Braces Friendly Banana Oat Chia Pancakes

Collins Orthodontics Presents: Braces Friendly Eats

Banana Oat Chia Pancakes

Bananas and oats, see how they stack up!

Here’s the video that shows you how to make it:

https://youtu.be/-x0URDf9OZQ

INGREDIENTS

Servings: 2-4

Banana Oat Chia Pancakes

1 cup rolled oats
2 large eggs
1 ripe banana
1 tablespoon chia seeds
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon coconut oil (plus extra for cooking)
1/4 cup milk (almond, soy, or dairy
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

PREPARATION (with Food Processor)

1. Use your food processor to grind the oats into fine flour. 
2. Add the remaining ingredients and pulse until well-blended. 
3. Heat up a large nonstick skillet over medium heat.
4. Once warm, add coconut oil and swirl around until melted with your pan bottom fully coated!
5. Drop your batter into 1/8 cup portions.
6. Cook ‘em up for 3-4 minutes or until slightly set/bubbly. 
7. Flip and finish cooking for about 2-3 more minutes.  
8. Transfer to your plate and top it off with sliced banana and your choice of honey, syrup, or even Nutella.
9. Enjoy!

No processor? No problem.

1. Crack open those eggs and whisk them up in a medium sized bowl.
2. Mash your freshly peeled banana in with the egg.
3. Add cinnamon, vanilla, chia seeds and oats and stir to combine well.
4. Set aside and take five while you prepare your toppings.
5. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat.
6. Once warm, add the coconut oil and swirl around till melted and the bottom of the pan is completely coated.
7. Using a ¼ cup measure, scoop mix into your cooking pan, leaving space between pancakes so you can turn them easily. Cooking just 3 at a time!
8. Cook for 3-4 minutes, then flip those babies over and cook for another 2-3 minutes on the other side or until cooked through
9. Transfer to your plate and top it off with sliced banana and your choice of honey or syrup, or maybe some Nutella?
10. Enjoy!

About "Braces Friendly Eats" by Collins Orthodontics

When Malia prepped for clear braces treatment at Collins Orthodontics, she shared her plan with us. Her meal plan! She jumped on the internet, found the foods perfect for her first week in braces, and prepped them before ever sitting back in our chair at Collins Orthodontics. 

The result? Collins Orthodontics presents Braces Friendly Eats featuring Malia Howe—healthy foods you’ll love that won’t irritate your smile while you start your treatment.

Meet Malia

Say hello to mom, blogger and (surprise!) ninja in the kitchen, Malia Howe. She never had braces before and recently decided she was ready for the perfect smile. And she didn’t have to look far for the right orthodontist, Dr. Grant Collins, a family friend. Together they decided to bring these tasty, smile-friendly eats to patients everywhere.

Hungry for more? Visit her food blog.

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Jenna's Famous "Braces Friendly" Molten Lava Cake Recipe

By Jenna Jensen
-Licensed Dental Assistant at Collins Orthodontics

This "braces friendly" dessert is the ultimate go-to for all chocolate lovers, especially the ones who love rich dark chocolate, like me!  You can ask all my co-workers, family, and friends - these molten cakes are simply the best!  I first started making these with my mom about seven years ago.  At that time, both her and I were fans of the TV show The Biggest Loser.  We made it a weekly tradition to make molten cakes every Tuesday when the show was on.  We often commented to each other on how we were watching contestants working hard to lose weight, and there we were indulging in a weekly dessert together!  To this day, my mom always has all the ingredients on hand, so she is always ready when visit and ask, “How about a molten cake, Mom?” Her answer is always "yes" of course!

I have had many trial and error molten cake baking sessions with sometimes overcooking, sometimes undercooking, and sometimes the cakes getting stuck in the dishes. The recipe below is what I have found to make the perfect molten cakes...

Without further adieu, I give to you my famous "braces friendly" molten lava cake recipe:

Molten Lava Cakes Recipe
*Makes 2* 

• 2 oz. Baker’s Bittersweet Baking Chocolate
• 4 T. Margarine
• 3 T. Four
• ½ C Powered Sugar
• 1 whole egg
• 1 egg yolk
• Spray PAM
• 2- 1 cup ramekins, or similar round dessert dish

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. 
In a medium microwave safe bowl, melt chocolate and margarine for 30 seconds, stir, then repeat as needed until completely melted.  Whisk in flour and powdered sugar, then egg and egg yolk. Spray bottoms of ramekins with PAM, divide batter in half, and pour into prepared ramekins. Place in center rack of oven and set the timer for 12 minutes.  Check the cakes after 6 minutes. When the centers are slightly jiggly, and the cakes are firm about ½ inch from the outer edges, remove the cakes from the oven and let sit for one minute. Carefully cut around the edges of the molten cakes and invert onto serving plate. (Note: The cakes may crack so the lava comes running out, don’t worry, this is normal!)  You can dust powdered sugar on the top of the cakes for garnish. Serve with lots and lots of ice cream.  Different ovens may cook the molten cakes quicker. If you prefer more lava in the middle, cook for a shorter time. If you prefer less gooey goodness in the middle, cook for a little longer so the center is slightly firmer. You do not want to over bake.

Happy Baking Everyone!  Enjoy! :)

-Jenna Jensen

Want to learn more about Jenna Jensen and the rest of the Collins Orthodontics Team?  Visit our "Meet the Team" page and you'll be in the know on all of your favorite Collins Orthodontics team members!

Collins Orthodontics
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7 Critical Life Moments Your Teen Should Experience with the Perfect Smile

Putting your teen through orthodontic treatment doesn’t just mean a straighter smile after the braces are off. You know their smile will look different once teeth move into the right alignment, but sometimes it’s surprising just how much of a change this can make for your teen and their future.

For most adolescents, braces don’t just mean a healthier, more beautiful smile – they also mean twice the confidence and a brighter future.

Here’s a look at seven life moments you’ll guarantee your teen experiences with the perfect smile and that extra boost of confidence:

1.  Help your teen meet new friends with a smile.

Remember what it was like making friends growing up? It isn’t always easy –those first long term friendships provide a foundation for a lifetime of relationship building- self-esteem and a welcoming smile can make a huge difference.

Meeting new people and making new friends can be intimidating, even for adults, but it’s easier when you have the confidence of a straight smile. After having braces, (and even during treatment), most patients tend to smile more and that makes them act and feel more confident. And definitely makes them more approachable too.

2. Take some stress out of high school sweethearts.

Do you remember your first crush? You thought that he or she was the coolest person alive. Teens and adolescents take that first crush, (or first few!), very seriously. A first date can really be nerve-wracking, and they’ll want to get every minute right!

Teens put a lot of effort into their appearance on most days, but especially on a first date. What should they wear? Does their hair look O.K.? Which parent will give them a ride if they don’t have a car… how much will the parent embarrass them? Being confident in their smile means they have one less thing to worry about!

3. Be sure taking photos is fun.

More than ever, teens and adolescents are constantly using Social Media and taking countless photos with their friends at virtually all times. (A lot of them are taking plenty of themselves too.) Whether they are taking a trip to Disney World or the nearest shopping mall, almost every moment gets documented. 

A straighter, healthier smile means more comfort and confidence in front of a camera. That means your teen will feel comfortable taking pictures with their friends. On Photo Day it means they’ll spend more time on the perfect hair or outfit than they will practicing smiles in front of a mirror – that will come effortlessly. And yes, it also means they may be taking more selfies!

4. Make your teen’s prom perfect.

Prom night is a big occasion for any teenager. For months the school and students prepare for the dance most will only attend once or twice. Not only is it the biggest dance of the year, but it’s the dance that most teens will remember for the rest of their lives.

No expense is spared –there’s the dress or tux and matching corsage and boutonniere, sometimes even a limo or Uber Escalade - and of course, no prom experience is complete without an unstoppable smile.

5. Make sure they wear their cap and gown with a smile.

Whether it’s high school or college, graduation is a hallmark rite of passage for all of us. It’s also a time for friends and family to come together and celebrate your teen’s academic milestone and achievements. Make sure they’re smiling when they take their diploma (and that first big step forward).

6. Help them make stronger impressions at  interviews.

After graduating your teen will be ready to take the next steps to starting a career.  Smiles make an important first impression anywhere, and interviews are no exception. Whether they’re finding an entry level position just out of school, or interviewing for an executive role down the road, you don’t want a smile to hold your teen back in the future.

As surprising (and unfair) as it may sound, candidates who have more confident, straighter smiles have shown a proven advantage over the competition. News networks have reported on this smile phenomenon – why candidates with healthier more attractive smiles are more likely to succeed in their career goals.

The confidence that comes with a straight smile doesn’t hurt either! In fact, it’s a big reason why more people are getting adult braces than ever before.

7. Guarantee a big smile on their big day.

Many of us grow up with dreams of a big white wedding. One day your teen may be walking down the aisle. It’s a life changing occasion for both families and no big day is complete without a beautiful, white smile.

An effortless smile makes every moment better.

No matter what’s going on in your teen’s life, smiling is just all around good for people. Some studies have even linked smiling more to having longer, healthier lives.

Make every moment better for your teen and learn about the best treatment options for your family. Click here and schedule your teen's free consultation at Collins Orthodontics today! 

To your teen's continued success,

Grant Collins

Collins Orthodontics is proud to offer Invisalign® and Clear Braces.

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Collins Orthodontics Voted "Best Orthodontist" in Rochester, Minnesota

By Grant Collins, D.D.S., M.S.

Wow. Just wow...

This past week, I learned that Collins Orthodontics was voted as the Winner for "Best Orthodontist" in the 2015 Reader's Choice Awards for the Rochester Post Bulletin, and I was literally speechless - not because of winning, but rather because of the overwhelming love and support we continually receive from our patients and the Rochester community.  

We are so grateful and inspired by every single one of our patients - your interests, your talents, your positive energy, and your stories.  We are honored and thrilled to even have the opportunity to create beautiful smiles with braces, clear braces, and Invisalign in the Rochester community.

To be voted "Best Orthodontist" in Rochester feels like receiving the nicest gift in the world in which every single one of our patients "pitched in."

And how did the Collins Orthodontics Team react when they first learned of this award?  See for yourself...

Cheers to our "Collins Orthodontics Family" of patients - you have successfully made our entire team feel grateful, thankful, appreciated, and important.  We love you and appreciate you all so much.

-Dr. Collins

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Collins Orthodontics Volunteers with Feed my Starving Children

“I’m STARVING!” are exactly the words that came out of my mouth after missing my usual breakfast and having to wait until lunch for my first meal of the day.  However, those words have taken on new meaning to me after this past weekend.  I spent the day with the Collins Orthodontics Team (and their families) on a Saturday, where we all pitched in to help a non-profit organization called “Feed my Starving Children” to serve children who truly understand the meaning of the word “starving” far greater than me.  Our staff and their children spent the day hand-packing meals specifically formulated for malnourished children. This organization had reached nearly 70 countries around the world, where a single bag of food provides nutritious meals for six children and costs only $1.32 to produce.  Although I LOVE what I do - braces, invisalign, and providing people with amazing smiles - it really is moments of service that mean the most to me.  The times that are most humbling and rewarding for our team at Collins Orthodontics is when we have opportunities like this to serve side-by-side with other wonderful volunteers in our community.  That being said, I leave you with an inspiring quote by Albert Einstein: “Only a life lived in the service to others is a life worth living.”  God Bless.  -Dr. Collins

#FeedMyStarvingChildren  #CollinsOrthodontics  #MakingHairNetsCool  #GetYourVolunteerOn

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Collins Orthodontics thanks Braces and Invisalign Patients with Cinderella Event (Rochester, MN)

By Grant C. Collins, DDS, MS

Our first Patient Appreciation Event at Collins Orthodontics was a success and a ton of fun! We had an amazing evening with our patients and their families at our exclusive pre-release showing of Disney's Cinderella movie! The main highlight of the night - an appearance by "Cinderella" herself (who just so happens to be one of Dr. Collins's former Invisalign patients)! Thanks to all of our Collins Orthodontics patients (i.e. our orthodontic "family") for coming out for a special evening! We always enjoy seeing all of our patients and it was a special treat for us to see them outside of our office! The Cinderella Event was the first of many patient events, and we can’t thank our patients enough for helping to make this event so memorable!

Below are some of the photos from the event.  To see more photos from the event, check out our "Cinderella Facebook Photo Album" on our Collins Orthodontics Facebook Page!

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