THE ROAD TO WELLNESS: Gluten-free gluttony

This week, Dr. Gill offers up a few recipes for you Gluten-free gluttons out there.

I find the hardest foods to find that take good are nutritious snacks, so, try these! They are great as a travel snack, sports snack or a treat with herbal tea!

Raw Energy Balls (2 dozen balls)

1 cup raw almonds
1 cup medjool dates- pitted
¼ cup currants
¼ tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp cardamom
¼ cup almond butter
¼ cup sunflower seeds

Grind almonds in food processor & add dates, currants, sunflower seeds and spices and chop finely. Add the almond butter & process again. Form into balls and roll in shredded coconut.

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Sand Cookies (4 dozen)                                         

2 2/3 cups almond flour

½ lb (250 g) butter, softened                                              

¼ cup honey

1 cup ground pecans

Heat oven to 300 F.  Mix all ingredients. Shape the cookies into small crescents half moons and place close together on a greased cookie sheet.  Bake 15 minutes or until edges turn brown.

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Sunflower Bars (2 doz squares)          

1 cup raw cashew/almond butter

1 cup honey

1 cup chopped pecans

1cup unsweetened coconut                              

1 cup raw sunflower seeds

1 cup currants or dried cranberries                    

Heat oven to 350 F.  Heat the cashew/almond butter and honey in a saucepan until melted and smooth.  In a bowl, mix together the pecans, coconut, sunflower seeds and currants or cranberries.  Add the melted mixture to the dry ingredients and mix until well-combined.  Pour into a 9 x 12” square pan and press flat.  Bake for 20- 30 minutes.  Remove from oven and cool.  Cut into squares and store in an airtight container.

Dr. Brenda Gill is a naturopath practising in Rossland, B.C.