Holiday Gifts – Day 3

Over the next several days I’m going to share with you some healthy living

gift ideas for the holidays! 

 

I’ll try to keep the posts brief because we all need more simplicity at this time of year,

so if you have additional questions, be sure to ask.  I’m happy to answer!

 

If you’ve checked out the TWD Things I Love Page, then you know that I love Vital Proteins!   They are a company specializing (primarily) in high quality and sustainably sourced collagen food-based supplements.  Why do I love them?  Their products are high-quality and sustainably sourced.  And the reason I’m so into collagen is that it is an essential building block for our hair, skin, nails, bones, and joints, and our modern diets, even when chosen healthfully, have minimal amounts of it.

 

According to the Vital Proteins’ site, the benefits of supplementing with daily collagen are:

• Glowing skin
• A more youthful appearance
• Joint health
• Tendon & bone strength
• Healthy cartilage
• Increased athletic performance
• Improved digestion
• Gut health
• Deeper sleep
• **these statements have not been evaluated by the FDA).

 

Those are some pretty amazing benefits!  I know I definitely seem to notice a positive difference, at minimum, in my skin and nails when I use collagen regularly.  I enjoy homemade bone broth as a source of collagen in soups or even just for sipping as well, but the amount of collagen we get from bone broth may not meet our individual needs.  And let’s be honest, most of us are not consuming homemade bone broth every day or in large quantities.

 

So, with the Vital Proteins products, I can easily make nutritious smoothie bowls for my kids.  I also like adding it to their occasional bowl of gluten free oats.   The plain collagen is a minimally processed, 1-ingredient, neutral tasting product that boosts the amino acids and protein they get from these foods.  This makes the meal more satiating and provides better blood sugar regulation, in addition to providing all of the potential benefits mentioned previously.  My husband and I usually add it to our tea, broth, or coffee.

 

Now that you know more about the benefits of collagen, I have to share another fun collagen product from Vital Proteins: Collagen Creamers!  SAY WHAAAT!?  They come in Gingerbread (YUM!), Coconut, and Vanilla!  I’ll be honest and tell you that I haven’t personally tried the creamers yet, but can’t wait to get my hands on them!  Have you looked at the ingredients in most commercial creamers out there??  They are so filled with chemical crap!!  Even some of the “better” versions have ingredients in them that just aren’t ideal.  These, however, are clean and even health-promoting!

 

Gift Ideas…

 

So, how about the Gingerbread Collagen Creamer, some high quality coffee, and a cute mug for your coffee-loving friend(s) for the holidays?  How delicious does this flavor sound in hot chocolate too?!  Make it a family gift-basket and include mugs for all and hot chocolate for the kids (or adults too)!  The Vanilla and Coconut Collagen Creamers would be a delicious option for this the gift idea as well.  Why not give a tasty gift of health?!

 

AND, of course these creamers don’t need to be kept simply to coffee, teas, and other warm beverages!   I bet the Gingerbread Collagen Creamer would be soooo delicious in chia pudding.  In fact, I made myself some this past week with plain collagen and homemade gingerbread spice and was wishing I had the creamer to use!  The creamers can be used in many ways, including the Holiday Loaf recipe I’m sharing with you below that sounds amazing!  You could gather the dry ingredients for this bread in a mason jar and gift it to people with the recipe and baking instructions!  How fun is that?!  I want someone to do this for me!

 

And now, here’s the recipe…

 

The classic holiday loaf recipe is taken to new heights

with this healthy, collagen-infused version. 

 

Gingerbread cookies and loaves are a time-honored tradition for many cultures, including here in America, where the soft-baked loaves are more popular than the stiff variety used to make gingerbread houses. Ginger root was considered by many ancient civilizations as a valuable commodity, as it helped disguise the flavor of preserved food. It has been used in different forms and various tonics to help support digestion and the immune system.

 

I love ginger for it’s warming, anti-inflammatory, and digestive benefits!

 

Grain Free Collagen-Infused Holiday Loaf

Ingredients
1 c cashew butter
1/2 c applesauce
1/2 c maple syrup
2 eggs
1 t vanilla extract
1 t fresh grated ginger root
1/2 c cassava flour
1 t baking powder
2 scoops Vital Proteins Collagen Creamer, Coconut
1/4 t salt
1 T lemon juice
Gingerbread spice (cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice) to taste

Glaze
1 scoop Vital Proteins Collagen Creamer, Coconut
2 T coconut milk
2 T raw honey
1 t arrowroot starch

 

Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease a standard loaf pan and set aside.
2. In a large mixing bowl, add in cashew butter, applesauce, maple syrup, egg, vanilla extract, and fresh grated ginger root. Mix until well-combined.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together cassava flour, baking powder, Coconut Collagen Creamer, salt, and spices.
4. Slowly add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until well-incorporated.
5. Add in the lemon juice and whisk again.
6. Pour batter into the loaf pan and bake for 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out mostly clean.
7. For the glaze: add all ingredients to a high speed blender and blend on high. Let the glaze sit for a few minutes to thicken. Best served on the holiday loaf when it has cooled slightly.
8. Serve immediately.

 

I hope you enjoy today’s recipe and gift ideas!