Protein Packed Granola Bars

Add a little Life to your granola bars!

Finding your favorite granola bar recipe can take some trial and error baking, at least that's what I have found.  I love that these are simple to make and bake up nice.  They taste delicious and bonus...they're healthy too!

Ingredients

1 Cup Rolled Oats

1/4 Cup Shaklee Vanilla or Chocolate Protein Powder*

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 Cup unsalted Peanut Butter (or omit adding salt if your peanut butter is salted)

1/4 Cup Sugar

1/4 Cup Maple Syrup

1 Tablespoon melted coconut oil

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 Tablespoon mini chocolate chips

Directions

1.  Preheat oven 350 F. Line an 8x8 square baking dish with parchment paper.

2. In a small bowl, combine peanut butter, sugar. maple syrup, melted coconut oil, and vanilla. Mix until combine well.

3.  In a larger bowl, combine rolled oats, protein powder, cinnamon and salt.

4.  Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients until completely blended. Then fold in chips, mixing well.

5. Transfer batter to baking dish, spreading into an even layer, making sure to press evenly and into the corners.

6.  Bake at 350 F for 15-17 minutes.  Bars will be light brown.  Remove from oven, cool in pan for at least 20 minutes.  Lift the parchment paper out of baking pan and set on cutting board.  Slice bars when completely cool.

7.  Optional:  drizzle some melted chocolate over top of bars before cutting.

*I choose to use the Shaklee Life protein powder as it is natural, non-gmo, and free of any artificial ingredients.  Shaklee conducts over 350 tests to confirm their products are free of any contaminants, plus I love their philosophies and passion for always doing what is right.  Learn more about their commitments and what they call, The Shaklee Difference.

Healthy Peanut Butter Fudge

                                        Simple Goodness!
This yummy protein-packed snack is sure to be a requested treat over and over again. And whipping up a batch of 50 healthy snacks in less than 10 minutes with only 6 ingredients, no baking required--means you'll enjoy making them!

 

Packed with protein, these delicious snacks are also nutritious.  Perfect after school, after a work-out or anytime!

  Healthy Peanut Butter Fudge Recipe:

1-Cup Organic Peanut or Nut Butter product
1-Cup Your Favorite Granola, Oatmeal, Coconut, Raisins, Small Nuts, Or Seeds
1-Cup Chocolate or Carob Chips
1-Cup Shaklee Protein Powder (Vanilla or Chocolate)
3/4-Cup mixture of pure Maple Syrup and Honey


1). Mix all ingredients together until well blended
2). Roll or scoop into 1" balls
3). Enjoy!


Store any uneaten snacks in sealed container.  They freeze well too!  
Makes approximately 50 snacks.


To your health~

Denise Gaskell
Gaskell Healthy Solutions
Offering Tips & Tools for Optimal Health
Proudly Sharing Shaklee Products for 30 years
www.gaskell@myshaklee.com

Indulge in a Healthy Sundae treat

Tips for creating nutritious & delicious treats that you and your family will enjoy all summer long. 

Often times when we think of enjoying a treat, we may think of words like, indulging. Actually when I looked up the definition of indulge, the sentence summed it up!

in-dulge
verb
allow oneself to enjoy the pleasure of. 
Example sentence: "we indulged in some hot fudge sundaes" 

I'm forever seeking tricks to creating healthy treats that not only taste delicious but offer little guilt~ and honestly, knowing the treats are healthy, I'm ok with a little indulgence-often!

One of the best tips I've learned for making treats healthy is to add protein to a snack or treat as the protein will help to fill us up~therefore, we typically eat less.  I look to add plant proteins like nuts, seeds, beans, legumes, soy, etc.  I've also learned that if I make the treat look like other, "indulgences" I seem to enjoy it more, and so does my family!

Here's a couple recipes that feel like you may have indulged but truly you are eating a healthy snack~

Blueberry Sundae Delight

Put 1/4 cup plain yogurt in bottom of sundae glass (I use plain greek yogurt as it offers low sugars and high protein)
Add 1 scoop protein powder  (I use Shaklee Life protein powder as it is natural, non-gmo, and truly delicious).
Top with another 1/4 cup of plain yogurt
Add a handful of blueberries or any berries!
Add a dollop of Truwhip
Add a cherry!
~ENJOY~

Packed with protein, this treat is very easy to make and seriously delicious and if I do say so myself,  beautiful!

Craving chocolate or love coconut?  This is another favorite: 

Coconut Chip Sundae Dream

Simply layer the protein powder between yogurt and top with chocolate chips, coconut & a cherry!

You could definitely add nuts, seeds, other berries, bananas, etc. I'd love to know how you would create a healthy sundae! What toppings or ingredients would you add in?

Below are a few of my favorite, "indulgent" products!

Shaklee Life Protein Powder

Truwhip

A yummy and healthier alternative to other whip toppings. 

Stonyfield Organic Greek Yogurt

Fighting Insomnia Naturally

 

Prevent Sleeplessness Without Medication

Author: Dr. Pierre Dubois

Do you struggle to fall asleep at night?  Do you find yourself wide awake at three in the morning staring up at the ceiling and wondering if you’ll fall back to sleep at all before your alarm goes off?
If you answered “yes”, you are not alone. Research has shown that up to 50 percent of the population suffers from insomnia with up to a third having struggled with it for at least a year.
 

How Much Sleep Do You Need?

The average adult requires a little over 8 hours of sleep each day.  However, very few people are able to manage that with lives that are more hectic than ever. Jobs, children and other obligations require us to be up with the birds and to go to bed far later than we would if we were following our own biological rhythm. A disruption to our circadian rhythm, which governs our hormone production, body temperature and sleep, can lead to insomnia.
 

What Does Insomnia Do To Us?

We need adequate, restful sleep in order to perform at our best. Prolonged insomnia can cause mental fuzziness and interfere with how you perform your daily activities. It also increases your risk of depression, headaches, auto accidents, and can lead to substance abuse.

Of course, worrying about the lack of sleep you are getting rarely helps you get more sleep! Stress, anxiety, and widespread use of coffee and alcohol are some of the greatest contributors to insomnia.
 

How Do You Fight Insomnia?

Learning how to manage stress effectively is one of the best ways to increase your chances of getting a good night’s sleep, and making some changes to your lifestyle may make a difference in the number of hours of sleep you get. The following are the top 10 strategies you can use:

•    Get regular exercise before dinner, which can help put your body in a restful state by bedtime. Just be sure not to exercise too close to bedtime, as this will likely make you restless.

•    Try to get out in the late afternoon sun as often as possible to stimulate melatonin release, which will help get your circadian rhythm back on track.

•    Use stress reduction techniques such as yoga, meditation and Tai Chi, which are great ways to help teach your mind and body to relax.

•    Caffeine and smoking keep the body stimulated. Try to avoid them from mid-afternoon on, and keep your consumption of alcohol to a minimum.

•    Eat a small snack of protein with a complex carbohydrate just before bed, such as peanut butter on a whole-grain cracker. It can keep your blood sugar from dipping too low and waking you up in the night.

•    Keep to the same sleeping and waking schedule every day and don’t change it by more than an hour on weekends.

•    Avoid television or computer use at least an hour before bedtime, as it stimulates the brain, making it difficult to fall asleep.

•    Keep your bedroom dark, quiet and cool.

•    If you are lying awake for more than about 20 minutes, get up and go sit in another dimly lit room until you feel sleepy.

By Denise Gaskell:
Need a little more help falling & staying asleep?

  Try Gentle Sleep Complex~
This unique Shaklee combination features passion flower, German chamomile, and valerian. Valerian has been used for over a thousand years to help maintain a calm state, promote relaxation, and foster restful sleep Swallow tables or crush and mix as a tea. .
 

These strategies have proven useful for many people in getting them back to a regular sleeping rhythm. Give them a try — they may help you too!


To your health~Denise Gaskell
Gaskell Healthy Solutions
gaskellwellness@comcast.net
www.gaskell.myshaklee.com

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Stop Hating on Yourself~

                            

When was the last time you stood in front of the mirror....looked in the mirror and thought good thoughts?

Be honest with yourself, what are the thoughts that run thru your head when you look in the mirror, or when you get dressed, when you go out shopping, or while eating?  Are you using  positive, healthy words?
Are they words you would say out-loud to anyone else?  Probably not.  Sadly, many people hate their bodies--or at least some "part" of their body and not only are those negative thoughts and negative self talk unhealthy, it may have long-term negative effects for you and your family as well.

According to Rice University some of the effects of having a negative body image include:

• emotional distress
•  low self-esteem
• unhealthy dieting habits
•  anxiety 
•  depression 
• eating disorders 
• take risks with their sexual health
• social withdrawal
• stop doing healthy activities that require you to show your body, such as exercising, having sex, going to the doctor, or swimming

So, how do we Stop Hating and Learn to Love our Bodies?
   
Step One:  Create a goal. 
What is it that YOU would like to achieve?  Improved health, workout more, fit into skinny jeans, less stress, reduce disease risk, wear a swimsuit, sleep better, have more energy, look healthier, better eating habits, have more self confidence?

Step Two:  Write it down!--in several places; on sticky notes, on your calendar, in your phone, put them in several places to remind you daily.  Use positive words & affirm your goal daily--out loud would be best!
     
Here are a few examples:
"Like a powerful magnet, I easily attract healthy, positive people into my life"
"I feel nourished, healthy, and fit. I am zipping up my favorite jeans and I look and feel great!"
"Working out gives me an abundance of energy and makes me feel youthful!"
    


Step Three:  Keep track of your successes. Log healthy activities in your phone, on an app, ( I use this Shaklee app to keep track of my calories, my healthy activities, and to track my mood as well) or journal your daily successes in a book.  Write down positive statements about yourself. Every night before going to bed, make a list of all the things you accomplished, no need to go through all the things you "should have" done.  Keep your thoughts positive and focused on your accomplishments.

Step Four:  Reward Yourself!  After achieving a goal you set, celebrate your success. Celebrating an achieved goal will help keep you motivated. Decide ahead of time of what your reward will be.  Maybe its a long herbal bubble bath, a trip to the library, new outfit, a walk with a friend, or even some dark chocolate!
You deserve to be rewarded.  Enjoy it.  

Step Five:  Repeat!  Committing to creating a goal and making it stick may not be easy, but you will be thrilled with the long-term results. Take it one day at a time. In addition, feel free to "re-do" a goal.  No one says you can only have the goal once. It's about getting to a place where you are able to Love yourself and your body.


~Be Outstanding~

Denise Gaskell
Gaskell Healthy Solutions
gaskellwellness@comcast.net

Make Your Goals Stick This Year #makeitstick

Happy, Healthy New Year! 

 A little recap:  This past year I aged to a speed limit; I turned 45!  2013 was a year of personal reflection and taking inventory of my beliefs and desires. There seems to be one simple theme which consistently comes to the forefront of my thoughts, “Being Thankful!”   2014 marks the 25^th year I have been using Shaklee products. I am so very thankful someone shared Shaklee with me all those years ago!  Both the Shaklee products and the business opportunity have given me and my family countless blessings. 


What goals do you have for this New Year?  

If you’re like most, getting healthy, losing weight, traveling more, and earning additional money are at the top of the list. 
 

 For many, setting a goal may be the easy part; the difficulty comes in making it stick!  
And #makeitstick is Shaklee’s theme for 2014.  Our goal is to help people achieve both their health and wealth goals.  Made a goal to get healthier?  Share it on the Shaklee 180 Facebook page and enter to win Shaklee 180 products or iPhone 5S!  This Year, #makeitstick.  
 

Make Your Weight Loss Goals Stick

Delicious things are in your future! 
What if your life could get a little sweeter and a lot healthier?  How does, Mango Smoothie, White Chocolate Cinnamon, Chocolate Coconut, and Cherry Almond sound?  These delicious new flavors have been added to the already yummy Shaklee 180 product line!  You will find the smoothies and bars are packed with all the nutritional needs to keep you healthy, and the mouth watering flavors to keep you satisfied!    Whether you are looking to maintain, or lose inches, Shaklee 180 will help you #makeitstick 

Goals & the 2014 Winter Olympics!

Creating goals and making them stick are certainly activities that Olympians must work at every day in order to achieve their dreams.  The Olympic athlete pushes not only their minds but their bodies to the extreme in order to achieve the extraordinary.  However, many Olympians will choose NOT to use supplements as they are concerned with unhealthy, and even unsafe ingredients.  At Shaklee, we are thrilled to not only provide support, but also provide Shaklee products to many Olympians over the years.

Shaklee Pure Performance Team member, Matt Emmons, a three-time Olympic medalist for the USA in marksmanship has this to say,
"On the morning before I competed in the 2012 Olympic Games in the three-position rifle event, I knew I'd shoot well and would win a medal. As a result, I also knew I'd be tested by the anti-doping committee. I have so much confidence in the purity of Shaklee products that I absolutely stuck with my supplement program every day before and the day of my event."

 

Shaklee-powered athletes have won over 100 medals at both the summer and winter Games.  To learn more about The Shaklee Pure Performance Team and the athletes to watch in Sochi, visit:  http://athletes.shaklee.com/us/en/
I am passionate about helping people achieve their goals and dreams!  Whether you're looking to improve your health or your wealth, please feel free to contact me as I am truly happy to help. 

Wishing you countless Blessings in 2014~
Denise Gaskell
Gaskell Healthy Solutions
www.gaskell.myshaklee.com
gaskellwellness@comcast.net

Tuesday's Healthy Turnaround Tip~Eat Breakfast! Quick & Easy ways to LOVE Breakfast time

Tuesday's Healthy Turnaround Tip~

This week's simple suggestion for improve long-term health....Eat Breakfast!

Whether you're sick & tired of being sick & tired, or just ready to take your health to the next level, this Healthy Turnaround Tip is sure to help you achieve your goal.

You won't find fad diet tips, extreme meal changes, or excessive work-out plans...as it really is the simple actions we do every day that will get us to our optimal health.

This week's simple Tuesday Turnaround Tip is...Don't Skip Any Meal...Especially Breakfast!

Have you ever run your vehicle out of gas...or rolled into the station crossing your fingers and praying you won't run out? Now picture yourself getting up and skipping breakfast, or hoping that the cup of coffee you downed will get you thru the morning?  How far to you think you will get in your day? This is a great analogy because obviously you can't run a car on empty, but it's the same for our bodies.

Food is our fuel and if you want to start your day right you must eat healthy meals. Without food it's harder to concentrate, you're more likely to be tired, moody and you're probably thinking about lunch way sooner than it will arrive. And did you know, skipping meals only make you hungrier and you will overeat later?
In addition and more importantly, studies have now linked skipping breakfast to harming your health, impairing your heart, increasing your risk of heart disease, obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and may lead to poor long term health.

Let's stop making excuses and get started on making breakfast a priority for you and your family!

So what does a healthy breakfast look like? The ideal meal should include high-fiber carbohydrates for quick energy, lean protein that digests slowly to help you feel full, and some healthy fat for satiety. This breakfast combo should keep you satisfied for at least three hours. If it doesn't, and you feel hungrier after eating breakfast, then it's probably because you had too many carbs and not enough protein.



Easy breakfast ideas are:
• One cup low-fat plain organic Greek yogurt, with a ½ cup of  high-fiber cereal (minimum 3 grams fiber, and fiber grams should be higher than sugar grams) and a cup of blueberries.
• A whole-wheat English muffin with 2 tablespoons organic peanut butter and banana slices or raisins.
• One cup of high-fiber cereal with 1 cup milk or preferably a milk alternative like rice, almond, organic soy, etc, add a sprinkle of almonds or walnuts, and ½ cup sliced strawberries.
• A half-cup of dry oats cooked (not instant) with 1 cup non-dairy milk, a tablespoon of chia, or flax seeds, a sprinkle of cinnamon, add a handful of nuts or dried fruit..
*Two whole wheat tortillas smeared with an organic nut butter and filled with sliced fruit.
*Two whole wheat tortillas filled with sauteed (in olive oil) veggies from last night's leftovers!
• Two slices of whole-wheat toast smeared with tofu cream cheese, topped with three scrambled egg whites and a tomato slice.
*One whole-grain bagel slice with a generous amount of olive oil and topped with avocado & tomato 
* Protein Shake. A quick and easy breakfast is only a shake away! ...And my favorite is the Shaklee 180 Smoothee Mix as it is delicious, easy to mix, filling, and will help you stay energized and take inches off!

Not hungry or  "have no time?" try these:
• One "granola" type meal bar, I love the Shaklee Meal-in-a-Bar as it is packed with the healthful nutrients, NO artificial ingredients and will Protein and fiber to help keep you feeling full and satisfied for hours.
• One hard-boiled egg and a banana.
• One cup plain organic plain Greek yogurt flavored with fruit.
• One whole-grain waffle with 1 tablespoon organic peanut butter.
• One apple, pear, or other fruit with 1 tablespoon organic peanut butter.
*Its worth repeating...A Protein Shake!. A quick and easy breakfast is only a shake away! ...And my favorite is the Shaklee 180 Smoothee Mix as it is delicious, easy to mix, filling, and will help you stay energized and take inches off!


The take-home message here is to EAT BREAKFAST!

May 12th-May 18th 2013 is Women's Health Week. What Are You Doing to Take Care of YOU?

•

How to Optimize Your Health At Every Age!

                      3 simple steps to take care of YOU~

1. Eat Healthy:
Many women are eating on the go, skipping meals, making poor food choices...sound familiar?  We truly are what we eat and we pass along those eating habits to our children.  We must make healthy food choices to live a healthy and productive life.
Tips:  Be sure to eat a variety of foods, Get plenty of whole grains, beans, legumes, fresh fruits and vegetables, Choose lean meat, fish, poultry, non-fat or low-fat dairy and soy.  Select "healthy fats"-avoid trans fats and saturated fats, eat more omega three fatty acids (fish and flax) and monounsaturated fats (olive oil, nuts, seeds). Watch sodium intake. Drink plenty of water. Cut back or even eliminate fast food, soda, and other junk food.

2. Be Active:
Exercise reduces risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and some cancers. Being active also helps people achieve and maintain a healthy body weight. Exercise reduces feelings of depression, stress, anxiety and promotes psychological well-being. Other benefits of exercise include building and maintaining healthy bones, muscles and joints, promotes flexibility and balance.
Tips:  Approximately 30 minutes a day; Take a brisk walk, dance, actively play, jog, bike, run, weight train, garden, take the stairs, always park farther away, stretch & take fitness breaks throughout the day,

3. Manage Stress:
Women are the world's best jugglers...however there is a price to pay and that is women have more stress than ever.  The health consequences of stress include digestive issues, compromised immune function, sleep disorders, weight gain, heard disease, and more.  It is estimated that 75%-90% of doctor visits are stress related. 
Tips for stress management:  Identify stressors in your life, Schedule personal relaxation time, Choose good foods & nutrition, Exercise regularly, Rest/Sleep more, try Shaklee's Stress Relief Complex: Item #20656

DID YOU KNOW?

To date, The #1 Killer for women is Heart Disease.  Every minute a women dies from Heart Disease and since 1998, more women than men have died of Heart Disease. 

80% of those affected by Osteoporosis are women, 20% bone mass is lost 5-7 years after menopause

Stress has been linked to all the leading causes of death such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, accidents, and suicide. 

1 in 25 women will die of breast cancer & studies show our diet plays a role in breast cancer occurrence

•Did you also know: 

Poor health is NOT an inevitable consequence of aging!

•Much of illness, disability and death from chronic disease is preventable through a healthy lifestyle and early detection practices!  

I have been using the Shaklee supplements for over 20 years.  I absolutely love that their products are Natural, have NO artificial ingredients, and have been clinically proven to work.  Thousands of women have noticed a considerable difference in their health by taking Shaklee supplements.  Here's a simple chart to help you get started:

Shaklee Helps Optimizes Women’s Health-100% Guaranteed

All Stages	Special Needs    (20s - late 30s)      Pregnancy	Special Needs   (Late 30s – 40s)   Perimenopause	Special Needs  (Late 40s – 50+)       Heart  Health
Vitalizer ™ Women Stress Relief Complex* Shaklee 180®	Vita-Lea® w/Iron B Complex OsteoMatrix® OmegaGuard® Fiber Plan® Iron Plus C	Menopause Balance Complex* Osteomatrix® Gentle Sleep Complex* Moodlift® Complex*	OmegaGuard® CoQHeart® Shaklee Fiber Plan® OsteoMatrix®

Implementing the above tips is sure to help you look and feel more energized, healthy, and youthful!  In addition, choosing Shaklee's #1 Natural Nutritional Supplements is a great way to improve your health~guaranteed!
Be sure that You are taking care of YOU!

Wishing you a Wonderful Spring, A Lovely Mothers Day, and Years full of Healthful Aging!

Got questions? Feel free to email me or visit:  www.gaskell.myshaklee.com 

      Herbal Formulas:  How Herbs Work:

From the earliest times, herbs have been prized for their pain-relieving and healing abilities and today we still rely on the curative properties of plants in about 75% of our medicines.

The variety and sheer number of plants with therapeutic properties are quite astonishing.  It is estimated that around 70,000+ plant species, from lichens to towering trees, have been used at one time or another for medical purposes.

Herbs, which have always been the principal form of medicine in developing counties, are once again becoming popular throughout the developed world, as people strive to stay healthy in the face of chronic stress, pollution, and to treat illness with medicines that work in concert with the body's own defenses.

Here are some Did You Know Facts? About herbs:

• •Herbs are classified as plants valued for flavor, scent, or other qualities. Any portion of the plant may be considered an “herb,” including leaves, roots, flowers, seeds, resin, root, bark, inner bark, berries, and other plant parts. Herbs are often referred to as Botanicals.

•

• •Herbs have been used for several thousand years and have been used to help combat illnesses from minor coughs & colds to life-threatening diseases such as tuberculosis and malaria.

•

• •Herbs are NOT drugs; in fact, they work very differently in the body.  Herbs are foundation nutrients working through the glands, and nourishing the body’s most basic elements.

•

• •Herbs are powerful nutritional agents and work better in combination of two or more complimentary botanicals.

• •Herbal combinations are not habit-forming.

 As much as herbal combinations offer fantastic health benefits, there are those individual herbal ingredients and products that have been proven to cause harm.  Certain herbs can have adverse effects ranging from nausea and vomiting to life-threatening conditions like liver or kidney dysfunction.  For example, in 2002 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a warning about potential liver damage from kava root, then on of the 10 most popular herbal supplements sold in the U.S. And in 2004 the FDA banned ephedra, a Chinese wight-loss herb, after if was linked to more than 100 deaths.  Equally troubling, some supplements and herbal products may be contaminated with dangerous heavy metals, including lead and mercury.  Yikes!

Be sure that the herbs you consume are from a reputable company that offers clinical proof, and 100% guarantee that their products are tested and safe.

What herbal products do I recommend to my customers, my family and friends?  Shaklee Company offers products that I trust to be safe, clinically proven to work with at 100% guarantee.

Over the next several weeks, I will be identifying specific herbs and herbal combinations from Alfalfa to Valerian and offering tips of how herbs can increase your energy to helping get a restful nights sleep.
Be well~