Sugar-free, Antioxidant Rich, Strawberry Lemonade

Happy Food for Friday. This is such a delicious, refreshing drink to enjoy especially in the spring and summer! I make it using “Truvia” (a stevia-based sweetener, so my type 1 diabetic husband can enjoy it guilt free.) But you can use whatever sweetener you prefer.

RECIPE: (NUTRIBULLET VERSION)

In plastic mixer combine the following ingrediants

3 lemons, juiced (4 lemons if using slices to garnish)

1-2 tbsp Truvia sweetener (or sweetener of choice)

5-7 strawberries, preferably organic, with stews taken off

1 medium-sized handful of ice

2-3 cups purified water

BLEND all ingredients in your bullet, about 40 seconds. Pour into a glass, with a slice of lemon on the rim, and enjoy. Can last up to 3 days in the fridge. Best if enjoyed immediately. We love this guilt-free strawberry lemonade on a hot summer evening! Enjoy your antioxidants!

The secret: use either a high-powered blender, or for a slightly thiner drink use a juicer. I used a Nutribullet for the lemonade pictured, which is a little thicker than a juicer would make it. Either way you make it, you’ll still fall in love. Guilt-free, simple, and easy to make.

RECIPE: (JUICER VERSION)

Juice following ingrediants

3 lemons, peeled

5-7 strawberries, preferably organic, with stews taken off

Juice, then add the following ingredients:

1-2 tbsp Truvia sweetener, or sweetener of choice. (may have to pre-grind the Truvia in coffee grinder, so it won’t be granular.)

2-3 cups purified water

BEST if chilled before serving, or serve with ice!

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Family Ohio Pyle Hike

Highlights from last years hiking trip…journalling for them to look back and remember.

Cherishing everyday together.

Salamander spotting! Mommy doesn’t touch them :/

Chad always finds adventure wherever we go. Our trip to Ohio Pyle last year we’ll definitely never forget. A landmark only 45 minutes away, visited by nearly 1.5 million adventurous people yearly. It was warm that day, we hiked down the rocky hillside, dipped our toes in the cold water right at the base of the waterfall. Absolutely beautiful. So refreshing to get away and enjoy the beauty in nature!

Low-sugar, Diabetic-friendly PB and Chocolate Bites

I know, I know…too good to be true. Can the words “chocolate” and “low-sugar” actually be used in the same sentence?

The answer is yes! My husband is a diabetic, and I’m always looking for delicious but low-sugar treats to make him, that way he never feels like he’s “missing out”. This one’s a winner! We pretty much always have these little bites in our home. You can easily calculate the amount of sugar or carbs in this recipe by recording how many carbs are in each ingredient as you add it. Divide it by how many bites this ends up making for you and THAT’S IT, you’ll know how many carbs are in each bite. Try them out, and tell me what you think.

They are so easy to make too!

RECIPE:

1 1/2-2 cups raw or quick oats

1/4 cup cold pressed extra virgin coconut oil

1/4 cup slightly warmed, honey

1/8 cup chocolate chips

1/4 cup peanut butter

3-5 tbsp (depending on how sweet you prefer them) Truvia (low-carbohydrate stevia blend)

2 tbsp real maple syrup

1 tsp vanilla extract

FIRST mix the oats, coconut oil, honey and vanilla together. Add the rest of ingredients and stir well. Drop rounds of the “peanut butter chocolate indulgence dough” by the tablespoon onto a plate and place in fridge to harden. Add more honey if necessary (if when you form into balls and they aren’t quite sticking together.)

TAKE NOTE: the coconut oil hardens when it cools so even if they aren’t seeming to stay together at first, after chilling in the fridge they most likely will keep their shape! Enjoy!

this is us.

Welcome! This is our little space in the big and beautiful world.

Hi, I’m Hannah, my husband Chad, and our kids Brock and Ryley.

This is our family journal of; adventure, simple moments shared, food favorites, wellness tips, and helpful hints for diabetics (my hubby’s one). Thanks for stopping by!

A little about me – I love bike riding, being outside, I don’t like long conversations (they sometimes bore me), I try to be important and say I’m mostly vegan but who am I kidding there’s nothing like a juicy grass fed, farm-raised cheeseburger (thanks Chad for enlightening me)!

Weekly splurge: Ice cream (although it’s not much of a splurge when you grab spoonfuls from the freezer every couple days.)

Despite those indulgences, I am IN LOVE with wellness, and am passionate about healthy ways that work for my family, and suite our busy life. Ever since I was a little girl, borrowing “Health and Wellness” books from the library, crafting my own soap, and growing herbs was something I thrived on. It still is today! Some things never change.

We’re believers, we love getaways when we can, I love stilettos but on the same hand I love tent camping with my guy as much as we can, we’re currently building our dream home, and attempting to live a balanced life in the midst of it all.

Is that possible? We shall see.

          If you want to change the world, go home and love your family. — Unknown