A low-sugar diet is an important part of retaining vitality and vigor. Organic food is the nearest you can get to a pure diet. Patrick Holford, founder of The Institute for Optimum Nutrition, encourages you to support organic farming by puchasing and eating more organic foods to help minimize the damage of chemical pollution. Everything you eat can reflect and support this idea.
Cookie Ingredients
You will need as much organic ingredients as possible for the following recipe. Two medium ripe bananas, 1-1/4 cups rolled oats, 2 tbsp. coconut oil or softened butter, 2 tbsp. almond butter, 2 tbsp. almond milk or soymilk, 1 egg, 1-1/4 cups whole wheat pastry flour, 1 tsp. baking powder, 1/2 tsp. baking soda, 1 tsp. cinnamon, 1/2 tsp. nutmeg and 1/2 cup raisins.
Prepare to Bake
The oven needs to be at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Mash the banana in a large bowl. Stir in the oil or butter, almond butter, egg and milk. In another bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda and spices. Stir into the oat mixture. Drop by large tablespoonfuls onto prepared cookie sheet. Bake 14 minutes or until lightly browned.
Variety is the Spice of Life
A 1/4 cup of unsweetened shredded coconut or unsweetened carob chips can be added to your cookie batter for variety and taste. For an even less overall sugar content, the amount of raisins can be reduced and replaced with chopped nuts. For a sweeter cookie, use up to 1/2 tsp. stevia powder for sugar-free sweetness. Stevia is a natural herb.
Organic Versus Conventional
Bananas, in general, are not among those heavily laden with pesticides, but when shipped to our country, they are sprayed for pest prevention. This affects the banana skin. Organically grown fruits and vegetables have a higher quality soil and that affects the overall nutritional aspect of the plant. Raisins are high on the list for pesticide residues. When they are grapes, they are sprayed. These chemicals are easily absorbed into high-water-content fruits and vegetables, especiallty when there is not much skin to protect them. All plant life that is treated chemically will affect our health when consumed regularly. Organic food growers must adhere to strict standards to ensure that no chemicals are used in the soil for at least three years to be awarded the organic label.
References
- "Stevia Dangers?"
- "The New Optimum Nutrition Bible"; Patrick Holford; 2004
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