BERGEN COUNTY MOMS

Peas are the first seeds to be planted in the spring season, so we had to celebrate the season with this deliciously fresh Pea Hummus. The splash of orange juice makes it a good source of vitamin C to boost the immune system. This light and refreshing hummus is perfect for dipping or spreading on sandwich bread or wraps. Ingredients: ½ medium fennel bulb, trimmed 1 garlic clove ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped ¼ cup fresh basil, chopped 1½ cups of fresh or frozen sweet green peas

Named Coffee Cake because it is usually served along with the popular breakfast beverage; we’d recommend your kids skipping the coffee part (but mom may need the caffeine boost every now and then!). Our version is made in a mini muffin pan to insure the right portion size. The traditional version is topped with a butter and sugar based crumb topping, but we use flaxseeds and walnuts to get that same flavor with a dose of good-for-you unsaturated fats.  Skip the walnuts if all

Parents are always looking for ways to get their kids to eat more protein. I have found the perfect hands-on recipe solution that kids love while providing them with a lean protein source and healthy fat to boost their brain power — Tilapia Fish Sticks! Remember those frozen fish sticks circa 1975? Well skip the frozen stuff and try these fresh Tilapia Fish Sticks! Your kids will love being part of the process in dipping, coating and baking their “sticks.” You can feel gre

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with this delicious, easy-to-make whole wheat Irish soda bread! We boosted the nutrition of this holiday favorite by using whole wheat flour and adding ground flaxseeds rich in omega3 fatty acids. This yummy bread is a good source of healthy fats for brain power and iron to keep your muscles strong. Enjoy a wedge for snack or afternoon tea. Kids love to eat if plain or topped with their favorite natural fruit spread. Whichever way you like it, we g

Making fresh pasta with family and friends is one of those kitchen memories you won’t ever forget! In fact, I spent an afternoon in the kitchen with my dad and sisters making fresh ravioli, and alas, another HealthBarn recipe was born! Our Handmade Cheesy Ravioli is the perfect hands-on recipe to get the whole family involved. They are made with semolina flour and fresh herbs for flavor, not to mention a protein packed unique ingredient: tofu in the filling. They are nutrit

We deconstructed this classic Italian “pasta fagioli” recipe and transformed it into a wildly popular stew that kids and grown-ups (firefighters, too!) are giving thumbs up!  Make a big pot of this hearty meal because your family will happily fill up their thermoses for a tasty and nutritious school lunch!  This stew is an excellent source of  learn protein, fiber and vitamin A and is a good source of vitamin C, and the mineral iron. Ingredients: 1 lb. lean ground turkey, bro

Do you love chocolate truffles but you don’t want the added saturated fat and calories that come along with them? Then, this Valentine's Day recipe is for you. These truffles taste delicious, are simple to make and contain a secret nutritious ingredient (potatoes!). Potatoes contain phytochemicals that protect the immune system. These tasty bites also pack extra heart healthy potassium. Make them with the whole family to have on hand for a healthy treat. Ingredients: 1 pound,

Are you cooking for game day? Whether you are hosting a Super Bowl party or bringing an appetizer to a friend’s house, we want you to try our thumbs up Super Bowl Sampler picks! Straight from my book, Appetite for Life , these two delicious low-fat, low-sodium appetizers will make the typical chicken wings crowd go wild for more. Tackle these easy recipes to make your Super Bowl menu a touchdown for kids and grown-ups! Pizza Potato Skins: At HealthBarn USA, we love pizza

Ready to transform your kitchen into a bagel bakery? You are going to love this whole wheat bagel recipe baked to nutrition perfection. It is super easy to make and one bagel offers an excellent source of fiber, iron and protein… in bagels? You bet with this thumbs up recipe. Season to your taste and bake extra to freeze so that they are always on hand for breakfast or lunch! Ingredients: 1½ cup whole wheat flour 1½ teaspoon baking powder 2 tablespoons flaxseeds, ground

We know what you’re thinking – blondies made with chickpeas ? But this blondie (aka brownie) recipe is a delicious, healthy alternative to traditional chocolate chip blondies without sacrificing any flavor! Including these beans is a great way to add extra protein and dietary fiber to the family diet. Try using raisins in place of chocolate chips for an added twist and boost of iron. Ingredients: 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats 1 cup whole wheat flour 2 tablespoons ground fl

Make Tuesdays “taco night” with this easy dinner that is simple and fun to make. Your kids can pitch in chopping and cooking, too! This recipe starts with a homemade taco seasoning that makes the proteins taste delicious. This recipe is an excellent source of vitamins A and C and the mineral iron. Ingredients: Homemade Taco Seasoning: ¼ cup chili powder 2 tablespoons cumin 1 teaspoon sea salt 1 tablespoon paprika 2 teaspoon coriander (yields 9 servings of 2 teaspoons) Taco

This fresh and flavorful creation uses the whole grain quinoa (pronounced keen-wah ), which is the only grain that naturally contains protein. The combination of vitamin C and iron in this recipe is really important, because your body uses the vitamin C to help absorb the iron. Feta cheese is really tasty, but if you prefer, substitute goat cheese. Get the kids involved in chopping, measuring, and mixing because this recipe is a fun family activity to pack for lunch, too! Ing

The holiday season is a wonderful time of year to bake cookies. If gingerbread cookies top your list, you will love this slimmed-down favorite! Bake and decorate as a family to fill your kitchen with happiness and the delicious aromas of the season. This scratch dough also bakes well using gluten-free flour. Kids of all ages love making the icing and designing the cookies. Enjoy! Ingredients: 1 ¾ cups whole wheat flour 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons ginger, ground

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This is a healthy and easy to make Banana Chocolate Chip Mini Muffins recipe.

The holiday season is a favorite time of year for baking! Engage the whole family with healthy cookie fun. These crunchy snaps are hard to keep in the cookie jar because they’re a family favorite at HealthBarn, and they’re sure to be a hit in your house, too. If ginger is not your favorite flavor, go without and enjoy a molasses snap instead. Pack them with low-fat milk or milk alternatives such as soy, rice or almond milks for a yummy school snack—and be prepared to share t

There are a zillion varieties of apples—from Granny Smith to Braeburn to Gala. Whether you like them tart or sweet, you’ll love them in this recipe. Choose whatever variety appeals to you to make this treat. We’ve topped each serving with our Crunchy Granola and Walnuts recipe; because the apples are slightly warm after cooking, the result tastes just like an old-fashioned apple crisp – except now it has whole grains, fiber, and no saturated fat. The agave nectar adds extra s

This traditional Mediterranean soup is the perfect way to turn up the heat this winter season. High in protein and an excellent source of dietary fiber and iron, a mineral that most children don’t get enough of in their diets, makes it a recipe staple year-round. It’s super easy to make and the “heat” can be adjusted by decreasing the red pepper flakes and black pepper! Ingredients : 4 cups water 1 yellow onion, thinly sliced 1 ½ cups of red lentils, dried 1 tablespoon cumin

This immune-boosting soup is the best natural “medicine” for staying strong during flu season because it’s loaded with the antioxidant vitamins A and C! We have been told that a bowl of this soup looks like we went down to the garden, picked a lot of vegetables and threw them all in a pot. That’s pretty close to how we actually make it! We also use skinless chicken breasts, low in fat and high in protein, but made flavorful and succulent by the variety of veggies that give th

We do eat cookies at HealthBarn USA! These energy-packed, no-bake, tasty treats are made with natural ingredients and are fun to make with friends.  (Because no oven is used, E-Z Make Cookies is the ideal recipe for kids to prepare without adult supervision.)  Make a double-batch to prepare for your next snack-attack, and keep extras cool in the refrigerator (they taste even better chilled). Ingredients: 1½ cups whole grain cereal* 1 cup natural creamy peanut butter ¼ cup ho