10 Ways to Use Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is one of my favorite natural products. It is multi-faceted - it can be consumed and can be used for body care and home care. I mainly use it for body care and for baking and yes, for oil pulling in the mornings.

More on oil pulling can be found on here and here. It's recommended to pull for up to 20 minutes a day. I wish I could go that long but the texture gets to me after several minutes but I shoot for 7. 

What is your favorite natural product that offers multiple uses?

In this blog post, I will list 10 of my favorite ways to use coconut oil. If you'd like to learn another several hundred ways, I recommend visiting Hybrid Rasta Mama. 

1). We use coconut oil for a body moisturizer. After bathing and patting dry, the coconut oil works superbly for me in the warmer months. However, I find that I have to mix the coconut oil with other quality oils like jojoba or avocado, and shea butter to combat dry, wintry skin. I've made my own body butter as seen here. Either way, I'm still using the coconut oil either direct or with another product for my skin from the tips of my toes to the top of my forehead and everywhere in between (including on my hair more in #2). Coconut oil has a natural SPF albeit low (around 5-8) it is still offering some protection. I've used coconut oil on my skin directly after getting sun burned. It helps relieve the burning as well as expediting my skin's healing process. 

2). Coconut oil is a great hair moisturizer especially if your hair is thick and wavy or curly. I started no-pooing in February (2013) and use coconut oil on my hair after it's been washed and conditioned. Learn more about my no-poo experience here. I only apply the coconut oil from the nape of my neck to my ends and reapply daily as needed. I use a nickel size amount if that. A little goes a long way and you'll know when you've used too much so, start out with a pea size and slowly work your way up. 

3). Coconut oil makes a great shaving lotion. I mix equal parts of baking soda with coconut oil and apply directly to the area I will shave. If you find that your skin is sensitive to the baking soda then add more coconut oil. There is no wrong way to mix it. Adjust where you see fit. You can also leave out the baking soda. In either case, you'll find that your razors last A LOT longer!

4). The same 'shaving lotion' can be used as a gentle skin exfoliator, too. 

5). Coconut oil can be mixed with sugar and an optional essential oil for a foot and / or hand scrub. 

6). Coconut oil is used to calm itchy skin. Next time you experience an itchy rash, reach for the coconut oil first then reapply daily as needed. 

7). Coconut oil is a common ingredient in DIY deodorants. The image below shows what I have used during the cooler months. I live in the desert and the temperatures can get in the triple digits during the summer, so I recently purchased a natural deodorant from Tehacha-Bee Farm that stays solid. If you'd like a DIY homemade deodorant for sensitive skin using bentonite clay, I recommend checking out OhLardy!.

Measurements: 
1/3 cup arrowroot powder
1/4 cup baking soda
5 T coconut oil
1-2 drops of essential oil (optional)

8). Coconut oil can be used to make DIY tooth powders/pastes. I have two recipes. One is hailing from Green Dreams and can be found here. I have found another one that I am most excited about and it's found on The Coconut Mama's page here. Since I've experienced better results with the latter, I'll share the recipe so you don't have to click off the page:

My 4 year old has been asking to brush his teeth in the middle of the day with the 'new' stuff as he likes the way his teeth feel afterwards. The paste is sticky... well, it's kind of like the texture of the tooth paste that a dentist uses. Takes a few thorough rinses before it's all out. But goodness it is one that I can brag about because it tastes great during and after! Thank you Coconut Mama for a home run! 

9). Coconut oil is a make-up remover. 

10). Coconut oil is a lip moisturizer. 

What is your favorite ways to use coconut oil? Did I leave any out that you'd like to share? If so, please leave a comment below.  

Choose, eat, and live well! =)

Afterschool Treat Real Food Recipe

School is back in session for just about everyone's children. They're eating well at school because you're packing their lunch with nutritious foods but yet at the end of their day - they're so hungry!  You think of offering them a treat to tie them over until their next meal. 

Enjoy chocolate and coconut covered banana bites!!

Ingredients:

2 squares 72% Organic dark chocolate 

1/2 - 1 T Coconut Oil (my favorite brands are Nutiva and Vitacost) 

1 T Natural Peanut Butter

Shredded coconut (I chose sweetened)

2 lg. Bananas

Preparation:

1. Place bananas in the freezer with peel on while preparing the rest of the ingredients (or for at least 10 minutes). You can always peel them and cut them into 1 inch chunks first. I don't like the banana to be completely frozen when I'm ready to eat them so that's why I suggest just a quick freeze.

2. Melt chocolate in a microwave safe bowl with 1/2 tablespoon of coconut oil. Heat starting at 20 seconds. Mix. The texture should be loose. Add more coconut oil as necessary and heat again adding 10 seconds at a time. The addition of the coconut oil helps the chocolate adhere to the bananas. 

3. Add the tablespoon of peanut butter to the melted chocolate and mix.

4. Take the bananas out of the freezer, peel and slice them into 1 inch chunks (if you haven't done so already). Drop the bananas into the peanut butter-chocolate and coat all the sides as evenly as possible. 

5. Line a pan with parchment paper and place the coated bananas on there. Sprinkle the bananas with shredded coconut. Place and store in the refrigerator until ready to eat. You also have the option of freezing them. If you live in a cooler climate (or it's winter) you may leave them out in an airtight container until ready to eat. 

You can  modify the ingredients to your liking. Perhaps substitute the peanut butter for almond butter or use unsweetened coconut. Use your imagination! This is just a baseline to work from. Something to inspire you. 

You can make this treat ahead of time so that they'll be ready when the children arrive home from school or you can make the chocolate coconut banana bites together with your children as young as 3. Use your discretion. The children can cut the bananas safely with a butter knife and coat the bananas in chocolate as well as sprinkling the coconut over the bites.

If you make some, please leave a comment on how you liked them. Were they easy to make? Did you change the ingredients to suit your family?

Choose, eat, and live well! =)

Indulgence - #Brownies with Strawberry Filling #Recipe

If you're like me and eat clean 80% of the time but want to occasionally enjoy the 'sweet life,' you can do so when you control the ingredients. Check this recipe out! 

Preheat oven to 350.
Makes 24 mini brownies (I used a mini muffin pan). Note: If you use liners, please spend the extra few dollars for quality liners or you risk them sticking to the brownies. 

Ingredients:
1 cup organic raw cane sugar 
1/2 cup organic whole wheat flour
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 
1/4 tsp sea salt 
1/4 tsp baking powder
2 eggs 
1/2 cup organic coconut oil
1 tsp real vanilla (extract)

Combine in order. Blend by hand. About 6 minutes. 

Filling: 
6 large organic strawberries, stems and leaves removed, diced
1 tablespoon organic coconut sugar 

Reduce strawberries over medium heat until jam-like. About 6 minutes. Cool to room temperature.

Put half of the brownie mix into each cupcake mold and then a layer of the strawberry filling then top with brownie mix.

Bake for 18-20 minutes. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes then to wire rack. 

You can skip the strawberry filling and just bake the brownies in a 9x9 for 20-25 minutes. 

I do receive a small commission from Amazon.com if you purchase anything through their site using one of the links above (read my full advertising disclosure here). 

Thank you very much for your generosity in helping to offset the costs of website upkeep, so that I can keep sharing wellness resources with my community and beyond.

Subscribe to my blog here to never miss a post. 
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Choose, eat, and live well! =)

Savory Winter #Squash #Recipe

Sometimes you just have to go with your gut and choose a recipe based on flavors you like. The other day I did just that with ... Savory Winter Squash!

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut squash in half and remove seeds. It is a true science to cut into Fall/Winter Squash!! 

"Oil Blend" Ingredients:
4 tbs coconut oil, melted
1 tsp of minced garlic or 2 garlic cloves chopped
1 tsp of rosemary (or more)
1/2 tsp of sea salt
1/2 onion 

Mix ingredients above and let the flavors meld in the baking dish you plan on using. When oven is ready, place squash in the baking dish skin side down. Baste the squash with the oil blend. No cover needed. Baste the squash with the oil blend every 20 minutes while it's baking. Your squash is done when a fork can push through the thickest part of the squash with ease. (Note: You can leave the skin on. If it's baked enough, the skin will peel off with little to no effort or you can eat it.) It took about 50 minutes to bake. 

I enjoyed this one as a stand-alone dish. I frequently eat veggies by themselves. I believe they make an excellent meal choice!  

Nutritional benefits of winter squash as per WHFoods. 

I do receive a small commission from Amazon.com if you purchase anything through their site using one of the links above (read my full advertising disclosure here). 

Thank you very much for your generosity in helping to offset the costs of website upkeep, so that I can keep sharing wellness resources with my community and beyond.

Subscribe to my blog here to never miss a post. 
Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Download my free eGuide when you subscribe to my monthly newsletters for free.

Choose, eat, and live well! =)

Baked Apple Rings

Baked Apple Rings

This recipe has been moved to my new blog. See the recipe at Conveying Awareness.

Choose, eat, and live well! =)

Awesome Granola-Chip Cookies

Awesome Granola-Chip Cookies

The original recipe is Awesome Oatmeal-Raisin Cookies by Dr. Bill Sears, The Healthiest Kid in the Neighborhood, 2006, page 304.

I modified his recipe based on what was in my pantry at the time. 

½ cup raw honey

½ cup coconut oil (if you're allergic to coconut oil, try grapeseed or EVOO)

½ tsp. baking soda

1 tbsp. ground cinnamon

1 tsp. vanilla extract

¼ tsp. baking powder

¼ tsp. sea salt

1 egg

1 ½ cups of granola 

1 cup whole wheat pastry flour

1 cup of chocolate chips

Heat oven to 365 degrees. Combine all wet ingredients then mix dry ingredients separately. Add dry to wet. The batter will be slightly loose. Drop the batter by the tablespoon on a cookie sheet and bake until light brown. The batter will spread while baking. Done in 7-9 minutes. Yields: 30 cookies. 

Notes: Use parchment paper that's not bleached. This is for easy clean up. 

The batter is already brown so you’ll have to watch for a smooth brown appearance.  You may need to test one batch so bake only a couple until you get the feel for what they’ll look like when they’re done.

Choose, eat, and live well! =)