healthy recipe

Lemon & Strawberry Oat Bars

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Lemon & Strawberry Oat Bars
Welcoming spring one sweet bite at a time.

There’s something so simple and sacred about baking with seasonal ingredients—especially when they bring brightness and joy into your kitchen. These Lemon & Strawberry Oat Bars are the kind of recipe that feels like a love letter to spring. They’re soft, golden, just the right amount of sweet, and filled with the zing of lemon and the goodness of strawberries.

Baking can be such a grounding, heart-opening ritual. As you stir and pour, layer and bake, you’re not just making food—you’re creating nourishment, comfort, and care. Whether you share them with loved ones or savor them solo with a warm cup of tea, I hope these bring a little sunshine into your day.

Spring calls for something sweet, light, and bursting with brightness. These Lemon & Strawberry Oat Bars are like sunshine you can taste—easy to make, naturally sweetened, and the perfect blend of tangy and comforting.

Made with fresh strawberries, zesty lemon, and wholesome oats, this treat is perfect for an afternoon snack, picnic, or simple celebration of the season. They’re gluten-free and can be made vegan with a few swaps.

Ingredients

For the base and topping:

  • 1 ½ cups rolled oats
  • 1 cup almond flour (or oat flour)
  • ? cup coconut sugar or brown sugar
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • ¼ tsp sea salt
  • Zest of 1 lemon
  • ? cup coconut oil or melted butter
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 tbsp maple syrup

For the strawberry filling:

  • 1 ½ cups chopped fresh strawberries
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • 1 tbsp maple syrup
  • 1 tbsp chia seeds (to thicken)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line an 8×8 baking dish with parchment paper.
  2. Make the filling: In a small saucepan, combine strawberries, lemon juice, and maple syrup. Cook over medium heat until the berries break down and get jammy (about 8–10 minutes). Stir in chia seeds and set aside to cool and thicken.
  3. Make the base/topping: In a large bowl, mix oats, almond flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and lemon zest. Stir in coconut oil, vanilla, and maple syrup until the mixture is crumbly but holds together when pressed.
  4. Press about ? of the oat mixture into the bottom of the pan. Spread the strawberry filling evenly over the top. Sprinkle the remaining oat mixture over the strawberries and gently press it down.
  5. Bake for 25–28 minutes or until the top is golden. Let cool completely before slicing into bars.

? A Few Tips

  • You can use frozen strawberries—just thaw first and drain any excess liquid.
  • For a vegan version, use coconut oil or vegan butter.
  • These bars store well in the fridge for up to 5 days (if they last that long!).

Mindful Moment:

While the bars bake, take a moment to sit with a cup of tea and breathe in the aroma filling your kitchen. Gratitude lives in these quiet, simple rituals—the scent of lemon zest on your fingers, the sweetness of strawberries, the warmth of the oven.

Let this be a small celebration of the season and your own sweetness.

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Low Carb Chicken Pot Pie Soup

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This creamy, cozy and delicious chicken pot pie soup has it all! A dairy-free chicken pot pie filling with loads of veggies and savory herbs and the yummiest paleo + low carb biscuits! The whole family will love this healthy, hearty soup on cold winter night

Here is Colorado it is sooooooo cold. We usually have a few days of cold and then back to sunny skies and tolerable temperatures. Not this month. We have been frozen all month. So frozen I have had to cancel studio Yoga classes all month. Since I can’t teach tonight, I am making this hearty soup.

Chicken Pot Pie Soup

This soup can be made Whole 30 compliant or Paleo but since I am loving living with a tad bit of moderation and good flavors, I am going for the yummy biscuits! The biscuits are crazy simple – just a few ingredients that you mix up all in one bowl! They’re low carb too, without any starch or sweeteners used.

Here’s what you need for the low carb biscuits:

Ingredients

One- bowl Low Carb Biscuits:

  • 1 1/2 cup blanched almond flour
  • 1/4 cup coconut flour
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking powder **
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 6 Tbsp ghee or grass fed butter, melted
  • 6 Tbsp coconut milk full fat
  • 2 large eggs whisked

Chicken Pot Pie Soup:

  • 1/4 cup ghee or coconut oil, or grass fed butter, divided
  • 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into 1/2” cubes
  • Sea salt and pepper to taste
  • 3 celery stalks chopped
  • 1 medium onion chopped
  • 1 cup mushrooms chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tsp Fresh rosemary minced
  • 1 tsp Fresh sage minced
  • 1 tsp Fresh thyme minced
  • 3 Tbsp arrowroot starch
  • 2 3/4 cups chicken bone broth
  • 1 16 oz bag frozen peas and carrots*
  • 1 cup coconut milk full fat, blended before added, if necessary
  • Sea salt and black pepper to taste
  • Fresh parsley for garnish
  • I love to add one drop of thyme or rosemary essential oil

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350° and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large mixing bowl, stir together all the dry ingredients. Make a well in the center of the dry mixture and add in the butter, coconut milk and eggs. Stir until well combined and smooth. Chill the mixture in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes.
  2. Using an ice cream scoop, scoop 1/4 cups of batter on the prepared baking sheet at least 2” apart. I made 8 biscuits. Bake in the preheated oven for 15-18 minutes or until light golden brown. Serve right away with the soup
  3. Meanwhile, heat a large stock pot over medium high heat and add 2 Tbsp ghee. Add the chicken cubes and sprinkle with sea sat and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally for about 3 minutes until golden on the outside. Remove to a plate and set aside.
  4. Lower the heat to medium and add the remaining 2 Tbsp of ghee. Add the celery, onions, and mushrooms and sprinkle with a bit of sea salt. Cook for one minute, then add the garlic and fresh herbs. Continue to cook another 2-3 minutes or until veggies are soft and fragrant.
  5. Whisk the tapioca flour into the veggies, then add in the broth and stir. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat to a strong simmer and simmer about 5 minutes. Add in the peas and carrots, coconut milk, and chicken. Bring back to a boil, then simmer for 3-5 more minutes. Season the soup with salt and pepper to taste.
  6. To serve, garnish with soup with parsley and serve with a biscuit. Enjoy!

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Collagen Protein Bites

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I don’t know about you, but I struggle with all the proteins on the market. My preference would be to chew on a nice steak anytime of day but realistically that probably isn’t a good idea, or an easy on-the-go option.

I was in the store the other day trying to find a protein bar that isn’t filled with garbage or proteins that my body doesn’t like. Whey and I disagree greatly when it comes to my skin. Just eating one protein bar with whey protein will cause acne within a day or two. Not fun. Pea protein gives me a huge belly ache and I avoid soy in general. That makes quick and easy options like protein bars and shakes tricky.

Collagen protein however is awesome!

Collagen protein is the major structural component of our body’s connective tissues. It also exists between cells to support body tissues and assist with cell function. Collagen is produced by the body, notably by skin cells, which has led to the marketing of collagen supplements to improve skin’s youthfulness and slow the aging process. Collagen supplement repairs cellular damage, maintains physical structure, aids in joint movement, reverses signs of aging, heals and protects the gut. My skin, nails and hair are super happy, too. Plus, getting 18 grams of protein gives my body the fuel it needs. My favorite brand is vital proteins and the chocolate version is amazing.

I made these little protein bites today in hardly any time or effort. The pure ingredients save my body and my pocketbook! Store bought protein bars are sooooo expensive!

Super simple.

I rarely measure ingredients when I am making something like this, but a rough guess is this:

Toss the ingredients in a bowl and stir until well blended. Use your hands to mix thoroughly and then form into small balls. I store mine in the refrigerator and grab a couple after a workout or when I need a little snack.

If you aren’t sure the the essential oils you have are safe to ingest just take a look at your bottle and make sure it has a nutritional label on it. If it doesn’t, it is likely adulterated and unsafe. Be wise! Be sure to download this free ebook to see why purity is so important when we put essential oils in and on our body.

Make these and let me know what you think!