Homemade Almond Milk

Who knew it was so easy to make almond milk!?  Soak one cup of almonds overnight.  Rinse well in the morning.  Throw them in the blender with 2-3 cups of water, pinch sea salt, two tablespoons of agave nectar, and a teaspoon of vanilla.  Blend well and drain the pulp through a sifter.  Voila!  Store in the refrigerator and drink in 3-5 days.

Sprouting legumes

This is so easy to do, and so much better than their cooked counterparts! Set lentils in a bowl and cover with plenty water. Cover the bowl with a paper towel.  Make sure to place them in a large enough bowl, as they will double in size. Also, you don't want to keep them for longer than a week or so, therefore only soak as many as you think you will eat in a weeks time. In the morning, use a collander to drain the water well. Place them back in the bowl and cover with a paper towel.  Every 12 hours, rinse the lentils in fresh water and drain well.  They only need to remain moist, not covered in water.

These are my lentils after 2 days.  I let them go for 3 or 4 days.  Once you've sprouted them to the desired length, cover and refrigerate.  You can add them to salads, sandwiches, wraps, whatever!

Here are a couple of links regarding the nutritional value:
http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/vegetables-and-vegetable-products/2472/2

http://www.livestrong.com/article/528531-nutritional-content-of-sprouted-lentils/

Corn and Bean Salsa

This is my own and it's super easy! Combine one can corn, one cup black beans, diced tomatoes, diced onions, chopped cilantro, 2 tbsp olive oil, 1-2 tsp chili powder, fresh lemon juice from half a lemon, half teaspoon ground oregano, salt and pepper.  Voila!  You can have it as a salsa side, or add chopped red leaf lettuce for a salad.

Granola

This is my own recipe, not found in the Thrive Diet.  It's easy and really good.

1/4 cup coconut oil
1/4 cup agave nectar
1/4 cup honey
2 Tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup raw pumpkin seeds
1/2 cup raw sunflower seeds
1/2 cup slivered almonds
2 Tbsp ground flax seed
2 Tbsp wheat germ
2 Tbsp raw cacao nibs
1/4 tsp sea salt
Desired amount of shredded coconut
Dried fruit, if desired (raisins, dried cherries, dried peaches, etc)

Combine first five ingredients.  Combine the rest of the ingredients in a separate bowl.  Mix both together until all ingredients are evenly coated.  Bake at 325 for 20-25 minutes.

Protein Bars

I actually got the idea for these from Matt Frazier, the No Meat Athlete.  I changed it up slightly and loved the outcome.

1.5-2 cups homemade beans (pinto or black)
1/3 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup agave nectar
1/2 banana
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1.5 cups oats
1/4 cup wheat germ
1/4 cup rice protein
1/2 cup ground flax seed
1/4 cup raw cacao nibs

Process all ingredients together.  You may need to add some water if too dry (I added 1/4 cup).  Spread into greased 8"x8" pan and bake 350 for 18 minutes.

For other variations of this, go to: http://www.nomeatathlete.com/homemade-energy-bar-recipe/

Pre-Workout Energy Pudding

This is straight out of the Thrive Diet.  I make it before any workout that will last longer than 45 minutes. 

2 bananas
1/2 cup dates
1/4 cup ground flax seed
1/4 cup raw cacao nibs
1 tbsp coconut oil
1 tsp lemon
1/4 tsp salt
Optional: 1 tbsp ground yerba mate (for caffeine!)

Blend together and consume prior to workout.  I usually eat half of this and save the rest for another day (not more than three days out).  Easy to digest and provides simple carbs and energy!