Blueberry Lemon Oatmeal Squares

We have finally had a break from the humidity and 90-degree temps last week. It was perfect weather for taking the kids to pick blueberries. We are so lucky that we have these local blueberry farms right in our own backyard. Food doesn’t get much more local or seasonal than this!

Hailey was going for efficiency and tied her bucket around her waist!

Jake was sampling berries as he picked.

We have been picking blueberries for quite a few years now, and these were by far the biggest, fattest, plumpest blueberries I’ve ever seen! We each swore we had The Biggest Blueberry Ever!

So, half an hour and lots of samples later, we went home with 9 and 1/2 pounds of fresh picked blueberries. All for about $12!!!

Be prepared to see an obscene amount of blueberry recipes coming up! We have talked about blueberry donuts, waffles with blueberry sauce, blueberry mojitos (for the adults), blueberry crumble with ice cream, and of course I will be throwing them into smoothies, salads, and chia pudding!

I started off by tweaking my oatmeal bar recipe to make these Blueberry Lemon Oatmeal Squares. Perfect for afternoon snacks or packing up to take to the beach.

Blueberry Lemon Oatmeal Squares

Ingredients

2 cups old fashioned oats

1/3 cup walnuts, chopped very small

zest and juice of 1/2 of a lemon

1/3 cup coconut oil, melted

1/3 cup honey

2 T. chia seeds

1 heaping cup blueberries

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix chia seeds with 6-7 Tablespoons of water and set aside to thicken into a gel (the chia gel is used in place of an egg for extra nutrition since my kids already eat a lot of eggs. Feel free to swap in 1 egg instead).

Add oats, walnuts, and lemon zest to a large mixing bowl.

Melt coconut oil in a glass measuring cup and stir in honey and lemon juice.

Pour liquid ingredients into dry and mix well. Add gelled chia mixture (or egg) and stir. Gently fold in blueberries being careful not to smash them.

Pour mixture into an 8×8 square baking pan that has been brushed with a little coconut oil.

Bake for 35-40 minutes until set and beginning to turn golden brown on top. Allow to cool completely before cutting into squares.

The Happy Family loves this Healthy Plate because:

Oats – contains soluble fiber, which helps to lower cholesterol by removing some of the plaque build-up in the arteries. It is also a rich source of magnesium, a mineral which is involved in the body’s use of glucose and insulin secretion, to help stabilize blood sugar levels.

Blueberries – one of the highest antioxidant containing fruits, helping to combat the free radicals that can damage cellular structures and DNA. Many years of studies have shown blueberries to benefit the nervous system and brain health.

Chia Seeds – one of the richest plant-based sources of Omega-3 Fatty Acids, specifically alpha-linolenic acid or ALA, which help to reduce inflammation, enhance cognitive performance, and reduce high cholesterol. Per 2 Tablespoon serving, chia seeds are an excellent source of fiber (10 grams!) and calcium (18% of the daily recommended intake).

Coconut Oil* – contains a saturated fat called lauric acid, a type of medium chain triglyceride. Lauric acid has been shown to increase the good HDL cholesterol in the blood to help improve cholesterol ratio levels. The breakdown of these medium chain triglycerides in the liver helps increase metabolism. Coconut oil also has antifungal and antimicrobial properties to improve immunity and fight off yeast, fungus, and candida. It also positively affect our hormones to boost thyroid function and improve insulin use within the body.

Walnuts – high in a particular form of Vitamin E which is beneficial for cardiovascular health and protects skin from harmful oxygen-free radicals. Walnuts are also rich in Omega-3 essential fatty acids, which have anti-inflammatory actions to help lower blood pressure, decrease risk of coronary artery disease, strokes and some cancers.

*This, as well as all nutritional highlights featured on my blog, are my own opinion based on my own personal research. For further detailed information on coconut oil, here are links to two well-respected doctors and their science-based research:

http://coconutoil.com/mary_enig/

http://products.mercola.com/coconut-oil/