Roasting root veggies brings out their natural sweetness and pure maple syrup gives them a delicious caramel flavor. Kids will love this dish! Served cold, it makes a quick and nutritious snack.
2lbsroot vegetables – cut into ½” pieces(try carrots, beets, parsnips, rutabaga, or turnips)
2tbspextra virgin olive oil
2tbsppure maple syrup
¼tspsea salt
½tspground turmeric
pinchfreshly ground black pepper
Instructions
Preheat oven to 300°F. Spray a jelly roll pan with non-stick spray. Stir together olive oil and maple syrup and toss with vegetables. Spread evenly on pan and sprinkle with remaining seasonings.
Bake for 20 to 30 minutes until cooked to desired tenderness. Leave in long enough for vegetables to caramelize a bit. Also delicious served cold.
From the Paleo Diet to Sugarbusters to the South Beach Diet – every diet craze that’s swept the country has had one thing in common: avoiding refined sugars. But what to do when your sweet tooth doesn’t agree? Try pure maple syrup! This all-natural organic sweetener is completely unrefined (other than boiling off the water) and if you make it yourself, it’s really inexpensive!
Of course, maple syrup is still a sugar so enjoy in moderation especially if you’re on a low-sugar diet. The good news? Unlike refined white sugar, pure maple syrup has a lower glycemic index, is much more nutrient-dense and rich in antioxidants. The antioxidant levels are comparable to a banana and one tablespoon of pure maple syrup contains:
1% Daily Value of Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Potassium, and Copper.
6% Daily Value of Zinc.
33% Daily Value of Manganese.
Pure maple syrup can be easily substituted for white sugar in most recipes but it will naturally give the dish a slight maple flavor. If the recipe calls for 1 cup of white sugar, use approximately 3/4 cup of pure maple syrup. It will also add a bit more moisture to your recipe compared to refined sugar. Adjust recipes by reducing liquids by 3 Tablespoons for every cup of maple syrup.
Naturally improve your morning yogurt! Greek yogurt is such a healthy choice for your family but it’s usually filled with sugar (and more expensive because of it!). Instead of buying the pre-flavored yogurt cups, sweeten plain Greek yogurt with pure maple syrup and liven it up with these delicious and nutritious additions. Kids will love it and the high-protein will really power them up for the day.
1 cup plain Greek Yogurt
½ cup mixed nuts or seed, dried fruit, or granola (unsweetened)
¼ teaspoon each: turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, and cardamom
1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
Mix and serve. For smoothies, swap out the nuts for frozen bananas or chunked up fruit or berries.
