, where do I start?” – We always recommend starting with privates (although it is not required).  This is recommended for a couple of reasons. 1. Learning the equipment and how to change it can be challenging if you’ve never done this type of workout before! 2. Each body is different and needs different things! Our teachers can walk you through challenges specific to your body, so you can complete exercises more successfully in a class setting!  If you are not able to do privates, we recommend jumping in to one of our regular Pilates Equipment classes or Barre classes.  Most are mixed level classes, so we are able to accommodate all ability levels, however, we will keep the entire class moving!

Frequently Asked Questions:

+ “Will Pilates/Barre help me lose weight?” – Exercise and moving your body burns calories! The amount of calories your burn depends on the person! The beauty with Pilates is that it will help you tone and strengthen your body, so you will start to feel and see a difference in your body before you notice the scale change.  This is an exercise system that will address areas of concern by teaching you to use your body correctly and move more efficiently! Moving and building strength will also increase your resting calorie burn!  Think of it this way – We encourage more of being in tune to the needs of your body and its abilities rather than counting calories to a certain size or weight goal! Don’t get me wrong, we like goals just as much as the next girl, but if we take a deep breath, and move our bodies BETTER, the rest will come!

+ “Do I have to be in shape to do Pilates or Barre?” – NO!! If you started a running routine, you wouldn’t expect to be able to go out and run a marathon on your first day! We realize there is a learning curve to understanding the equipment, cues, and movements! If there is one thing we do really well, it is that we make every ability level feel comfortable and celebrate their accomplishments with them! We genuinely want to see you succeed and help you learn your body better!!

+ “What do I need for class?” – We require grip socks for all of our classes now! A bottled water may also be a need during class, but we do have water and a water bottle filling station in the studio! We recommend comfortable clothes that you can move easily in! Running low on leggings? No problem! We sell lululemon at the studio too!

+ “What if I can’t make it to my scheduled time?” – We have a two hour cancellation policy for classes and a 24 hour cancellation policy for privates! Just let us know of schedule changes outside of those windows, and we are happy to change things for you! We also will waive your first late cancellation each year!

+ “How often do I have to do Pilates or Barre?” – We get this question a LOT and it really depends on you, your goals, and your schedule!  To see results in a steady way, we recommend 3-4 times per week, but we understand that not everyones schedule can accommodate this!  Pilates and Barre aren’t like other workouts where you need a day or more of rest! It is safe to do everyday after getting settled into a routine!

We know there are a lot of questions when starting something new, but we want you to know that we are here for you every step of the way! If you want to come and see the studio, we would love to have you visit and answer any questions YOU may have!

Email: info@thepilatesbarrestudio.com

Phone: (618)660-7680

See you in the studio soon!

In Strength and Confidence,

Stephanie

 

Check your Nutrition Labels!

Here’s Your Reminder To Check Your Nutrition Labels Before You Buy!

We all love a good story, right? Especially one involving sneaky ingredients. I was grabbing some ketchup out of my refrigerator a couple of days ago and took a look at the ingredients. Which one was number two, you might be wondering? High Fructose Corn Syrup. A bit puzzled, I threw it away, because we don’t need that extra sweet (in the worst way), highly processed, non-sense. A day later, my dad grilled burgers for dinner. He went to the refrigerator to get some ketchup and.. guess what wasn’t in there? 😉 The ketchup. I forgot to pick up some more and needless to say, he was not the happiest camper. But, his body was a happier camper. What are daughters for, right?

Truth is, maybe adding a little bit of ketchup to his burger might not have hurt him too terribly in the moment, but there are popular name brand products that we are used to grabbing off the shelf at the grocery store that have processed ingredients in them that are not benefitting our bodies. 

Nutrition Label Tips

Here are some tips to help you next time you’re grabbing ketchup, or crackers, or anything other than fresh fruits and vegetables.

  1. Ingredients listed first are the most predominant in your product.
  2. If you can’t pronounce an ingredient in the food you’re buying (or don’t know what it is), look for an alternative.
  3. Strive to buy products that have 5 ingredients or less.
  4. Shop predominantly on the perimeter of the grocery store.
  5. Be careful for “all natural” labels on your boxes, bags, etc. It should always prompt a peek to the nutrition label to see what’s actually inside. 

I encourage you, next time you’re at the grocery store to challenge yourself to keep your cart about 85% fresh foods, whether it’s fruits, vegetables, or meat.

We want to know, have you been one to look at ingredients you are purchasing before today?

 

In Strength and Confidence,

 

Harley

Pilates for Scoliosis – It has your Back!

Pilates for Scoliosis!

I’ve said before that Pilates is for EVERY body and that includes people with scoliosis! If you have scoliosis, your body is naturally pulled off center and in turn uses the muscles differently from one side to the other.  Because Pilates helps to balance out the body and connect the mind to muscle activation, it is SO beneficial for people with scoliosis. Pilates for scoliosis looks a little differently because we will be working the two sides of the body differently!

What happens to the muscles with Scoliosis

Imagine your spine was an “s” shape. The top of the “s” would be the convex side of the spine.  The muscles on this side are overstretched, overdeveloped, and tight. The inside of the top of the “s” is the concave side of the spine.  The muscles on this side of the spine are underdeveloped and tight!  Below are the 2 goals for each side of the body to stay pain free with a curved spine!

Goals for the Lesson:

Convex Side of the Spine:

  1. Release tight muscles through pressure point release.  Rolling the muscles on this side of the spine will help to release the muscles.  We do not want to stretch this side because that will push you into the curve of your spine in a way that accentuates that curve.
  2. Increase Strength through exercises.  Exercises on this side of the body need to be done in a way that strengthen the muscles without pushing your spine further into its natural curve.

Concave Side of the Spine:

  1. Stretch open the concave side.  Stretching this side of the spine should feel like a welcomed relief! By opening up this side, you are creating necessary mobility where the body wants to sink! Putting a ball under the opposite side and laying over it will help to stretch the concave side open!
  2. Increase strength through exercises.  Exercises on this side of the body are usually very challenging due to the atrophied nature of the muscles. Exercises may be very small and light weights to start until the strength starts to build.

While Pilates can’t fix scoliosis, it can be a great way to manage pain and stay mobile.  The key to staying pain free is staying mobile and create as much balance as possible!  Pilates can be a great option to increase mobility and stay pain free! Some additional online resources for scoliosis are HERE.

In Strength and Confidence,

Stephanie

3 Reasons to do a Virtual Challenge!

 

Have you heard?! We’re doing a challenge! 10 workouts in 10 days, with the option to receive a nutrition plan. Sometimes challenges can seem a bit overwhelming, but how would they seem if you looked at it as an opportunity to start fresh, or to create a new routine? From my own personal experience, let me fill you in on our 3 reasons to do a virtual challenge right now!

Challenges Can Be At Your Convenience.

The emails will arrive in your inbox each morning, but you can do the workout whenever your schedule allows. We recommend that you do the class close to the same time each day. This will give you the chance to keep that time block open to continue your exercise routine once the challenge is over. I am a firm believer of, if it’s not on the calendar, it won’t get done. If you’ve never scheduled your workouts, maybe this challenge can offer more than the physical benefits? 

You Can Be Curious In The Comfort Of Your Own Home

Some can be a bit skeptical of new styles of movement. I get it.. we’re six-ish months into online workouts and I’m still the person who turns off the camera during zoom sessions. The beauty of this challenge is that you have the chance to listen to your body each and every day in your home. You can be curious and push yourself or you can take the modification if that feels better for you.

It’ll Offer You A Reset.

This pandemic has disrupted normalcy in almost every aspect. For all my fellow creatures of habit, feeling the benefits of consistency and the extra push, can make such a difference. If you’ve been to the studio recently, you’ve probably seen the sign outside of our door that says, “When you move your body, you change your mind.” It’s so true. When we exercise and challenge ourselves, our body releases endorphins which improve our mood, boost our self-esteem, and reduce stress.

Want to join in on the fun? You can find the link to the challenge right here!

10 Classes in 10 Days Challenge

Challenge With 2 weeks of nutrition and meal planning

With Strength and Confidence, 

Harley

Healthy kid’s snacks!!

Back to school, whether that is virtual from home, hybrid, or in person, means kids are HUNGRY!!! If they are anything like my kids, they are eating non-stop and it is a constant battle between feeding them to satisfy and getting them to eat healthy! With these two recipes, you don’t have to choose! My kids love these healthy kid’s snacks and devour them!

About the Recipes:

The two recipes below are the healthy kid’s snacks that I like to make in bulk and either freeze or eat throughout the week.  They are great added on to meals or as a quick-grab snack!  I have chosen these two recipes for two reasons 1. easy 2. healthy! The hulk muffins are a blender recipe, so it is super easy to throw everything in a blender, blend, and pour! Little mess, super easy, kids can help, and I know they like them – win, win, win, win!  The Banana Peanut Butter Cookies are easy because there aren’t many ingredients and there is NO added sugar!!

The hulk muffins have two large cups (sometimes I add more) of spinach in them, so I know that my kiddos are getting dark leafy greens! This is a vegetable that is hard for me to get them to eat in its natural form, so anytime I can sneak it in, I do!! Spinach adds vitamins A, K, B12, B6, and E, along with manganese and folate! (Check out our 5 vegtables that boost immunity blog post here!)

The Banana Peanut butter cookies I love because the kids love helping pour the ingredients, they only take about 8 minutes to throw together and I can add in a few extra ingredients such as chia, flax, or raisins and the kids don’t notice!

Recipes:

First recipe we call Hulk Muffins (or turtle muffins!)! They turn out green, but are yummy, so the kids LOVE them!

SPINACH BANANA MUFFINS

Recipe credit comes from Joyfoodsunshine.com (Spinach Banana Muffins)

 Prep Time5 minutes
 Cook Time25 minutes
 Total Time30 minutes
 Servings16 Muffins
 Calories124.7kcal
 AuthorLaura

Ingredients
  • 2 cups old fashioned oats
  • ¼ cup ground flaxseed
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • ½ cup coconut sugar or your favorite granulated sugar
  • ½ cup almond milk
  • 2 cups packed spinach leaves
  • ¼ cup coconut oil
  • 2 extra-ripe large bananas
  • 2 eggs**
  • 1 tsp vanilla
Instructions
  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Grease or line a muffin tin.
  • Put 2 cups of old-fashioned oats in your blender (Vitamix) and blend until the oats achieve the texture of flour. Transfer to a medium mixing bowl.
  • Add the rest of the dry ingredients to the oat flour (ground flaxseed, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and sugar). Set aside.
  • Add almond milk to the blender followed by 2 cups of spinach. Blend together until completely smooth and homogenous.
  • Add bananas and coconut oil and blend until smooth.
  • Add vanilla and eggs and blend until just combined
  • Pour wet ingredients to dry mixture and stir to combine (making sure there are no lumps)!
  • Fill each well in your muffin tin with ¼ cup of batter. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean and the top springs back when touched.
Notes
**for vegan version substitute 2 eggs with 2 TBS ground chia seeds and 5 TBS water.
*** I sometimes substitute coconut sugar for regular sugar.
Nutrition
Serving: 1muffin | Calories: 124.7kcal | Carbohydrates: 16.9g | Protein: 2.7g | Fat: 5.6g | Cholesterol: 23.3mg | Potassium: 87.7mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 415IU | Vitamin C: 3.3mg | Calcium: 24mg | Iron: 0.8mg
BANANA PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
 Servings 15 Cookies
Ingredients
  • 3 ripe bananas mashed
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 3/4 cup natural chunky peanut butter (can substitute other nut butters)
  • 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
  • 2 cups old-fashioned oats
  • 1/2 cup whole wheat flour (I use 1 to 1 gluten free substitute)
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 cup non-dairy chocolate chips or raisins (or both!)
Instructions:
  • preheat oven to 350. Line baking sheet with parchment paper
  • In a large bowl, mix the bananas, vanilla, peanut butter, and maple syrup until they are creamy consistency.
  • In a separate bowl, combine the oats, flour, and baking powder
  • Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir until they are will combined.  The batter should be slightly sticky.
  • Fold in the chocolate chips or raisins.
  • Place the rounded, heaping tablespoon-sized balls of the batter onto the lined baking sheet. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes.
  • Gobble these up while they’re still warm!

Enjoy!

Although I am calling them healthy kid’s snacks, truth is the whole family gobbles them up! Let me know your thoughts on the recipes if you try them! We would love to hear your feedback!  We would also love to hear about your healthy go-to recipes!
In strength and confidence,
Stephanie