By Dr. Kendra Pearsall

Dr. Kendra Pearsall

It’s important to prepare your snacks ahead of time so they are easy to take with you. When you are armed with healthy snacks, you can satisfy your hunger before you are ever tempted by the office vending machine or doughnut box.

Varying your snack foods is also important, as this will keep your taste buds interested while giving your body a wide range of nutrients.

Try out the following options for some creative and delicious snack ideas:

Celery and Peanut Butter/Flaxseeds

• Spread 1 tablespoon of peanut butter* on a celery stalk or consume the celery with some freshly ground organic flaxseeds

Nut Balls

• Combine 1/2 jar of peanut butter* with freshly ground organic flaxseeds, shredded coconut, a few raisins and three tablespoons of chopped walnuts
• Optional: Add 2 tablespoons of protein powder and a small amount of raw honey
• Form the mixture into balls and roll in shredded coconut

*Please note that some peanut butters may be contaminated with aflatoxin, a potent carcinogenic mold. This mold toxin can even be present on freshly ground organic peanuts. Because of this I use Arrowhead Mills organic peanut butter. Arrowhead Mills grows their peanuts in a state where aflatoxin has not yet been identified due to the dry conditions, so I feel comfortable that it is aflatoxin-free peanut butter.

No-Grain Muffins

• Combine 2 eggs, 1 cup raw milk, 4 tablespoons vegetable glycerin, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 2 cups ground walnuts, 2/3 cup freshly ground flax seeds and 1 teaspoon baking powder
• Bake in 350-degree oven for 30 minutes

Eggnog

• Beat together 1 raw egg and 1/4 cup raw cream or 1 cup raw milk
• Optional: Add a few grains of salt and a small amount of natural sweetener like vegetable glycerin or stevia
• If you are healthy and not overweight you can add 1/2 teaspoon of maple syrup, which really sweetens the drink

Protein Smoothie

• Mix in a blender: 1/2 scoop Living Fuel, 1 raw egg, 1 cup raw milk and ice cubes
• Optional: Add 1 teaspoon fish oil, 1 teaspoon nuts or nut butter, 1/4-1/2 cup frozen fruit such as berries, 1 tablespoon natural sweetener such as vegetable glycerin

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

Kendra Pearsall, N.D. is now on staff at The Optimal Wellness Center to help guide you toward true health success. Specializing in weight issues, diabetes and women’s health, Pearsall is a naturopathic medical doctor who received extensive accolades in the southwest region of the United States for the real, and often dramatic, improvements people experienced through her holistic approach to health and healing. She joined the Optimal Wellness Center in May of 2003, where she now offers you her advanced education and training integrating both conventional and alternative physical medicine with mental and emotional approaches. In her words: "My goal is to be a health coach to my patients. I am a firm believer in creating a healing partnership where my patients are educated, motivated, and empowered to overcome their health problems and achieve vibrant physical and emotional well-being. I am dedicated to providing the highest quality of care and stopping at nothing until we achieve this goal." Previous to the Optimal Wellness Center, she served in a family practice clinic in the southwest, and was also a college instructor teaching anatomy, nutrition and anti-aging medicine. She received her naturopathic medical degree from the Southwest College of Natural Medicine in Tempe, AZ, and graduated summa cum laude with a B.A. in psychology from Western Michigan University. In addition to helping people heal and realize their full potential, her passions include world travel and the great outdoors.