We’re back into the full swing of the work year, and if you’re like me, your brain-width for making food (or any) decisions is shortening by the day. Quick and easy workday eats? Lunch box fillers for the kids? Afternoon snacks that are somehow conveniently sitting in a container just waiting for you to pick it?
I’ve got you. These Oat and Raisin Cookies will literally take you 5 minutes to put together, yet provide you with days of 3pm rescue. They’re nut-free so school lunch doable, and…. ridiculously healthy. So YES, you can have one every day.
Imagine this…
- No oil
- No added sugar
- Made with just 1 blender, 9 ingredients, and 17 minutes (if you race me)
- & the best low-maintenance snack you could find
Speaking of low maintenance, today I’m also going to teach you a little bit about low-maint INVESTING. I know, a little left wing, but hear me out. In a past life I was an investment banker and financial research analyst, so when a local NZ ethical investment team approached me to put my spin on ethical investing in the 2020’s, I thought – why not – I’d love to share my advice. So grab yourself a cookie and calculator (joking, just the cookie will do), and let me teach you how to make money for GOOD.
Watch How To Make Oat and Raisin Cookies
But What Do I Know About Investing?
First – a bit of background on why I might have an iota of experience to share with you here. Back in my youth before my Nutritionist/Naturopath days, I went to University first time round and did a BA / BCom with a triple major in Languages, Economics, and Finance. That’s right. Finance.
As a result, I ended up working at Goldman Sachs at age 21, a large investment firm here in NZ and globally. I was first in the Investment Banking team, then later became an Equity Research Analyst (doing research on and analysing listed companies on the stock exchange). I can thank those years for honing my adeptness at quantitative and qualitative research analysis, much of which I’ve taken forward into my current career.
Cookies and Coins (Oat and Raisin Cookies that is)
Thanks to this kick start in finance, I started investing my piggy bank very early into an area that not many since the 80s had touched with a barge pole. SHARES. Every 21-year-old pay cheque went straight into my investments, and after a few years, the numbers started adding up. And adding up.
17 years later, I can safely say that starting out early with investing across a diverse range of companies, industries, and countries, was the single best financial decision I’ve ever made. I made a couple of boos for sure, but quickly learned from my mistakes (and I’m going to make sure you skip right past that).
So when a New Zealand company called Pathfinder recently asked me if I’d be interested in sharing more about my experience with ethical investing, I jumped at the chance. I’ve always wanted to share my knowledge and experience with others, but it felt a little far removed from, well, cookies.
Well now we’re here. With Oat and Raisin cookies and coins. And over the next 6 months, I’m going to teach you how healthy cookies and healthy coins CAN go hand in hand.
How to Invest Ethically
The first tenet of investing well, is investing ethically. That’s why when Pathfinder approached me, it was a natural fit. After all – I had my PERSONAL Kiwisaver invested with them already.
Why?
I previously had my Kiwisaver with one of the big banks, but chose to move it to Pathfinder just over a year ago, so that my investments were more closely aligned with my ethos. When Kiwisaver first started, there wasn’t an ethical investment option, so I did my best with what was available. Now though, you can cut straight to the chase and choose the positive choice from the get go.
Pathfinder is the manager of the Pathfinder KiwiSaver Plan. Their mission is to generate individual wealth, whilst also enhancing collective wellbeing. They’re actively working to dispel the myth that you can’t invest ethically and get great financial returns. Pretty much my thinking exactly.
Here are their stated goals:
- To deliver above-average returns that don’t cost the earth
- To invest in the most ethical way that’s possible
- To have a positive impact on members as well as the planet
Over the next six months, I’m going to be sharing a series of topics about ethical investing, and how you can make it work for you. Til then, if you already have a Kiwisaver and want to make the switch before then, you can easily do so on Pathfinder’s website. Then you can sit happy while your Kiwisaver is rocking it (alongside mine), and I’ll flesh out the education along the way.
By the way – while Pathfinder is sponsoring this series of blog recipes, I get no kick back if you decide to use them. My goal here is to empower you with the knowledge to make the best financial decisions possible. I’m pretty confident in the investment department given how things have rolled the past 17 years, and I want you to reap those benefits too. It’s part of the reason I’m able to run Be Good Organics as a not for profit venture – I pay my bills in other ways!
Want More Healthy Cookies? Try These
Back to our Oat and Raisin Cookies – if you try them, let me know! Leave me a comment and rating below, or take a photo and tag me @begoodorganics on Instagram. I love hearing and seeing how you get on with my recipes, it makes all my work feel worthwhile.
PS. This recipe post has been made possible with the help of Pathfinder – a company I’m proud to partner with. Thank you for supporting the companies who help me keep Be Good Organics a thriving, open, and free resource for you and the world. Pathfinder Asset Management Limited is the issuer of the Pathfinder KiwiSaver Plan and Pathfinder Investment Funds. Product Disclosure Statements for the offers are available at www.path.co.nz
Ingredients
Dry
- 1 c rolled oats
- 1/2 c almonds
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp sea salt
Wet
- 1 ripe banana
- ⅔ c chickpea water
- 4 tbsp almond butter
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Add Ins
- 1/2 c rolled oats
- 1/2 c raisins
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180°C fan bake.
- Blitz dry ingredients in a blender to a fine flour, then pour into a bowl.
- Blend wet ingredients in the blender until super creamy, then add to dry with the extra oats and raisins. Stir to combine.
- Scoop heaped tablespoon measures onto a lightly floured tray, spread flat into circles, press in a few extra raisins and oats, and bake for 12 mins. Let rest on the tray for a few minutes to firm up, then remove and serve. Will last for 3 days in a sealed container.
Recipe Notes
- Gluten free: Use whole buckwheat groats or buckwheat flour instead of oats, and whole buckwheat groats for the add ins.
- Nut free: Use sunflower or hemp seeds instead of almonds, and tahini/sunflower/hemp seed butter instead of almond butter.
Did You Make This?
Tag @begoodorganics
I can’t wait to see your creations!
