Waffles are the ultimate comfort food – unfortunately, they are usually also loaded with fat and other unhealthy ingredients. If you are looking for a healthy but no less yummy version of waffles to pop into your kids’ lunchboxes or have ready for a quick breakfast or afternoon snack, please give my waffles a try.
If you don’t have a waffle maker (I highly recommend this mini waffle maker from Kmart), the batter also works for mini pancakes!
For 12 mini waffles, you will need:
2 cups oats 1.5 cups plant milk or water 1 cup apple sauce 1 tbsp flaxseed (optional, but thickens the batter up nicely) 1 tbsp raw sugar or other sweetener 2 tsp of vanilla essence 1 tsp cinnamon (optional) 1 tsp baking powder pinch of salt
Blend all ingredients in a high-powered blender until smooth. Let sit for a few minutes for the batter to thicken. Heat up your waffle maker according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Make waffles according to the manufacturer’s instructions and enjoy!
If you could eat gelato while taking in three serves of veg and two serves of fruit, does that sound to good to be true? Well, you’re in for a treat! With this beetroot acai smoothie bowl, you’re not only giving your body five serves of fruit and veg with bucketloads of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fibre but also high-quality protein as well as omega 3s! And as long as you have some grated beetroot and kale ready (I’d recommend to always keep a serve in your freezer!), it comes together so quickly and easily that you don’t even have to get up early!
As you might have guessed from the hint I dropped above, this beetroot acai smoothie bowl contains beetroot, but wait! I totally understand that not everyone is as crazy as me (or Aussies in general) about beetroot, but you should really give it a try! Besides beetroot’s nutritional benefits such as for your blood, kidneys and skin, it imparts a lovely purple colour to this smoothie. If you use a good-quality vegan protein powder, the earthy taste really shouldn’t be too pronounced. If you’re still skeptical, start with a small serve of beetroot and then work your way up. It’s a great addition to your morning routine and also a colourful change to the ubiquitous green smoothies. Or add a frozen banana – this will make your smoothie bowl even sweeter and creamier and bring this smoothie up to three serves of fruit instead of two!
While the Australian recommendation today is to consume five serves of veg and two serves of fruit and no longer 3+2, I think getting in 3 veg and 2-3 fruit in the AMs is still a great achievement. If you want to take it up a notch, feel free to add some more veg to this, such as zucchini which also adds some bulk without altering the flavour, or sweet potato (yes, you can have raw sweet potato!)
Beetroot Acai Smoothie Bowl
Beetroot Acai Smoothie Bowl
Serves one
1 cup plant milk 2 cups mixed berries raspberries a handfull of roughly shredded kale a handful of spinach half a cup handful of grated beetroot frozen banana (optional) (more carbs, but also more flavour and nutrition!) 1 tbsp dry acai powder 3 tbsp vegan vanilla protein powder
Toppings: chia seeds, hemp seeds, granola, goji berries, coconut flakes etc.
Blitz all ingredients bar the toppings in a high-powered blender, scoop into a bowl, top with your favourite toppings and…
Nat's Ladle 