• Home
  • happy jessie
  • first time here?
  • work with me
  • contact

The Happiness in Health

Jessie, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist

  • Home
  • happy jessie
    • Meet Jessie
    • best of thih!
    • peter
    • travels
    • the judginator series
    • caption contests
  • healthy recipes
    • Recipage
    • vintage recipes
  • media
  • educate
    • Nutrition Info in a Hurry
    • get up ‘n’ go snacks
    • getting a good night’s sleep
    • simple tips for healthy living
  • cartoons
  • faq
  • becoming an rd
    • A Step-By-Step Beginner’s Guide
    • Day in the Life Series
    • RD FAQ
    • Where Do RDs Work?

Mini Lemon Lavender Shortbread Cookies

12/11/12 | Nutrition Tips, Recipes

After yesterday’s monologue about the intricacies of breakfast, Marie made a great point in the comments:

I have a hard time with breakfast. Without it the day’s a disaster, but I am NOT a morning person, in spite of which I am out the door by 7 am (in the darkness… so sad…). It’s a daily struggle, because if I make a good breakfast I get crunched for time, but if I have a teeny grab-and-go breakfast I’m starving well before lunchtime (5 1/2 or 6 1/2 hours later, depending on the day). I can often munch on a snack mid-morning, but the snack has to be something I can eat without direct snack-to-germ-and-ink-covered-skin contact. So I need breakfasts that are filling (but not heavy) and fast and snacks that are quick and easy to eat but not overly processed.

I hear ya, Marie! Being a teacher, it’s especially important for you to be energized during the morning. Your struggles with breakfast are common ones, and ones I’ve had myself (and I’m a morning person!). I believe in the power of a good breakfast, so I believe it is my duty – nay, life mission – to help everyone enjoy a good one. There are several things you can do to make sure you fuel up in the morning.

(1) Prepare grab-and-go breakfasts for the week during the weekend.

For this to work, the grab-and-go breakfasts can’t be teeny tiny. The more balanced and filling they are, the more likely you’ll last until lunch (or until your mid-morning snack). To make sure I’m getting enough in the morning, I always include at least one of each of the following groups at breakfast:

*A whole grain. This can be bread, cereal, crackers, oatmeal, even rice or quinoa (and yes, I’ve eaten both of those for breakfast).
*A protein. Try eggs, peanut butter, yogurt, even sliced chicken or tofu.
*A fruit or veggie. Banana, orange, apple, pineapple, dried fruit (without added sugar if possible) – choose your favorite. If you’re having eggs, a smoothie, or a sandwich, leafy greens are a nutritious addition.

Following this structure, we can build breakfasts:

*Baggie with mixed cereal, nuts, dried fruit. This one may be small, so throw in a yogurt if you can.
*Whole grain crackers, hard-boiled egg, cheese. Fruit on the side.
*Sandwich with sliced meat or tofu and veggies. I’ve done this before and it makes a fantastic change!

You can bundle these up in a Tupperware and bring with you to school – one for each day of the week.

(2) Wake up a few minutes earlier to make a fast-but-filling breakfast you can eat in the car (if you need to).

I know waking up earlier is not a popular option, so you need to decide if that’s something you want to do. If so, there are many breakfasts you can make in just a few minutes.

*Smoothies (if you have a blender). Peter used to drink these in the car on the way to work (which I’m not a fan of, but it works).
*Sandwich, freshly made. My favorite when I was in high school (and in my no-breakfast phase) was to spray a bowl with non-stick cooking spray, crack an egg or two inside, stir, cover, and microwave for one and a half to two minutes. I’ve also made versions where you add spinach, chopped tomatoes, and/or herbs. Stick between two slices of whole grain bread and enjoy! Alternatively, you can make a traditional deli sandwich with sliced meats and veggies.
*Throw yogurt, fruit, and cereal into a bowl or glass and eat with a spoon.

As for a mid-morning snack, I have a couple of suggestions:

*Fruit and nuts. Try packing an easily peeled fruit, like a banana or clementine, or one that can be eaten without much hand contact, like an apple, or something more exotic like a persimmon or kiwi (yes, you can eat the skin if it’s organic!). I like to pair fruit with nuts because the healthy fats help you absorb nutrients from the fruit, plus they slow digestion and help the snack last longer. A little baggie of nuts may work for you, or you can try what I did for a long time: carry a little Tupperware container with a spoonful of peanut butter and dip the fruit in it. NOTE: If you work in a nut-free environment, this will obviously need to be modified.
*Veggies and dressing. You can either precut veggies over the weekend or buy them precut. To prevent hand contact, you can put the veggies in a Tupperware container and drizzle dressing over the top, then eat with a fork.
*The ultimate in no-hands snacking: homemade or bought granola bars. When I worked in hospitals, I used to carry Fill-Me-Up Oat Bars in my lab coat pocket in plastic baggies. To chow down, I would hold the bar in the bag and eat through the open top. It’s a little wasteful in terms of plastic baggie use, but I did reuse the bags.

The biggest piece of advice I can give is actually not food-related at all, and that is: routine. Any change in lifestyle is difficult at first, but with time and patience, just about anything can become part of your routine.

I hope that helps, Marie!

On to today’s recipe: last week, I asked for suggestions on what to do with my abundance of lavender. After Sarah and Samantha both suggested lavender shortbread, I knew I had to try it.

Dough waiting to be chilled, with my handprint.

This recipe is adapted from this one and has a lovely hint of lemon. Let me tell you: the aroma of lavender and lemon filling your kitchen is not to be missed. Unfortunately, this recipe only used 2 teaspoons of fresh lavender, so I’m still on the hook with the rest of my lavender. This is not a recipe to make lighter – the high butter content is essential for good shortbread, while using whole grain flour would overwhelm the delicate lavender flavor. Let’s call this a sometimes food, shall we? 🙂

Mini Lemon Lavender Shortbread Cookies

  Prep Time: 1 hour

  Cook Time: 10-15 minutes

  Keywords: bake dessert lavender cookie

Ingredients (25 mini cookies)

  • 1/2 cup butter, softened (1 stick)
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 tablespoon confectioner’s sugar
  • 2 teaspoons fresh lavender, finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 3/4 cup + 1 tablespoon all purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • Pinch salt
  • Sparkling sugar (optional)

Instructions

In a medium bowl, cream together the butter, white sugar, and confectioners’ sugar until light and fluffy. Stir in the lavender and lemon zest. Mix in cornstarch and salt until well blended, then stir in flour. Beat for one minute, or until dough is very stiff.

Make dough into a ball and wrap in plastic wrap. Flatten to about an inch thick. Refrigerate until firm, about 45 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. On a floured surface, roll the dough out to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into shapes with cookie cutters. Place on cookie sheets. Sprinkle with sparkling sugar (optional).

Bake for 10 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven, just until cookies begin to brown at the edges. Do not over bake. Cool for a few minutes on the baking sheets, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

Powered by Recipage

Q: What’s your favorite grab-and-go breakfast?

Related Posts

Red Bean Hummus | Jessie @ The Happiness in Health
Red Bean Hummus with Sweet Paprika
Baby Led Weaning | Jessie @ The Happiness in Health
How to Modify Baby-Led Weaning
passionfruit cardamom ice cream
Breakfast and Weight Loss: The Facts

Collard Greens | Jessie @ The Happiness in Health
Sweet Collard Greens with Smoky Bacon
Healthy Dessert Yogurt Parfaits @ The Happiness in Health
Top Ten THIH Thanksgiving Recipes
Adaptable Oat Bars, Lactation Edition

Comments | 6 comments

STAY UPDATED!

Get all the latest recipes, nutrition advice, cartoons and more straight to your inbox!

« Monday Munchies, Part 13
36 Hours in Saint Louis »

Comments

  1. Lucy says

    at

    These are really smart and strategic breakfast ideas 🙂 I don’t think I could survive without eating something in the morning!

    I’ve never tried lavender cookies…these look delectable. And very ladylike 😉

    Reply
  2. Andrea@WellnessNotes says

    at

    I usually eat oatmeal for breakfast. When I am in a big hurry, I take a string cheese and some almonds or a banana and some walnuts.

    Your shortbread cookies sound great!

    Reply
    • Jessie says

      at

      Hi Andrea! I love your idea of string cheese as part of a grab-and-go meal. The ultimate in portable! 🙂

      Reply
  3. Samantha Angela says

    at

    They look great! :d

    I like smoothies for an on the go breakfast.
    I can usually cook and eat eggs in less than 10 minutes, so assuming I didn’t wake up too late, that’s usually my go-to.

    Sometimes I’ll bring cottage cheese and fruit with me to eat at the office.

    Reply
  4. A Canadian Foodie says

    at

    Love lavendar shortbread – and lavendar ice cream! But, the buds can only be a garnish as it takes billions to make the oil to use in the ice cream… see my post on it. However, you should be able to make a gorgeous lavendar syrup that would have a beautiful hue and would be lovely served as a base in a cocktail or over scones – and that would take all of your lovely buds to be enjoyed all winter!
    🙂
    V

    Reply
    • Jessie says

      at

      Great ideas, Valerie! I knew you would know what to do 🙂

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Jessie The Happiness in Health
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

STAY UPDATED!

Get all the latest recipes, nutrition advice, cartoons and more straight to your inbox!

Popular Cartoons

Back to School Cool

25 Comments

The Five Stages of Becoming a Dietitian

21 Comments

The Adventures of Super RD, Volume 1

15 Comments

Popular Update Your Plate

Update Your Plate, Part 9: The Veggie Stagnation Edition

14 Comments

Update Your Plate, Part 7: The Combo Plate Edition

13 Comments

Update Your Plate, Part 1: The Salmon Salad Edition

12 Comments

Copyright

Feel free to share recipes, posts, and pins; however, note that all text and pictures on this website are the property of The Happiness in Health. Do not edit pictures without my permission. If an image is used, please link back to my original post. Thanks!

STAY UPDATED!

Get all the latest recipes, nutrition advice, cartoons and more straight to your inbox!

Search THIH

Join me on Instagram

jessiederwin

jessiederwin
Day 3 of working from home while caring for both t Day 3 of working from home while caring for both toddlers. Not much work getting done but at least the kids are having fun! It’s stressful, but I’m grateful for the privilege of being able to work from home when so many others currently juggle childcare, lost income, and higher risk of #coronavirus exposure. #covid_19 #socialdistancing #toddlermayhem
Behind-the-scenes at the photo shoot for the new a Behind-the-scenes at the photo shoot for the new app we’re developing—stay tuned! Photo taken by the amazing @eldergvarela #foodphotography #appdevelopment #lightbox
Found this from my 36 hrs in #Iceland in September Found this from my 36 hrs in #Iceland in September #northernlights #auroraborealis #goodtiming #itwascold
Not sure what’s going on in this pic, but I seem Not sure what’s going on in this pic, but I seem really into it #tbt #nofilter #seriouslytho
I think I’ve been working our robot vacuum too h I think I’ve been working our robot vacuum too hard #comebackweloveyou
Strawberries are back in season! #alachuacountyfar Strawberries are back in season! #alachuacountyfarmersmarket #strawberryseason #florida
Stocking up on water and brownie mix #essentials # Stocking up on water and brownie mix #essentials #hurricanedorian #hurricane #2under4 #timetostockuponwine
Come sit and we’ll have a chat. #brainardlake #h Come sit and we’ll have a chat. #brainardlake #hikingwiththefam #colorado #thatviewtho
Incredible tasting dinner for two grownups and two Incredible tasting dinner for two grownups and two toddlers! Merci beaucoup @jferrer.europea 👏👏👏 #montreal #montrealfood #toddlereats
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Connect with Me

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Categories

Archives

Disclaimer

The information contained on this website is for informational purposes only and does not render medical or professional advice. The information on this web page should not be used for diagnosing or treating any medical condition. Please seek professional care from a licensed health care provider. The owner will not be liable for any losses, injuries, or damages from the display or use of this information. These terms and conditions of use are subject to change at anytime and without notice.

Copyright © 2021 · The Happiness in Health · Tasteful theme by Restored 316 · Disclosure

Copyright © 2021 · Tasteful Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in