Ten minutes a day to a healthier life, seriously. And cookies :)

Brendan Brazier has written books about how diet and performance are interrelated, but luckily you don't have to go out and buy his book in order to hear what he has to say about performance and nutrition. He has provided a free 30 day set of lessons sent via email with text and video that you can find here: http://thrivein30.com/sign-up-now/. It will take you all of ten minutes every few days to learn about what nutrients your body truly needs and how to use food to combat stress and weight-gain, the benefits of superfoods, alkalines versus acids, physical activity and so much more. Seriously check him out, he's got some amazing stuff and you don't have to be vegan/vegetarian to learn from him.

In other news... cookies! We had a bake sale on 4/20 to feed some hungry stoned kids on campus and simultaneously raise money for charity - win-win - and so I did lots of baking! With lots of helpers who came over I made normal meringue coconut macaroons and matzoh caramel chocolate crunch for all my kosher for Passover friends, then I made these amazing Gluten free vegan carrot coconut macaroons found on my favorite blog nomeatathlete.com - http://www.nomeatathlete.com/gluten-free-macaroons/ photo below:

And I also made my "Healthier" Oatmeal cookies - one batch with dried cranberries and walnuts and one with semi-sweet chocolate chips. I say "healthier" because they still have some butter in them and brown and white sugar, but I have cut half of the butter and replaced it with applesauce and I use whole wheat flour along with the oats.

Ingredients: (makes 18-24 cookies depending on size)
1 1/2 cup oats
four ounces butter at room temperature (1/2 of a stick)
1/8 to 1/4 cup unsweetened apple sauce
1 egg or 2 egg whites
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
optional: 1/4- 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
or 1/4 cup walnuts and dried cranberries

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Beat the sugars and butter together until creamy, then add the applesauce, egg(s) and vanilla until all is well incorporated. Then add the dry ingredients (cinnamon, salt, baking soda, and flour.) Fold in the oats and either walnuts and cranberries or chocolate chips. Spoon tablespoon sized rounds onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, if they are really round, wet your fingertips and flatten out the tops a little bit to make a flatter cookie. Bake for 18-22 minutes until golden brown on the edges. Let them cool a little then enjoy!!!!