Super Food Saturday Banana Quinoa Bars

My posts have been scarce since I started my job hunt.  I did not think it was going to be easy. I knew it would be a challenge for me as an older worker to find a job.

So far lots of phone interviews and half a dozen in -person interviews, but no job yet.

So I decided it was time for a little break on Friday to do some cooking.  I wanted to make a healthy treat, since I have decided I need to drop a few pounds, well about 10 lbs. to get to race weight.

These are full of healthy stuff like quinoa, bananas, oats and apple sauce. I got inspired to create this recipe from one I found at my niece Courtney's house. We were sorting her recipes and I saw one for cookies. I changed up the ingredients a bit and changed these into bars.

I will use these as healthy treats after I do my long runs. I start training for the New York marathon in  June. The time after my runs is the most risky for bad snacking since I get so hungry. I froze these so I just have to take one out of the freezer after a workout.

These also have a bit of chocolate, which is nice for when chocolate cravings hit.  Feel free to make your own changes.

Banana Quinoa Bars

1 1/4 cup quinoa cooked according to package directions
1 cup coconut
1 1/2 cups old fashioned oats
1 cup almond flour
1 cup coconut flour
3/4 cup organic coconut sugar
2 ripe bananas
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking powder
2/3 cup white chocolate chips
2/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Topping
3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup chopped walnuts

Pre-heat oven to 350 F. Line the bottom of a 13 x 9 pan with parchment paper. Grease the bottom with coconut oil.

Mash the banana in the bottom of a large bowl. Add the apple sauces, eggs and vanilla.  Add the dry ingredients in another bowl. Mix the dry ingredients into the wet mixture.  Blend well. If the mixture seems dry, add enough water and mix until the consistency of chocolate cookie dough.  Press into the prepared pan. Top with the chocolate chips and nuts.

Bake for 40 to 45 minutes until brown and done in the middle.  Cut into bars. Keep leftovers in the refrigerator or freeze.

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Chris Wodke

Founder & Manager Team CMT

www.run4cmt.com

Chris is a triathlete and long distance runner. She is a three time participant of the Boston Marathon.  In 2012 she finished 2nd at Boston in the Mobility Impaired Division. She was on the course in 2013 when the bombs exploded.

She has appeared three times at the Paratriathlon National Triathlon Sprint Championship. She was the 2012 and 2014 National Champion Paratriathlon Open Division Champion.

In 2014 she was the PC Open Champion at the Duathlon National Championship and at the Aqua bike National Championship in 2016. She represented Team USA at the Aquathon ITU World Championship in Chicago in 2015 and at the World championship in Cozumel in 2016.  

 In 2014 she represented the U.S. as a paratriathlete at the Pan-American Triathlon Championship in Dallas, Texas.  She has won state championships in cycling and triathlon as a senior Olympian. In 2017 she placed 2^nd in her age group at the Winter Triathlon National Championship, earning a spot on Team USA for the World Championship.

She travels around the country raising awareness of CMT.

She is the author of the book, “Running for My Life” that details her experience as a CMT affected athlete.

http://www.henschelhausbooks.com/catalog/memoir-biography/215-running-for-my-life-winning-for-cmt-9781595982827.html

You may visit her author page at:
http://www.amazon.com/Christine-Wodke/e/B00IJ02HX6

Team CMT is a group of athletes and supporters working to raise awareness and to find a cure for CMT. We have 213 members in 39 states. We also have members in Australia, England, Scotland, Canada, Vietnam, Turkey, Finland, Scotland, France, Poland, Iran, Norway and Sweden. If you wish to join us visit our web site; www.run4cmt.com or www.hnf-cure.org

CMT or Charcot-Marie-Tooth is the most commonly inherited peripheral neuropathy. It affects over 155,000 Americans (as many as MS).  It is a disease of the nerves that control the muscles. It is slowly progressive, causing loss of normal function and or sensation in the lower legs/feet and arms/hands.

Symptoms include; muscle wasting in the lower legs and feet leading to foot drop, poor balance and gait problems Atrophy in the hands causes difficulty with manual dexterity.

Structural foot deformities such as high arches and hammer toes are common.

Poor tolerance for cool or cold temperatures and many people have chronically cold hands and feet.

Additional symptoms may include fatigue, sleep apnea, breathing difficulties and hearing loss.

Additional Link

Follow CMT affected Paratriathlete Timmy Dixon
http://cmtamputee.wordpress.com/

Follow CMT Author Chris Steinke
https://cmtandmesite.wordpress.com/2017/01/30/what-is-charcot-marie-tooth-disease/

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