It’s National Bike to Work Day!

National Bike to Work Day is a great opportunity to get some exercise, plus save on gas and emissions. It’s tough to bike to work in some places, but if you can, Kathey Jo’s Kitchen recommends trying it out. National Bike Month was started by the League of American Bicyclists in 1956. May was chosen to coincide with the arrival of warmer weather. It’s inspired bike rides, commuter challenges, safety inspections, and other varied displays of bicycling over the years. Hopefully your community participates. If not, consider starting a campaign where you live. Today’s recipes are commuter friendly, ideal to snack on during your rides. Let your friends at Kathey Jo’s Kitchen know if you are!

Veggies and Hummus

Ingredients

  • Raw vegetables, such as carrots, celery, sugar snap peas, bell peppers, cucumbers, and jicama
  • ½ cup of hummus

Instructions

  1. Take a mason jar and scoop in the hummus. Place your veggies in the same jar and then take it to go.
  2. If you don’t like your veggies coated with hummus, then bag or Tupperware your hummus and veggies separately.

 

Make-Ahead Fruit and Yogurt Protein Parfaits

Ingredients

  • 32 ounces plain Greek yogurt
  • ¼ cup pure maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 ½ cups mixed berries (i.e. raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, etc.)
  • ½ cup raw pumpkin seeds shelled
  • ¼ cup chopped walnuts
  • ¼ cup chia seeds
  • ¼ cup flax seed meal
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

Directions

  1. In a medium bowl, whisk together yogurt, maple syrup and vanilla. Pour into a liquid measuring cup and set aside.
  2. In another bowl, mix together seeds, nuts and spices.
  3. To assemble parfaits, set out five glasses or mason jars and pour in ¼ cup or so of the yogurt mixture into each glass.
  4. Top the yogurt layer with a couple tablespoons of the nut and seed mixture.
  5. Sprinkle a couple tablespoons of berries on top of the nut mixture then begin again with yogurt.
  6. Repeat the layers until all ingredients have been used.
  7. Seal mason jars or cover glasses with plastic wrap until you’re ready to serve. These will keep in the refrigerator covered with plastic wrap for up to 5 days.