Tag Archives: the natural family

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Naturally Healthy, Vegan Banana Bread Recipe

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Banana bread.  It’s such a yummy way to use up old bananas; which are actually some of the best bananas nutritionally.  However, brown bananas aren’t always that appetizing.  Enter, banana bread.  Of course, you can use ripe bananas too (like in the photo), but the closer to rotten the bananas are, the sweeter and more flavorful they are, and, as we said, the more nutritionally optimal.

Now, we’ll readily admit that there are a lot of banana bread recipes out there many of which are very tasty.  But, some rely on a lot of refined sugars and are heavy on the fat.  This one we’re going to share here though has some amazing extras that helps it stand out while staying healthy.  Plus, it’s all  natural and totally vegan!

Don’t let those brown, nutrition filled bananas go to waste – use them in this natural banana bread recipe that’s super healthy, vegan; and that the whole family will enjoy.

 

vegan banana bread loaf on white plateorganic bananas in glass bread baking dishvegan banana bread recipe mix

 

Naturally Healthy, Vegan Banana Bread Recipe

Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Ingredients
  • 3 ripe bananas (1 c)
  • 1/3 C applesauce (or oil)
  • 1/4 C lemon juice
  • 1/2 C maple (or sugar)
  • 1 1/2 C flour
  • 1/2 C wheat germ
  • 1/2 t salt
  • 1/2 t baking powder
  • 1/2 t baking soda
  • 1 C chopped dates
  • 1 C chopped walnuts (optional)
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350
  2. Mash bananas and mix with lemon juice, and applesauce (or oil).
  3. Add to sugar and mix well.
  4. Combine flour, wheat germ, salt, baking powder, and baking soda.
  5. Add to banana mixture and stir until combined.
  6. Add dates and nuts.
  7. Spoon mixture into greased loaf pan (4×8) and bake for 45-50 min.
  8. If you’d like to make muffins bake for about 25-30 min

 

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How Do You Stay Natural When Visiting With Your Not So Natural Family?

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We just got back from a wonderful family vacation.  We spent the week with aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents – 12 of us total – on a lake for the week.  It was a beautiful, natural setting where got to play in nature and just enjoy the company of family we don’t see but once, maybe twice a year if we’re lucky.

All of us had such a good time.  In fact,  we’re already planning for another week together next year, and really are hoping to make it a family tradition each year from here on out.

That said – my husband and  I are very different in our viewpoints about many things and our lifestyle in general when compared with the rest of the family.  Not that being “the black sheep” isn’t a fantastic position; adding color and dynamics to an otherwise very similar group of people.  It just isn’t always easy.

As a result, sometimes, I think I bend my personal beliefs to fit the situation and in the end, we end up putting some of our natural family values aside during the visit.  Of course I’m sure the rest of the family has to stretch to visit our side of the universe as well – but mostly it’s usually us compromising.

But how much is too much?

This trip has been one of the more balanced mostly because we each had our own house and we could keep more of our own routines in tact.  This helped us “get away from it all” more easily than when visiting at another family member’s home where it feels more acceptance is really required.

But at the end of the day is it really OK to save face for the visit so everyone gets along?  Or, is it better to be very clear and keep your natural lifestyle together just like you would at home?

And, whatever you do, what are your ways of coping with the friction that can occur when you spend so much time with people that you love very much, but who, at the same time, are so different than you it becomes easier to get along if you put some of your natural family philosophy aside?

You don’t pick your family after all!  There are bound to be differences.  It’s how you cope with them that matters….and I’m not always sure I go about it as naturally as I can – and I’m almost certain I’m not alone in this.

So, I’d just love to hear more about your tips, tricks, and thoughts on staying natural when visiting with your not so natural family (and friends).  I think it can help all of us navigate these sensitive spaces we can sometimes tread with people we love that don’t always share (or in our case even take seriously) our natural view on things.

 

 

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Living The Natural Family Lifestyle The Best We Can

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Making the choice to live a more natural lifestyle is important for so many reasons.  The reality is though, for most of us, it takes some changes; often some big changes, to attain the goals you set forth for what you consider a natural family lifestyle.

And that’s the thing.  We all have such unique lives that living them in as natural a way as possible means different things for each of us.  So, the changes we need to/choose to make in order to live a more natural life are different and widely varied.

This can make things very interesting!

Its not always easy to know where your personal family or situation may fall as far as what needs doing, or what’s even possible within the boundaries of your family to make your lifestyle as natural as you want it to be.

Plus, then there’s the hurdle money presents.  So many of us are just getting by these days that often the more affordable option trumps the greener option; and there’s no denying that those things that carry the label “natural” or “organic” are also so often more expensive.

Yet, here we are, wanting to do better, wanting to offer respect to our dear planet but facing seemingly endless hurdles.

That’s why we wanted to create naturalmammas.com.

NaturalMammas.com is an online resource created to help you make informed decisions about the changes you would like to make to get your family closer to your natural idea.  The thing is, we’ve done the research so you don’t have to!  This way, you can easily make the changes you need to make while still keeping up with everything else life is throwing at you!

Remember, each small change, each little step you take toward the natural family lifestyle you want, the closer you get to meeting your goals!  And, each small change you make toward a greener lifestyle really does matter not only for you, but for the earth and all her wonderful inhabitants.

So, here’s to making as many of the changes toward creating the ideal natural family lifestyle that suits your family so that we all can help the Earth live on for future generations to enjoy.