This article and oatmeal recipe are sponsored by BetterRecipes.com. All opinions are my own.

Well hello there, friends! Tomorrow is my birthday and I’m making this yummy Cinnamon Pecan Oatmeal recipe to celebrate! I’ve heard so many of you ask me, ‘Is oatmeal gluten-free?’ Well, yes and no. Oats are usually made in a facility where wheat and gluten are in the air so there is cross contamination but there are gluten-free oats sold in many of the stores like Whole Foods Market and online stores like Amazon, too! So, if you have celiac disease or you are gluten-intolerant, have no fear – there are oats JUST for you!

I like oats so much that I’ll probably stick a candle in this recipe just for a little birthday fun.

I’m so grateful for having all of you in my life. I honestly don’t know what I would do without this blog… and all of your inspiring and encouraging comments and support. You truly make my day EVERY single day from your emails, comments and shout outs on social media.

I am forever grateful for all of you!

And so on the eve of my 31st birthday, I thought I’d share a few things I’ve learned this year.

Give Yourself the Gift of Self-Love

It’s easy to forget the essential act of caring for ourselves first but self-love is something we all need and something I was never taught growing up. Taking YOU time helps release that excess stress cortisol (a primary stress hormone), anxiety and worry about life, digestive issues, headaches and so much more. With just a few little self-love techniques, you can have your body back and feeling good by following these few approaches below. Research has showing that these simple tasks can actually boost our health tremendously. They relax our muscles, improve our mood, decrease cortisol and increase endorphins and oxytocin.

• Enjoy a cup of hot tea
• Schedule a massage
• Take time to plan and prioritize your day/week
• Take an Epsom salt bath
• Curl up with a good book and wrap yourself in a cozy blanket
• Listen to good music
• Eat every 3-4 hours (lean protein, healthy fats and fiber)
• Sleep- try to get at least 7 hours a night

Disconnect from Social Media & Connect with Family & Friends

Between work obligations, travel plans, social commitments and so much more…we’re all over-booked. Taking a break from technology is a great way to restore healthy cortisol levels and improve your immune function. Plus, it’s more fun to laugh and enjoy time with real, genuine people than a screen, isn’t it?

Add MORE Superfoods to Your Meals & Snacks

Several of the main culprits of stress are tied back to food and behavioral eating. Whether it’s to avoid the emotional stress that comes with weight gain or the overindulgence in seasonal treats, a plan for staying healthy can be a vital tool when attacking stress.

Here are a few superfoods you can toss into your meals and snacks each day:

• Nuts: walnuts, almonds, pecans, and hazelnuts
• Fatty fish: wild salmon, mackerel and sardines
• Berries: strawberries, blueberries and cranberries
• Leafy greens: spinach, kale, chard and more
• Turmeric, otherwise known as curcumin
• Pure dark chocolate or cacao nibs

Beat Stress by Moving

Squeeze in a mini yoga session in your bedroom before bed or stretch first thing when you wake up. You don’t need an hour at the gym everyday. I’ve learned that less is more. I canceled my gym membership and I’ve never been happier.

Be FULLY Present and Experiencing Emotions

There are so many ways to help alleviate bad feelings and re-balance your body’s stress response:

• Be Grateful- One of the most valuable, yet underrated stress-busting activities is practicing gratitude.
• Understand Emotions are Normal-Another extraordinarily effective way to re-balance your stress response is to fully experience emotion, which is known to stimulate both the hormones and the neurotransmitters that lower stress.
• Laugh- Yes, laughter can lower your cortisol levels while raising your endorphins and oxytocin, relaxing your muscles, and improving your mood.
• Write in an Ingratiate Journal- Another great way to balance your stress response is to write down what you are grateful for each day.

Make Yourself Some Oatmeal

Now, I hope I didn’t make you all too sleepy from all that info. I thought oatmeal would be the perfect recipe to pair with this post since it’s comforting and healthy and you can toss in tons of super foods. Plus, it’s a sit down food you can’t shovel in your mouth while walking, driving, etc.

Anyway, dig in. The pecan-cinnamon combo is going to rock your little world. And if you’re not a fan of pecans-no worries. Here are a few other oatmeal toppings to make your morning delightful!

xo

Now, onto the oatmeal! Try to buy everything organic. Here’s why: The Benefits of Eating Organic.

Cinnamon Pecan Oatmeal {Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Vegan}

Serves: 4

 

Print

Prep

5 minutes

Cook

20 minutes

Total

25 minutes

 

Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Soy-Free, Vegetarian, Vegan

Author: Amie Valpone

Recipe type: Entree

Ingredients

• 1 cup gluten-free steel cut oats
• 2 cups rice milk
• 2 cups purified water
• 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup pecans
• 1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
• 4 Tbsp. raisins
• 2 Tbsp. cacao nibs
• 1 Tbsp. ground flax seeds
• pinch sea salt

Instructions

1. In a medium pot on the stove top, bring water and rice milk to a boil. Add oats; cook over medium heat until oats are tender, approximately 20 minutes. Add in remaining ingredients and reduce heat to low. Cook for another 2 minutes.
2. Remove from heat; transfer to four bowls.
3. Serve warm.

Nutrition Facts

Cinnamon Pecan Oatmeal {Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Vegan}

Amount Per Serving

Calories 371 Calories from Fat 126

% Daily Value*

Fat 14g22%

Saturated Fat 3g19%

Sodium 57mg2%

Potassium 177mg5%

Carbohydrates 55g18%

Fiber 9g38%

Sugar 6g7%

Protein 10g20%

Vitamin C 1mg1%

Calcium 72mg7%

Iron 3mg17%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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