ELIMINATE HFCS (High Fructose Corn Syrup) to help with weight loss

HFCS is in everything and its incredibly damaging to your metabolism. It kicks up your fat-storing hormones and makes you fat. Fructose (the "F" in HFCS) must be metabolized in the liver. Because of this, HFCS somehow tricks the body into not releasing insulin and leptin, two essential hormones that are usually released after you eat. Without insulin, your body can't use those HFCS calories for energy, and without leptin, your body doesn't know it's full so you keep on eating.

Please, please read food labels and if it has High Fructose Corn Syrup, put it back. Common foods that contain HFCS are breads, ketchup, BBQ sauce, lunch meats, processed foods, etc.

Try this great granola bar recipe as a substitute for all the store bough brands with HFCS.

No Bake “Quaker”-Style Chewy Granola Bars

Adapted from chocolatecoveredkatie.com

(Can be gluten-free)

§  1 cup rolled oats (or gluten-free oats)

§  1/4 tsp. baking soda

§  1/4 cup rice crispies (brown, white, or gluten-free) I prefer brown if you can find them.

§  1/4 cup plus 2 tbsp. oat flour (just take oats, throw them in the food processor and grind)

§  1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract

§  2 tbsp. coconut oil (could use apple sauce for a lower fat version but won’t turn out as well)

§  1/4 cup agave (Honey will also work)

§  1-2 packs stevia (up to 1/16 tsp. uncut) or 1-2 tablespoons brown sugar or extra liquid sweetener

§  1/4 tsp. salt

§  2 tbsp. applesauce (banana would probably work as well, or pumpkin!)

§  Ideas for the add-ins: mini chocolate chips, chopped raisins or other dried fruit, shredded coconut, chopped walnuts, etc. BUT NOT TOO MUCH!

Directions:

Combine all dry ingredients and mix very well.

In a separate bowl, combine wet ingredients. Stir wet into dry and use a sheet of parchment (or wax) paper to squish evenly-coated mixture into a parchment-lined 8x8 pan (or double the recipe for a 9×13). Squish very, very hard, with a can or something heavy. Put in the fridge until firm then squish very hard again. Cut into bars.

These should stay in the fridge or the freezer.