Hello (And Some Protein Bars For The Journey!)

Hi! 
Welcome to my blog!  I'm glad you're here. 
First, I thought I would start with a few tips  for following the Maximized Living Plans (there will be lots more, trust me):
1.  Have fun and be creative.  Food should be fun.  Even when it's healthy.  Experiment with different herbs, spices, and ingredients, modify recipes and make your own. 
2.  Trust the process.  There may be days when you would rob a bank if you were promised a donut in return.  But this too shall pass.  Once your body adapts to all the amazing nutritious (sugar FREE) food you're feeding it, you'll be able to walk through the bakery without a second glance.
3. PLAN.  This is so much easier with a little planning.  It's when we are on the run, completely starved, with nothing to eat, that grabbing a muffin or a sub sounds like a good idea.  Planning makes everything better.
4.  Know your WHY.  If you have a big enough WHY, then any HOW is possible.  WHY do YOU want to fuel your body with healthy, nutrient-rich, organic food?  Why do you want to be healthy?  Once you have that, the rest is a piece of cake.  (Made with almond  flour and stevia... sugar-free, of course). 

Nutty Protein Bars

To start things off- one of my all-time faves. These little babies got me through my first week of sugar cravings and mid-morning munchies. This recipe is in the Maximized Living Nutrition Plans book, but I changed a few things to my liking. Feel free to do the same. Experiment with different nut butters and different seeds. I make a double batch on Sundays and freeze them in ice cube trays; they pop right out - super easy! The only down-side, they are much yummier cold. I actually love them frozen. They don't hold up too well if they are in a warm office or car all day.

Ingredients

• 1 cup raw almonds
• 1 cup raw cashews
• 1/2 cup flaxseed meal
• 1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
• 2 scoops flavoured whey protein powder
• 1/2 cup raw almond butter (or cashew butter)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup coconut oil
• 5 drops liquid stevia (more or less to your taste)
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract 
• 1/4 cup hemp hearts

Method

• Place almonds, cashews, coconut, protein powder, almond butter and salt in food processor, and pulse briefly- about 15 seconds.
• In small saucepan, melt coconut oil over low heat.  Remove from heat and add stevia, cinnamon, and vanilla.
• Add coconut oil to food processor mixture and pulse until the mixture has turned into a coarse paste.  
• Press mixture into an 8'x8' glass baking dish (lined with parchment paper for easier removal) or dollop into ice cube trays.  Sprinkle with hemp hearts. Refrigerate or freeze for at least one hour.