“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”
– Dr. Seuss
As a nutritionist I love to cook using healthy ingredients, and I often enlist the help of my two young sons, Jack (5) and Max (3). During the global COVID-19 pandemic, we are practicing social distancing, and want to do some good with our time spent at home. We decided to make some of our favourite recipes, and film ourselves while doing it!
Our first episode will teach you how to make THE BEST (I've been making this recipe for years!) Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies using simple healthy ingredients. If you enjoy the video and recipe, please visit Our Fundraising Page, and consider donating to The Parkdale Food Centre in support of the COVID-19 global pandemic.
Healthy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
Makes approximately 16 cookies
Ingredients
Dry
2 cups instant oats or instant steel cut oats
½ cup whole-wheat flour
2 tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. cinnamon
⅛ tsp sea salt
Wet
½ cup honey or agave nectar or maple syrup
½ cup coconut oil (melted)*
1 egg
1 banana, mashed
⅓ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Method
1. Preheat oven to 325 F, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a medium-size bowl, combine dry ingredients.
3. In a small bowl, mash banana, and mix in the rest of the wet ingredients.
4. Combine wet and dry ingredients and stir to combine. At this point batter should be placed in the refrigerator to firm up for 10 minutes.
5. Remove from the fridge, and stir in the chocolate chips.
6. Scoop batter onto the lined baking sheet (about 2 tbsp of batter per cookie, and press down with the back of your spoon to gently flatten).
7. Bake for 15 minutes. Cookies may appear undercooked. Leave on the tray for 5 minutes or until set.
8. Once set, transfer to a cooling rack. Once completely cooled, store in the fridge for a week, or in the freezer for 3 months. Enjoy!
*Make sure coconut oil measures ½ cup after melted
Never in my lifetime have I seen something that has impacted the entire world at the same time - a global pandemic. All of us are affected by COVID-19 in different ways - some worse than others. For my family, our day to day schedule has changed, and we're disappointed that we can't travel, play in the parks or see family and friends. However, we recognize that we still have so much to be thankful for. Our basic needs (and more!) are being met on a daily basis. We have a full fridge, a warm home and our family is happy and together. Unfortunately, for many people in our community this is not the case.
The Parkdale Food Centre in Ottawa is a local drop-in food bank that helps those struggling without the resources to purchase food, pay for safe, adequate housing, or have mental illnesses that affect their sense of self.
COVID-19 and its implications, including potential self-isolation and school closures, affect low-income and vulnerable individuals and families most.
Many cannot afford to stock their pantries for a potential quarantine; many face unpaid leave in the event of a prolonged absence from work; children in need will be without important free meals otherwise available through school breakfast programs; and for those with mental health challenges or inadequate housing, self-isolation can have debilitating consequences.
As always they are doing their best to respond to each and every need based on the resources they have available, but they need your help during this complex and evolving time. Thank you.