Welcome to Weekend Wellness! Each Friday I share tips, ideas or knowledge on four of my favorite F-words – finance, fitness, food & fun – feature some great posts from around the web and offer a new recipe – Gluten-free Almond Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies.
The Four F’s
Finance – Save for it. Instead of financing another car, new furniture, wedding, or a new wardrobe even, plan out and save up the money to buy them outright instead. You’ll save money in interest charges, learn patience, and maybe even discover you don’t need those new items after all. Reach out if you need help devising a plan.
Fitness – Looking for a fitness partner or group for motivation, accountability, or social interaction? Visit MeetUp.com and check out the Sports & Fitness section. Walking, running, tennis, soccer, volleyball, disc golf, hiking, and basketball are just a small sampling of groups I found. Most are no-cost or very low-cost.
My mom joined a hiking group in Florida while spending the winter there and now that she’s back in Michigan she’s found one up here too. Check it out – MeetUp.com.
Food – Gluten-free
Should you or shouldn’t you? I began limiting the number of gluten foods I ate a few years back, eventually going gluten-free completely one year ago. I do not have Celiac disease but a high gluten sensitivity, like many others. Perhaps you do too.
Going gluten-free, eliminated many migraine, sinus, and digestive issues for me. Additionally, I lost over 20 pounds pretty effortlessly. My husband and mom, while not overly sensitive to it, also went gluten-free and reaped similar benefits.
Gluten is present in not only wheat products, but other grains and many processed foods due to additives, such as starches, colorings, flavorings, and binders. If you suspect any sensitivity to gluten, please speak with your doctor about testing.
If you begin experimenting with a gluten-free diet, please do not just purchase processed foods that claim to be gluten-free. Instead, eat real whole foods. Your body will thank you. The Gluten Free Society is an excellent resource for additional information. Check out our Gluten-free Almond Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe below.
Fun – Reach out and meet someone new! This past weekend I drove my mom from Florida to Michigan. On the way, we stopped to meet some new friends. I’d recently connected with Fritz from The Retirement Manifesto online and knowing I would be somewhat near his area of Georgia during the drive we set-up a face-to-face.
I was honored to meet Fritz and his wife Jackie, as I’ve been reading his blog for almost two years. We enjoyed a nice dinner, great conversation, and a pleasant walk downtown even though we got a little rained on.
Also, I presented Jackie with a small donation, via The #GivingCards Project of the Rockstar Community Fund. The funds will assist in building a fenced exercise yard for the pet rescue she and Fritz are heavily involved in.
Feature
There are many excellent blogs on the internet, and I enjoy reading quite a few. These great articles below are just a few I discovered recently.
I enjoy reading Lindsay’s take on debt at her site, Notorious Debt, and this article was no exception. Learn from her how to Celebrate Your Financial Mistakes Like They’re Going Out Of Style!
What’s enough to make you happy? Would earning twice as much money as you do today be enough? Would it take more than that? Read this NY times article by Carl Richards, to learn what it takes for financial satisfaction.
After reading Carl’s article, I stumbled across another take on determining how much money it takes to be considered wealthy. Caroline Burke, reveals her struggle to define wealthy – see if you agree with her conclusion.
Have a wonderful weekend! Happy Mother’s Day!
Psst, mom might like these Gluten-free Almond Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies. 🙂
Be Well,
Amy
Gluten-Free Almond Chocolate Chip Cookies
Yields: 1 doz. to 1 1/2 doz. depending on size
Ingredients
2 1/2 cups almond flour
1/2 cup coconut flour
1 tsp baking soda
1⁄2 tsp salt
1⁄4 cup coconut oil – liquified
2⁄3 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/4 cup stevia for baking
1 egg
2 egg whites
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup unsweetened coconut or almond milk (+ or – a tbsp)
1 cup dark chocolate chips
1⁄2 cup sliced almonds or chopped walnuts (optional)
Instructions
Heat oven to 350 and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
Whisk almond flour, coconut flour, stevia, baking soda and salt.
Mix coconut oil, applesauce, egg, egg whites and vanilla extract, slowly until combined.
Slowly add dry ingredients to egg mixture and mix until combined. Add coconut or almond milk and mix to desired consistency (picture below). Dough should be easily rolled into a walnut size ball.
Add chocolate chips and nuts to combined mixture.
Scoop or roll into balls and place an inch apart on baking sheet. Press to slightly flatten and bake for 12-15 minutes, depending on oven.
Recipe also works well with white chocloate chips, raisins or dried cranberries.
Note: This information is being provided to you for educational and informational purposes only. It is provided to educate you about nutrition, exercise, and personal finance, and as a self-help tool for your own use. It is not legal, medical, or financial advice. This information is to be used at your own risk based on your own judgment. For my full Disclaimer, please view here.
Mrs Groovy says
Thanks for all the tips especially the reminder about eating whole foods!
I’m jealous that you and Fritz got together! But Mr. Groovy and I should be meeting him and Jackie next month.
Your recipe reminds me of a failed attempt I made this week to bake Mr. G blueberry muffins. I’ve used the recipe once before and it came out fine. It consists only of coconut flour, blueberries, baking powder, heavy cream and eggs. Two things were different this time. I used frozen blueberries (but thawed them out in the microwave) and I had refrigerated the coconut flour. I baked them for the correct amount of time but they never turned into muffins. They somewhat solidified but didn’t get crumby at all. Could refrigerating the coconut flour have been the culprit?
Have a great weekend!
Mrs Groovy says
Correction: Just checked and there’s no baking powder in the recipe.
Amy says
I did love meeting Fritz and Jackie! 🙂 I hope you’re able to get together, plan lots of time for it.
I don’t believe the cold flour would have impacted the recipe, but I’ve never experimented with it that way. Is there a particular reason you are keeping it in the regrigerator? My guess is it was thawing the blueberries. I believe that would have introduced added moisture into the recipe. I often use frozen blueberries or other frozen fruit in recipes, so don’t be afraid to use them that way. For me, they always do much better unthawed.
Happy weekend to you and Mr. G!
P.S. remind him to call his Aunt for me
Erik @ The Mastermind Within says
I don’t eat many carbs anymore. I’m in the same boat as you – I’ve lost about 5-10 pounds just by changing up my diet! 🙂 Nice work on that point!!!!
Have a good weekend Amy.
Amy says
Thanks Erik! Good for you on our weight loss too. Wishing you a good weekend as well, and thanks for reading!