Kids in the Kitchen - Crunchy Kale Chips

Here is my first post of "Kids in the Kitchen", a series of recipes that older kids can make themselves, younger kids can make with adults, and parents can feel good about, while letting their kids indulge in their favorite treats.

I had the privilege of spending the day with my two grandchildren recently and we made our own veggie chips.  With just three ingredients, and about 20 minutes, we made a healthy, tasty, crunchy treat.  Evyn, at the right, is showing us the Curly Green Kale we used that day, but any kale will work.  Here is the simple recipe:

 Kale Veggie Chips
1 Bunch Kale
2 Tsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 Tsp Sea Salt 

Wash the kale and strip the greens off the middle stalk. Tear them into pieces and put in a bowl (it might make two bowls full - ours did).

Drizzle the olive oil over the kale and sprinkle with sea salt.  Massage the oil and salt into the leaves for a couple minutes, until all pieces are nice and shiny. 

Then just place the pieces on a cookies pan in a single layer.  You will need a couple cookie pans because you don't want to overlap the pieces.

Kaeden is doing a great job laying out his kale pieces.

Now just bake in the oven for 15 minutes at 350 degrees.  They should be crispy but not starting to burn.

Let them cool and then.........

.................ENJOY!

Thanks Evyn and Kaeden.  You are great 
"Kids in the Kitchen"

P.S.  Adults love these as much as kids!

Watch Your (Fo)odometer!

View My Newsletters - "Healthy Lifestyle Solutions"

Here is a link to my newsletter, "Healthy Lifestyle Solutions". You can access my current and previous newsletters here.

Healthy Lifestyle Solutions Newsletters

What's in Your Green Smoothie Today?

I think green smoothies are a great way to start the day and give you the energy needed to make it through the morning.  This morning my green smoothie is one of my favorites and its so super simple. 

Put into your blender a handful of spinach and of kale (large stem removed), 1 cup of blueberries, and a cup of almond or coconut milk (unsweetened), 1 cup of water.  Blend till smooth.  This makes one serving.

If you like less sweet smoothies like I do, this one is perfect.  If you like more sweetness, add another fruit, like half of a banana, strawberries, or apple.  If you don't have almond milk, you can use another milk, water, coconut water, juice or a combination of liquids.  You can also add in some superfoods like blue-green algae, bee pollen, goji berries, cordyceps, etc.  Try different combinations and you will come up with your favorites!  I will be posting more smoothie recipes too, so stay tuned. 

Here's to an energetic day!

PS. This smoothie is purple in color from the blueberries. Green refers to the greens inside!

Yummy Oatmeal Pancakes - No White Flour or Sugar!

Here is my favorite pancake recipe. 

These are the best pancakes ever, and they have no flour or sugar!  





Oatmeal Pancakes Ingredients:

1 cup milk, almond milk (or water)*

3/4 cup oatmeal (uncooked regular oats)

3/4 cup oatmeal flour  (blend oatmeal in blender till flour-like)

1 tsp baking powder (optional)

1/4 tsp salt (optional)

4 large egg whites

1/2 tsp cinnamon, ground

Try these modifications:

Blueberry pancakes: Add ¼ c blueberries (fresh or thawed) to recipe and omit cinnamon

Oat-Nut pancakes: Add 1 ½ tbsp diced pecans, walnuts, or almonds to recipe.

Whole Grain pancakes: Replace quick oats with hot multigrain cereal.  Prepare as directed.

High protein pancakes:  Add 1-2 scoops vanilla protein to batter, increase water.

Directions:

Heat milk (or water) until hot, stir in oats and set aside. Beat egg whites into a stiff foam with hand mixer or blender and reserve. Mix remaining dry ingredients together and stir in oatmeal/milk mixture. Fold in egg whites until mixture is well blended.  Use a little olive or coconut oil, or butter, and cook pancakes until golden browned on both sides. 

*Depending on how long you've let the oats sit, you may need to add a little extra water to the batter to thin it out.  It will still be thicker than regular pancake batter

Healthy Home Tips Halloween Tips | Environmental Working Group

 

Tips to Green Your Halloween

Dressing up and celebrating Halloween can be fun -- especially for kids. It's easy to make it a healthy holiday for your family and the environment. Just follow these simple steps (download the PDF here) to green your Halloween routine:

Healthy Home Tips Halloween Tips | Environmental Working Group

Anti-cancer properties of watercress

Watercress is a super-duper food. Along with kale, collards, mustard greens, and turnip greens, watercress holds the highest ANDI score of 1000. Most importantly, watercress is a specialist at preventing cancer.

Read more here:
Anti-cancer properties of watercress