For many years I have been a local at my neighborhood Dilworth Coffee. I much prefer a small coffee shop to a big chain. I used to always change up my order, whether it is a regular coffee, iced chai, non fat vanilla latte or whatever. I'm a bit of a coffee addict. My son hears the Keurig in the mornings and says "Mommy Coffee!" About 9 months ago I took on a very bad habit of ordering nonfat white mochas. I let the stress of moving, working full time, having a 1 year old, etc. take over and quickly became addicted to the sugary goodness that is a white mocha. I was literally having them everyday...sometimes twice. It was a terrible habit that I knew I had to break. About two month ago I went in and the barista started ringing me up for my regular white mocha and I said I think I'll have a plain latte with almond milk. They LITERALLY gasped and said "who are you?!?!"
I told them that I have decided to lower my sugar intake and start taking my eating seriously. Again, my working out has never been a problem, it's the food! They cautiously said OK sounds good and made my almond milk latte which was amazing by the way. The nutty flavor of the milk gives it a great sweet taste with no added sugar. I occasionally add one stevia in the raw if I want something extra sweet. Give it a try:)
The reason I decided to blog about this this morning is because I was asked by the barista this morning after ordering my iced almond milk latte how my new healthy lifestyle was going. I was caught off guard not thinking she would remember me saying it but I was so thrilled and told her about all the great changes I have been making. Two lessons learned:
1. Tell people about your new healthy lifestyle and they will help hold you accountable!
2. You don't have to give up your favorite things (regular coffee shop runs for me) but just have a find a way to modify them to make it work!
If I can do this you can do this! Let me know if you need help figuring out how to modify your favorite things to make them work for you!
Tuesday, June 17, 2014
Monday, June 16, 2014
Homemade Granola
After yesterday's black bean hummus I sent Beck off to watch some cartoons while I experimented with some homemade granola..but don't you worry he comes back at the end in true Beck fashion! I have never made homemade granola but have been dying to try it. I buy organic granola from Trader Joes regularly to put on my greek yogurt and to eat with milk like cereal and love it. I figured it couldn't be too difficult and I like to control what ingredients are in it. It is hard to find a store bought granola that has exactly what you want. I normally fail and first attempts experimenting in the kitchen but this was seriously amazing! I am so impressed with myself and will be making this exact recipe over and over. I enjoy dried fruit, raisins, etc. but didn't have any in the pantry so I left them out. Here is the recipe and instructions.
2 cups oats (old fashioned or rolled oats)
1/2 cup unsweetened coconut
1/2 cup almonds
1/2 dried fruit (optional)
2 tsp cinnamon
2 Tbsp coconut oil, melted
1 Tbsp butter, melted
2 Tbsp pure maple syrup
2 Tbsp raw honey
1 tsp vanilla
1. Gather all of your ingredients and preheat oven to 300 degrees.
2. Mix the oats, coconut, almonds, dried fruit and cinnamon in a bowl and stir.
3. Mix the coconut oil, butter, honey, maple syrup, and vanilla and wisk together until smooth.
4. Pour the "sauce" over the dry ingredients and stir until well coated.
5. Place the mixture on a stone pan or a metal pan lined with foil.
6. Bake at 300 degrees for about 25-30 minutes, stirring halfway through. It smells amazing while cooking!
The mixture will get golden brown but won't feel totally crispy when you remove it from the oven. Let the granola cool completely and it will crisp up and be delicious! I stored in a Tupperware container to eat all week long.
Here is where Beck enters....
I had put all of the granola in a container and while I went to get the lid, Beck climbed on the container and started eating the rest of the granola off the pan. He loved it! I quickly snapped some picture and then put him in the bar stool to let him finish it off. This is an adult and kid friend granola...bonus!
2 cups oats (old fashioned or rolled oats)
1/2 cup unsweetened coconut
1/2 cup almonds
1/2 dried fruit (optional)
2 tsp cinnamon
2 Tbsp coconut oil, melted
1 Tbsp butter, melted
2 Tbsp pure maple syrup
2 Tbsp raw honey
1 tsp vanilla
1. Gather all of your ingredients and preheat oven to 300 degrees.
2. Mix the oats, coconut, almonds, dried fruit and cinnamon in a bowl and stir.
3. Mix the coconut oil, butter, honey, maple syrup, and vanilla and wisk together until smooth.
4. Pour the "sauce" over the dry ingredients and stir until well coated.
5. Place the mixture on a stone pan or a metal pan lined with foil.
6. Bake at 300 degrees for about 25-30 minutes, stirring halfway through. It smells amazing while cooking!
The mixture will get golden brown but won't feel totally crispy when you remove it from the oven. Let the granola cool completely and it will crisp up and be delicious! I stored in a Tupperware container to eat all week long.
Here is where Beck enters....
I had put all of the granola in a container and while I went to get the lid, Beck climbed on the container and started eating the rest of the granola off the pan. He loved it! I quickly snapped some picture and then put him in the bar stool to let him finish it off. This is an adult and kid friend granola...bonus!
Sunday, June 15, 2014
Black Bean Hummus
First of all Happy Father's Day to my dad and husband who are both amazing fathers! I am so blessed to have you both in my life. Since it was Father's Day my husband opted for a nap after church so my son and I had some quality time in the kitchen! I have just recently started to let my son help with the food prep. I obviously can't have him help with stuff on the stove or oven yet but he loves helping. Not to mention I can actually cook without him hanging all over me and pulling out every pot, pan and cooking utensil in the cabinets. Yes it gets messy sometimes but I am loving this time that we spend together!
Sunday is usually my food prep day anyway so we decided to make some homemade granola (on the blog tomorrow) and some homemade black bean hummus. Here is the recipe and instructions:
1 can black beans
1/4 cup tahini
1-2 cloves garlic (yes i used pre-minced garlic)
1/2 lemon juice
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp water
salt
pepper
cayenne
1. Gather all of the ingredients
2. Drain and rinse the black beans.
3. Put the black beans, tahini, garlic, lemon juice, salt, pepper and cayenne in a food processor (I have a Ninja)
4. Let your kids blend the ingredients together!!
5. Once the first ingredients are blended well add the olive oil and water and blend until smooth.
6. Eat immediately with pita chips, veggies, on a sandwich, etc. or store in the fridge for later. This is why I love the Ninja because I can just take the blade out and throw the lid on. The less dishes the better!
And this is what your kid will do when you take away the blender. He seriously threw a fit...terribly twos have already begun. Yes he has a fake tattoo...he loves them!
Here is a video of my son Beck helping in the kitchen!
Sunday is usually my food prep day anyway so we decided to make some homemade granola (on the blog tomorrow) and some homemade black bean hummus. Here is the recipe and instructions:
1 can black beans
1/4 cup tahini
1-2 cloves garlic (yes i used pre-minced garlic)
1/2 lemon juice
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp water
salt
pepper
cayenne
1. Gather all of the ingredients
2. Drain and rinse the black beans.
3. Put the black beans, tahini, garlic, lemon juice, salt, pepper and cayenne in a food processor (I have a Ninja)
4. Let your kids blend the ingredients together!!
5. Once the first ingredients are blended well add the olive oil and water and blend until smooth.
6. Eat immediately with pita chips, veggies, on a sandwich, etc. or store in the fridge for later. This is why I love the Ninja because I can just take the blade out and throw the lid on. The less dishes the better!
And this is what your kid will do when you take away the blender. He seriously threw a fit...terribly twos have already begun. Yes he has a fake tattoo...he loves them!
Here is a video of my son Beck helping in the kitchen!
Saturday, June 14, 2014
I'm official!!!
I decided at the end of last year that I wanted to become a certified health coach. I have been a spin instructor, kickboxing instructor and running coach for years but wanted to make it "official." I absolutely love helping people reach their goals whether it is with weight loss, finishing a race, eating healthier etc. I studied for months in between my full time job, moving into a new home, being a wife and mom and everyday life. I really wanted this and I pushed myself to make it happen. I went to the testing center this morning and left with a smile on my face. I am officially an ACE Certified Health Coach!!!
Thursday, June 12, 2014
My new favorite cooking accessory!
One of my good friends recently became a Pampered Chef Consultant. I've always been a fan of Pampered Chef stuff but never really had that much of their stuff. At her first official party a couple of weeks ago she made chicken in this baker in the microwave in just a few minutes...and it was juicy and delicious! As a mom I am always needing quick easy healthy meals and this baker is saving my life. The other night I had leftover green beans and oven roasted potatoes that a friend brought over for dinner but all of the main course (meat) was gone. I had a few chicken breasts in the fridge (who doesn't) so I threw them in the baker with a little seasoning and in 8 minutes I had juicy delicious chicken to go with my leftovers. I used it again today at lunch and then cut up the chicken and threw it on some spinach with a little feta and balsamic vinaigrette and had a great salad. It's not a cheap investment but I guarantee you will love it as much as I do. Apparently there are recipes to put in this baker all over Pinterest. Enjoy!
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
What kind of mom are you?
I was scrolling through Facebook yesterday and came across this amazing photo series about different types of moms. You can check it out here. Before I became a mom I never really thought about the different ways that moms and dads raised their kids and the choices they made. I knew the way that my parents raised me and always assumed that their way was correct. Come to find out...there are many ways to raise your kids. Also, people will not agree with the way you raise your kids...and that is OK!
Once I became a mom I too quickly fell into the judgey mom category. I started thinking thoughts like "why don't you tell your kid no" or "why are you letting your kid eat that" and the list goes on and on. It is so difficult for so many of us to keep our opinions to ourselves. I think with so many reality shows these days that show women bad mouthing each other and just speaking their minds it makes us think that is OK and normal...and it isn't! Everyone chooses to parent different ways, feed their kids different things, etc. and we should not be judging them. If you want to do something for your kids, by all means go for it...but don't think that you have the right to force that same opinion on others. I am going to focus on doing a better job of this and only worrying about how I raise my kids and I encourage you to do the same. Let's stick together moms!!!
Matthew 7:1-5
Once I became a mom I too quickly fell into the judgey mom category. I started thinking thoughts like "why don't you tell your kid no" or "why are you letting your kid eat that" and the list goes on and on. It is so difficult for so many of us to keep our opinions to ourselves. I think with so many reality shows these days that show women bad mouthing each other and just speaking their minds it makes us think that is OK and normal...and it isn't! Everyone chooses to parent different ways, feed their kids different things, etc. and we should not be judging them. If you want to do something for your kids, by all means go for it...but don't think that you have the right to force that same opinion on others. I am going to focus on doing a better job of this and only worrying about how I raise my kids and I encourage you to do the same. Let's stick together moms!!!
Matthew 7:1-5
Monday, June 9, 2014
Morning Person?
If someone asked me if I was a morning person or a night owl I would
definitely say morning person, although you wouldn’t have guessed that
over the past year. Prior to having my son last year I was up working
out most mornings. Something about being done with my workout and ready
to take on the day by 6:45 a.m. is extremely exciting to me. For me if
I wait until after a day of working, grocery shopping, paying bills,
phone calls, cooking, running after a toddler etc. etc. I can easily
talk myself out of working out. I quickly got out of this routine after
my son was born because as any new parent would tell you, you must
cherish every second of sleep you can get. I was lucky to get in a few
runs each week between feeding sessions in addition to teaching my spin
and kickboxing class each week...and working a full time job!
Even when I was a regular morning workout person I will admit that I never heard that alarm and jumped out of bed smiling ready to take on a workout. I would hit the snooze, moan and groan and think of excuses to go back to sleep. When I would finally roll out of bed (except the times I went back to sleep) and get my workout in I started to feel better and better. It would take until the workout was done to be fully awake and realize how incredible it felt to start my day out on the right track. I don’t think there has ever been a time that I thought what I was about to do was a good idea when the alarm went off. In contrast I also don’t think there has ever been a time that I regretted the workout once it was over.
As I write this post I have already taken a 5:30 a.m. spin class, had coffee, showered, fed the dogs, packed my sons bag for daycare and turned on the news…and it’s only 7:05 a.m.! I feel empowered to take on the day and know that I will accomplish so much today because of it. Although I don’t think I will ever get to the point where I wake up smiling and laughing I will continue to workout in the mornings as much as possible so I have no excuses! I encourage you to try the same thing for one week. Take at least three days during a week and wake up 45 minutes to an hour before you normally would and get some sort of workout in. Go to a class as your gym, do a home workout dvd, go for a run, etc. You won’t regret it!
Even when I was a regular morning workout person I will admit that I never heard that alarm and jumped out of bed smiling ready to take on a workout. I would hit the snooze, moan and groan and think of excuses to go back to sleep. When I would finally roll out of bed (except the times I went back to sleep) and get my workout in I started to feel better and better. It would take until the workout was done to be fully awake and realize how incredible it felt to start my day out on the right track. I don’t think there has ever been a time that I thought what I was about to do was a good idea when the alarm went off. In contrast I also don’t think there has ever been a time that I regretted the workout once it was over.
As I write this post I have already taken a 5:30 a.m. spin class, had coffee, showered, fed the dogs, packed my sons bag for daycare and turned on the news…and it’s only 7:05 a.m.! I feel empowered to take on the day and know that I will accomplish so much today because of it. Although I don’t think I will ever get to the point where I wake up smiling and laughing I will continue to workout in the mornings as much as possible so I have no excuses! I encourage you to try the same thing for one week. Take at least three days during a week and wake up 45 minutes to an hour before you normally would and get some sort of workout in. Go to a class as your gym, do a home workout dvd, go for a run, etc. You won’t regret it!
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
7 Day Clean Eating Challenge: Results
I successfully finished my 7 day clean eating challenge and I am thrilled with my results. Here is a breakdown:
Lost 2 pounds
Lost 1.8% body fat
Lost 1 inch off of EACH arm
Lost 1 inch off waist
Lost 1 inch off hips
Hello, how amazing is that! It is important to not only take your weight into account but also your inches and body fat. These two things are what really make a difference in how your clothes fit and how you feel. The number on the dreaded scale won't always move but your body is changing. I also suggest taking pictures!
I will note that in addition to my clean eating I went to bootcamp for 6 of the 7 days. I will also note that I was going to bootcamp consistently prior to my clean eating challenge and that the clean eating is in fact what made all the difference! I encourage you to give it just 7 days to see what a great jump start it can give you.
Thanks for following my journey!
Lost 2 pounds
Lost 1.8% body fat
Lost 1 inch off of EACH arm
Lost 1 inch off waist
Lost 1 inch off hips
Hello, how amazing is that! It is important to not only take your weight into account but also your inches and body fat. These two things are what really make a difference in how your clothes fit and how you feel. The number on the dreaded scale won't always move but your body is changing. I also suggest taking pictures!
I will note that in addition to my clean eating I went to bootcamp for 6 of the 7 days. I will also note that I was going to bootcamp consistently prior to my clean eating challenge and that the clean eating is in fact what made all the difference! I encourage you to give it just 7 days to see what a great jump start it can give you.
Thanks for following my journey!
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
7 Day Clean Eating Challenge: Day 7
Day7
Wow I can't believe today completed the challenge. I am feeling great and so much leaner. I feel awesome in my clothes and I don't have caffeine withdrawal headaches or sugar withdrawal headaches, etc. I just feel good! Don't get me wrong I definitely still would love some bad food but I'm focused and know that this is just the kick start I needed to get my eating on track. Here is a breakdown of my meals along with pictures:
Breakfast: Homemade egg cups (egg, egg whites, ham, feta) 260 calories and 32g protein for 4 egg cups!!! They were delicious.
Snack: 1/2 banana with 1.5 tsp almond butter and an almond milk latte (I wasn't planning on having a latte today but my best friend called and offered to bring me a coffee to work...I couldn't resist!)
Lunch: Ground turkey with black beans and avocado (leftover from yesterday)
Snack: Natures Path gluten Free apple oatmeal (craving something sweet!)
Snack: Homemade chicken salad (greek yogurt, grapes, almonds) on 1/2 slice Ezekiel toast
Dinner: Talapia fillet with leftover mixed veggies and 1/2 homemade peanut butter cup
According to my Lose It app I had 1422 calories for the day! I had an amazing upper body workout this morning. My arms are getting so lean and fit just in time for swimsuit and tank top season. The end! But is really is just the beginning of a new way of eating!
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Wow I can't believe today completed the challenge. I am feeling great and so much leaner. I feel awesome in my clothes and I don't have caffeine withdrawal headaches or sugar withdrawal headaches, etc. I just feel good! Don't get me wrong I definitely still would love some bad food but I'm focused and know that this is just the kick start I needed to get my eating on track. Here is a breakdown of my meals along with pictures:
Breakfast: Homemade egg cups (egg, egg whites, ham, feta) 260 calories and 32g protein for 4 egg cups!!! They were delicious.
Snack: 1/2 banana with 1.5 tsp almond butter and an almond milk latte (I wasn't planning on having a latte today but my best friend called and offered to bring me a coffee to work...I couldn't resist!)
Lunch: Ground turkey with black beans and avocado (leftover from yesterday)
Snack: Natures Path gluten Free apple oatmeal (craving something sweet!)
Snack: Homemade chicken salad (greek yogurt, grapes, almonds) on 1/2 slice Ezekiel toast
Dinner: Talapia fillet with leftover mixed veggies and 1/2 homemade peanut butter cup
According to my Lose It app I had 1422 calories for the day! I had an amazing upper body workout this morning. My arms are getting so lean and fit just in time for swimsuit and tank top season. The end! But is really is just the beginning of a new way of eating!
Monday, June 2, 2014
7 Day Clean Eating Challenge: Day 6
Day 6
I already feel thinner and like my clothes are fitting better which is the most important thing to me! Today was a relatively lazy day. We went to church, got groceries, went to the pool, watched tv, etc. I definitely had a sweet tooth today so I make some delicious homemade peanut butter cups. Recipe will come on the blog soon! Here is a breakdown of my meals along with pictures:
Breakfast: Ezekiel Cinnamon Raisin Bread french toast with scrambled eggs and egg whites (no syrup.)
Snack:Almond Milk Latte
Lunch: Ground turkey with black beans and avocado
Snack: Carrots with homemade hummus
Snack: Homemade peanut butter cup (organic peanut butter, coconut oil, unsweetened cocoa powder and stevia) SOO good!
Dinner: Grilled chicken, grilled pineapple and mixed veggies
Snack: 2 Tbsp organic dark chocolate chips
According to my Lose It app I had calories 1348 calories for the day!Sunday is my only rest day from exercising and it's amazing how much I miss working out in just one day. I can't wait for boot camp in the morning! On to Day 7!!
I already feel thinner and like my clothes are fitting better which is the most important thing to me! Today was a relatively lazy day. We went to church, got groceries, went to the pool, watched tv, etc. I definitely had a sweet tooth today so I make some delicious homemade peanut butter cups. Recipe will come on the blog soon! Here is a breakdown of my meals along with pictures:
Breakfast: Ezekiel Cinnamon Raisin Bread french toast with scrambled eggs and egg whites (no syrup.)
Snack:Almond Milk Latte
Lunch: Ground turkey with black beans and avocado
Snack: Carrots with homemade hummus
Snack: Homemade peanut butter cup (organic peanut butter, coconut oil, unsweetened cocoa powder and stevia) SOO good!
Dinner: Grilled chicken, grilled pineapple and mixed veggies
Snack: 2 Tbsp organic dark chocolate chips
According to my Lose It app I had calories 1348 calories for the day!Sunday is my only rest day from exercising and it's amazing how much I miss working out in just one day. I can't wait for boot camp in the morning! On to Day 7!!
Sunday, June 1, 2014
7 Day Clean Eating Challenge: Day 5
Day 5
Today was my first weekend day so it is definitely tougher to stay on track. I had a good friend hosting a pampered chef party from 11-1 so I knew there would be food that likely would be "clean." I decided I would have a protein shake to have on my way so I would be full and not have to worry about being tempted. There were of course some s'more pie dessert and a salad with ranch dressing as well as crackers and dip. I only let myself have the chicken (just baked with spices) and then when I got back home I had a salad. It is all about preparing so you aren't forced or tempted to eat bad food. It will never be easy but you can do it! Here is a breakdown of my meals along with pictures:
Breakfast: Two eggs scrambled + 6 Tbsp egg whites, ezekiel cinnamon raisin toast with 1 tsp almond butter, 1 kiwi and almond milk latte.
Snack: Chocolate protein shake with almond milk.
Lunch:Salad with strawberries, grapes, apples and 1 Tbsp organic balsamic vinaigrette. I had baked chicken as well at the pampered chef party but that isn't pictured!
Snack: Greek yogurt with organic granola and 1 tsp organic raw honey and an almond milk latte (yes these lattes are becoming an obsession but oh so good!)
Dinner: Salad with grilled chicken and organic balsamic vinaigrette (grabbed dinner from a restaurant on the way home because we were at the pool all afternoon and exhausted! My husband got wings and I resisted!)
Snack: Green apples sauteed in 1 tsp butter, 1 stevia and cinnamon
According to my Lose It app I had 1375 calories for the day! I'm really starting to get the hang of this and eating better is getting easier and easier. On to Day 6!!
Today was my first weekend day so it is definitely tougher to stay on track. I had a good friend hosting a pampered chef party from 11-1 so I knew there would be food that likely would be "clean." I decided I would have a protein shake to have on my way so I would be full and not have to worry about being tempted. There were of course some s'more pie dessert and a salad with ranch dressing as well as crackers and dip. I only let myself have the chicken (just baked with spices) and then when I got back home I had a salad. It is all about preparing so you aren't forced or tempted to eat bad food. It will never be easy but you can do it! Here is a breakdown of my meals along with pictures:
Breakfast: Two eggs scrambled + 6 Tbsp egg whites, ezekiel cinnamon raisin toast with 1 tsp almond butter, 1 kiwi and almond milk latte.
Snack: Chocolate protein shake with almond milk.
Lunch:Salad with strawberries, grapes, apples and 1 Tbsp organic balsamic vinaigrette. I had baked chicken as well at the pampered chef party but that isn't pictured!
Snack: Greek yogurt with organic granola and 1 tsp organic raw honey and an almond milk latte (yes these lattes are becoming an obsession but oh so good!)
Dinner: Salad with grilled chicken and organic balsamic vinaigrette (grabbed dinner from a restaurant on the way home because we were at the pool all afternoon and exhausted! My husband got wings and I resisted!)
Snack: Green apples sauteed in 1 tsp butter, 1 stevia and cinnamon
According to my Lose It app I had 1375 calories for the day! I'm really starting to get the hang of this and eating better is getting easier and easier. On to Day 6!!
Saturday, May 31, 2014
7 Day Clean Eating Challenge: Day 4
Day 4
I have looked back through my Lose It app at the breakdown of fat, carbs and protein and see that although the foods I am eating are great I need to focus on getting more protein. My carb intake is at a great range and they are all healthy carbs (sweet potato, organic granola, ezekiel bread,fruits, veggies etc.) All of my fats are good fat (coconut oil, avocado, eggs, etc.) but I want to get more protein. I am planning to add egg whites to my eggs each day to keep the fat content down but up the protein. I am also going to have more lean meats including ground turkey and chicken. I got almost 20 more grams of protein today than I have the last three days so it was a success! Here is a breakdown of my meals along with pictures:
Breakfast: Two eggs scrambled with two slices of nitrate free turkey bacon and an almond milk latte.
Snack: 1/2 cup Plain non-fat greek yogurt with 1 tsp. raw honey and 1/4 cup organic hemp granola.
Lunch:Homemade turkey chili (ground turkey, diced tomatoes, chili seasoning, zucchini, black beans topped with plain green yogurt)
Snack: Homemade banana pancakes (1 banana, 1/2 cup egg whites, 1 Tbsp coconut flour, cinnamon and 1 pkt stevia) cooked using 1 tsp coconut oil and coffee with stevia
Dinner: Baked chicken with steamed broccoli and baked sweet potato with 1 tsp grass fed butter and cinnamon.
According to my Lose It app I had 1281 calories for the day! Amazing that I ate so much more protein and had less calories. Egg white and lean ground turkey are great sources of protein with not too many calories. On to Day 5!!
I have looked back through my Lose It app at the breakdown of fat, carbs and protein and see that although the foods I am eating are great I need to focus on getting more protein. My carb intake is at a great range and they are all healthy carbs (sweet potato, organic granola, ezekiel bread,fruits, veggies etc.) All of my fats are good fat (coconut oil, avocado, eggs, etc.) but I want to get more protein. I am planning to add egg whites to my eggs each day to keep the fat content down but up the protein. I am also going to have more lean meats including ground turkey and chicken. I got almost 20 more grams of protein today than I have the last three days so it was a success! Here is a breakdown of my meals along with pictures:
Breakfast: Two eggs scrambled with two slices of nitrate free turkey bacon and an almond milk latte.
Snack: 1/2 cup Plain non-fat greek yogurt with 1 tsp. raw honey and 1/4 cup organic hemp granola.
Lunch:Homemade turkey chili (ground turkey, diced tomatoes, chili seasoning, zucchini, black beans topped with plain green yogurt)
Snack: Homemade banana pancakes (1 banana, 1/2 cup egg whites, 1 Tbsp coconut flour, cinnamon and 1 pkt stevia) cooked using 1 tsp coconut oil and coffee with stevia
Dinner: Baked chicken with steamed broccoli and baked sweet potato with 1 tsp grass fed butter and cinnamon.
According to my Lose It app I had 1281 calories for the day! Amazing that I ate so much more protein and had less calories. Egg white and lean ground turkey are great sources of protein with not too many calories. On to Day 5!!
Friday, May 30, 2014
Homemade Banana Pancakes
I've seen these grain free easy banana pancake recipes all over pinterest and facebook and every where else and I decided that I needed to give them a try. I'm a huge breakfast lover but I know that standard waffles, pancakes and french toast are full of fat, sugar and carbs. I tried a few recipes and all of them felt too "eggy" to me. I love eggs but when they are their own egg form...I don't want my "breads" tasting like eggs...get it? I tweaked my recipe a few times and think I have found a great one! I am going to make these for my son in the morning for breakfast because he not only loves pancakes and waffles but he loves and I mean loves bananas...actually it's more of an obsession.
Homemade banana pancake
1 banana mashed (I use my hands)
1/2 cup egg whites
1 Tbsp coconut flour
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 pkt Stevia
1 tsp coconut oil (for cooking)
Mix all ingredients in a bowl until well blended. Heat up a non-stick cooking pan and add 1 tsp coconut oil. Pour batter into 3-4 pancakes over medium heat. Allow them to cook until bubbles are seen on the top side and they easily come loose. If you turn them too early you will have batter everywhere. Once they are cooked on one side flip them over and cook them until equally brown. You can eat them plain (thats what I did) or serve them with syrup or jelly. This entire batch is only 239 calories. Would also be great with a side of turkey bacon. Enjoy!
Homemade banana pancake
1 banana mashed (I use my hands)
1/2 cup egg whites
1 Tbsp coconut flour
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 pkt Stevia
1 tsp coconut oil (for cooking)
Mix all ingredients in a bowl until well blended. Heat up a non-stick cooking pan and add 1 tsp coconut oil. Pour batter into 3-4 pancakes over medium heat. Allow them to cook until bubbles are seen on the top side and they easily come loose. If you turn them too early you will have batter everywhere. Once they are cooked on one side flip them over and cook them until equally brown. You can eat them plain (thats what I did) or serve them with syrup or jelly. This entire batch is only 239 calories. Would also be great with a side of turkey bacon. Enjoy!
7 Day Clean Eating Challenge: Day 3
Day 3
So far so good! I normally work from home and have the luxury of prepping my meals when I want but I went into the office today and had lunch with a friend. I made very healthy lunch choices while eating out...yes it is possible! I repeated my taco salad with leftover meat that I cooked yesterday for dinner as well as the other half of my avocado and my egg muffins for breakfast. Making extra of the food you like to have on hand is a great way to help you stay on track! Here is a breakdown of my meals along with pictures:
Breakfast: Two egg muffins with feta cheese and nitrate free peppered turkey bacon (made extra yesterday!)
Snack:Red Grapes
Lunch: Chef salad with turkey, ham, tomatoes, cucumbers and balsamic (picture is stock photo from Newks website because I forgot to take a picture!) I did not have the cheese or croutons.
Snack: Almond Milk Latte from my favorite coffee shop! YUMMY!
Snack: Green Apples with 1 TBSP Almond Butter
Dinner: Taco salad with greens, grass-fed ground beef, avocado and homemade salsa.
Snack: Homemade Paleo apple muffin (was NOT good..way too eggy for a muffin and I ended up throwing most of it away.) Hey you win some and you lose some:)
According to my Lose It app I had 1381 calories for the day! I felt really amazing today. My body is already starting to adjust to eating better healthier food. It's amazing how much lean meat, veggies and fruit can fill you up and keep you full. On to Day 4!!
So far so good! I normally work from home and have the luxury of prepping my meals when I want but I went into the office today and had lunch with a friend. I made very healthy lunch choices while eating out...yes it is possible! I repeated my taco salad with leftover meat that I cooked yesterday for dinner as well as the other half of my avocado and my egg muffins for breakfast. Making extra of the food you like to have on hand is a great way to help you stay on track! Here is a breakdown of my meals along with pictures:
Breakfast: Two egg muffins with feta cheese and nitrate free peppered turkey bacon (made extra yesterday!)
Snack:Red Grapes
Lunch: Chef salad with turkey, ham, tomatoes, cucumbers and balsamic (picture is stock photo from Newks website because I forgot to take a picture!) I did not have the cheese or croutons.
Snack: Almond Milk Latte from my favorite coffee shop! YUMMY!
Snack: Green Apples with 1 TBSP Almond Butter
Dinner: Taco salad with greens, grass-fed ground beef, avocado and homemade salsa.
Snack: Homemade Paleo apple muffin (was NOT good..way too eggy for a muffin and I ended up throwing most of it away.) Hey you win some and you lose some:)
According to my Lose It app I had 1381 calories for the day! I felt really amazing today. My body is already starting to adjust to eating better healthier food. It's amazing how much lean meat, veggies and fruit can fill you up and keep you full. On to Day 4!!
Thursday, May 29, 2014
7 Day Clean Eating Challenge: Day 2
Day 2
Today was another great day! I still feel extremely motivated and am enjoying creating healthy foods that taste good. I love cooking!! I got a slight sugar withdrawal headache this afternoon but nothing too terrible. After I had my snack it went away. Here is a breakdown of my meals along with pictures
Breakfast: 1/2 Organic Hemp Granola with 1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk, 3/4 cup sliced strawberries. Coffee with stevia and 3 Tbsp coconut milk.
Snack: Two egg muffins with feta cheese and nitrate free peppered turkey bacon.
Lunch:Taco salad with greens, grass-fed ground beef, avocado and homemade salsa.
Snack 1: Homemade Almond Milk "Latte" with strong coffee, unsweetened vanilla almond milk, stevia and pure vanilla extract.
Snack 2: Homemade chicken salad (leftover baked chicken breast from yesterday, plain greek yogurt, lemon juice, almonds, grapes) on Ezekiel toast.
Dinner: Chocolate Protein shake with chocolate protein powder, almond milk and almond butter.
According to my Lose It app I had 1405 calories for the day. I hope you are getting some good meal inspiration from my pictures! On to Day 3!!
Today was another great day! I still feel extremely motivated and am enjoying creating healthy foods that taste good. I love cooking!! I got a slight sugar withdrawal headache this afternoon but nothing too terrible. After I had my snack it went away. Here is a breakdown of my meals along with pictures
Breakfast: 1/2 Organic Hemp Granola with 1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk, 3/4 cup sliced strawberries. Coffee with stevia and 3 Tbsp coconut milk.
Snack: Two egg muffins with feta cheese and nitrate free peppered turkey bacon.
Lunch:Taco salad with greens, grass-fed ground beef, avocado and homemade salsa.
Snack 1: Homemade Almond Milk "Latte" with strong coffee, unsweetened vanilla almond milk, stevia and pure vanilla extract.
Snack 2: Homemade chicken salad (leftover baked chicken breast from yesterday, plain greek yogurt, lemon juice, almonds, grapes) on Ezekiel toast.
Dinner: Chocolate Protein shake with chocolate protein powder, almond milk and almond butter.
According to my Lose It app I had 1405 calories for the day. I hope you are getting some good meal inspiration from my pictures! On to Day 3!!
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
7 Day Clean Eating Challenge: Day 1
Day 1
Overall today went really well! I never found myself overly hungry although sometimes I thought about eating bad food out of habit. I did miss my coffee with good old cream. I typically use the coffemate sweet cream creamer that has sugar in it. I used to be a splenda addict but gave up most all artificial sweeteners this year and I'm convinced it helped me lose the first 12 pounds that I've lost so far this year. A kept anticipating a sugar withdraw headache but it never came which is great news!! Hoping that remains true going forward as well. Here is a breakdown of my meals along with pictures.
Breakfast: 2 eggs scrambled with reduced fat feta cheese, 2 slices nitrate free uncured peppered turkey bacon and 1 slice Ezekiel Cinnamon Raisin bread with 1/2 tsp. grass-fed unsalted butter. Cup of coffee with 1 stevia and 2 Tbls unsweetened coconut milk.
Snack: Golden delicious apple with 1 Tbls almond butter
Lunch: Baked Chicken with Asparagus and Tomato slices
Snack: Plain nonfat greek yogurt with raw honey, raw almonds and strawberries. Coffee with 1 stevia and 2 Tbls unsweetened coconut milk
Dinner: Chicken Sausage Hash (Chicken Sausage, onions, peppers, sweet potatoes, coconut oil)
According to my Lose It app I had 1350 calories for the day. I think this is a great calorie range for me to slowly lose weight the healthy way. You should always be getting a minimum of 1200 calories per day so your body doesn't go into starvation mode and your metabolism slows down.On to Day 2!!
Overall today went really well! I never found myself overly hungry although sometimes I thought about eating bad food out of habit. I did miss my coffee with good old cream. I typically use the coffemate sweet cream creamer that has sugar in it. I used to be a splenda addict but gave up most all artificial sweeteners this year and I'm convinced it helped me lose the first 12 pounds that I've lost so far this year. A kept anticipating a sugar withdraw headache but it never came which is great news!! Hoping that remains true going forward as well. Here is a breakdown of my meals along with pictures.
Breakfast: 2 eggs scrambled with reduced fat feta cheese, 2 slices nitrate free uncured peppered turkey bacon and 1 slice Ezekiel Cinnamon Raisin bread with 1/2 tsp. grass-fed unsalted butter. Cup of coffee with 1 stevia and 2 Tbls unsweetened coconut milk.
Snack: Golden delicious apple with 1 Tbls almond butter
Lunch: Baked Chicken with Asparagus and Tomato slices
Snack: Plain nonfat greek yogurt with raw honey, raw almonds and strawberries. Coffee with 1 stevia and 2 Tbls unsweetened coconut milk
Dinner: Chicken Sausage Hash (Chicken Sausage, onions, peppers, sweet potatoes, coconut oil)
According to my Lose It app I had 1350 calories for the day. I think this is a great calorie range for me to slowly lose weight the healthy way. You should always be getting a minimum of 1200 calories per day so your body doesn't go into starvation mode and your metabolism slows down.On to Day 2!!
Lose It App
If you are anything like me you always have your smart phone with you. I feel completely lost without my phone. It has my calendar, my contacts, my pictures, and my apps. I am always looking for a good app to help me budget, track food, entertain my son, etc. I just downloaded an app called Lose It for tracking food and it is amazing! I know this app is not new and I'm super late to the game but I still had to share. The reason that I find it so helpful is that I can scan the bar codes of my groceries and it automatically has all of the nutrition information and serving sizes. This morning I scanned a carton of eggs and it knew the brand and everything. So many apps require you to search for items (and of course some you still do..you can't scan a piece of fruit..duh!) but for most foods this is super simple. At the end of the day you can see your daily breakdown of fats, carbs and proteins so you know what areas you need to work on. The best news is the app is FREE!! Enjoy!
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
7 Day Clean Eating Challenge
If you ask anyone who knows me well they will tell you that I am a very regular exerciser. I have run 3 marathons, 8 half marathons, teach indoor cycling, go to boot camp at 5:30 a.m. most days, etc. I love the feeling I get from exercising and the soreness that tells me my body is changing! If I didn't love it I wouldn't keep doing it. But...I also love to eat! You can also ask anyone that knows me well and they will tell you I definitely eat my fair share of food. I ate so much growing up and it worked because I was always so active. Even though I remain active, my post -baby and getting older body isn't quite as forgiving as it was in my teen years. I am constantly justifying my eating since I workout so much but that doesn't cut it. Unfortunately eating is about 80% of the weight loss and health battle.
In the past when I have eaten really well I see almost immediate changes to my body. It's amazing how fast eating clean has an affect on you. It is a tough transition for most people (including me) but if we truly want to be healthy and see changes this is a must. Today I am kicking off my very own 7 clean eating challenge. I know it is going to be extremely difficult and I'm going to want to cheat and go back to by sugaraholic ways but I've got this! I will be posting all of my meals each evening to show you exactly what I'm eating so I have accountability and so that I can hopefully spark your interest and give you some great meal ideas. Day 1...
In the past when I have eaten really well I see almost immediate changes to my body. It's amazing how fast eating clean has an affect on you. It is a tough transition for most people (including me) but if we truly want to be healthy and see changes this is a must. Today I am kicking off my very own 7 clean eating challenge. I know it is going to be extremely difficult and I'm going to want to cheat and go back to by sugaraholic ways but I've got this! I will be posting all of my meals each evening to show you exactly what I'm eating so I have accountability and so that I can hopefully spark your interest and give you some great meal ideas. Day 1...
Sunday, May 25, 2014
Priorities
I've been following @MarieForleo on facebook for a while now and really enjoy her content. I was watching one of her videos last week and she said something that really resonated with me. Here is what she said (in my own words.)
We all make plans for ourselves that sound so great when we make them, like waking up at 5 a.m. to workout, but when the time actually comes we hit the snooze button and skip it. When we have a flight that leaves at 7 a.m. and we have to be at the airport at 5:30 a.m. we never miss that because the flight time is non-negotiable. We need to change our mindset so that the things we need/want to do in order to achieve our goals are also non-negotiable. If we truly want to reach our goals we will make the things required to meet those goals non-negotiable.
This is sooo true! It is easy to talk about what I will do but the only thing that counts is what action I take. If something is truly a top priority you will do whatever it takes to make that happen. I challenge you this week to think about what your priorities are and then make sure that everything you do aligns back to those things. If you think about everything you do in relation to those priorities it will make it easier for you to know when to say yes to something and when to say no.
We all make plans for ourselves that sound so great when we make them, like waking up at 5 a.m. to workout, but when the time actually comes we hit the snooze button and skip it. When we have a flight that leaves at 7 a.m. and we have to be at the airport at 5:30 a.m. we never miss that because the flight time is non-negotiable. We need to change our mindset so that the things we need/want to do in order to achieve our goals are also non-negotiable. If we truly want to reach our goals we will make the things required to meet those goals non-negotiable.
This is sooo true! It is easy to talk about what I will do but the only thing that counts is what action I take. If something is truly a top priority you will do whatever it takes to make that happen. I challenge you this week to think about what your priorities are and then make sure that everything you do aligns back to those things. If you think about everything you do in relation to those priorities it will make it easier for you to know when to say yes to something and when to say no.
Saturday, May 24, 2014
Hearty BBQ Chicken Salad
I haven't always been a huge salad fan but have found recently that if done well they can be absolutely delicious! The difficult thing about salads is there are so many hidden calories. You think oh a salad is obviously the healthy choice and then don't realize you have 1000+ calories hidden within the cheese, dressing, nuts, etc. I am always trying to find salads that my husband likes as well because he doesn't count salad as a "real" meal. He ate this with me for lunch this week and absolutely loved it! Here is how it's done:
1. Cook two pieces of boneless skinless chicken in a non stick pan with a couple teaspoons of olive oil plus salt and pepper.
2. Once you flip the chicken put a small amount of bbq sauce (organic if possible to avoid high fructose corn syrup.) Flip one more time and add bbq sauce to the other side as well.
3.Wash, dry and then cut up one head of romaine lettuce.
4. Open one can of black beans, drain and rinse them in a strainer.
5. Chop up grape tomatoes, cucumbers, avocado and shred some cheddar cheese (or use feta.) Also slice the chicken breast into bite sized pieces. *you can cut out the cheese all together if you want..it will still taste amazing!*
6. Place all ingredients (except chicken) on top of the romaine lettuce. Yes it does look delicious..I know. I didn't put the chicken right on top because I was planning to keep leftovers in the fridge and didn't want the warm chicken to melt the cheese or wilt the lettuce. If your chicken is cooled by all means throw it on top!
7. Place the grilled chicken on top of your portion and enjoy!! I added a tiny amount of ranch (I know it's fatty but it's my one downfall.) Honestly it would be good without dressing (or with salsa) because the avocados are so creamy on their own!
Enjoy this amazing salad...I have had it three times already this week!
1. Cook two pieces of boneless skinless chicken in a non stick pan with a couple teaspoons of olive oil plus salt and pepper.
2. Once you flip the chicken put a small amount of bbq sauce (organic if possible to avoid high fructose corn syrup.) Flip one more time and add bbq sauce to the other side as well.
3.Wash, dry and then cut up one head of romaine lettuce.
4. Open one can of black beans, drain and rinse them in a strainer.
5. Chop up grape tomatoes, cucumbers, avocado and shred some cheddar cheese (or use feta.) Also slice the chicken breast into bite sized pieces. *you can cut out the cheese all together if you want..it will still taste amazing!*
6. Place all ingredients (except chicken) on top of the romaine lettuce. Yes it does look delicious..I know. I didn't put the chicken right on top because I was planning to keep leftovers in the fridge and didn't want the warm chicken to melt the cheese or wilt the lettuce. If your chicken is cooled by all means throw it on top!
7. Place the grilled chicken on top of your portion and enjoy!! I added a tiny amount of ranch (I know it's fatty but it's my one downfall.) Honestly it would be good without dressing (or with salsa) because the avocados are so creamy on their own!
Enjoy this amazing salad...I have had it three times already this week!
Thursday, May 22, 2014
Crock Pot Oatmeal
My mornings are usually pretty hectic between working out, showering, getting ready, getting my dogs fed, getting my son dressed and fed, packing his daycare bag and getting us both out the door so I can be to work on time! I needed to find something quick, easy and healthy for breakfast and this crock pot oatmeal is just the thing. The nice part is my son loves it as well so that makes breakfast much simpler...and all moms can use simpler! Here is how it's done:
1. Get your crock pot, steel cut oats, apple of choice, cinnamon and almond milk ready.
2. Cut up your apple (I used granny smith) and place it in the bottom of the crock pot.
3. Sprinkle cinnamon over the apples.
4. Pour 1 cup of steel cut oats over the apples
5. Pour 2 cups of almond milk (unsweetened vanilla) and 2 cups of water over the oats and apples.
It will appear that there is way too much liquid but don't be alarmed it will get absorbed!!
6. Turn the crock pot on high and place the lid on top.
8. Cook the oats for another hour until they are tender and look like this. You still want to leave them a little bit on the runny side because as they sit in the fridge they expand.
9. Allow them to cool for just a bit and then pour them in a storage container and keep in the fridge to eat all week! I can get 5-6 servings out of this pot. That is a low calorie delicious breakfast for you that is easy!
10. When I am ready to eat them I put some in a bowl and heat up for about one minutes, stirring halfway through. If they get a little thick in the fridge you can add a bit of almond milk before heating the up. I top them with some honey and walnuts and enjoy!!
You could do so many variations of this recipe. I have added raisins, almonds, different types of apples, cocoa powder, etc. The possibilities are endless. I hope you enjoy and that you get some time back in your morning to enjoy with your family...or heck to get 10 more minutes of sleep!!
1. Get your crock pot, steel cut oats, apple of choice, cinnamon and almond milk ready.
2. Cut up your apple (I used granny smith) and place it in the bottom of the crock pot.
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3. Sprinkle cinnamon over the apples.
4. Pour 1 cup of steel cut oats over the apples
5. Pour 2 cups of almond milk (unsweetened vanilla) and 2 cups of water over the oats and apples.
6. Turn the crock pot on high and place the lid on top.
7. About one hour into cooking give the crock pot a stir and the oats will looks something like this. They will still appear very soupy because they don't get to that perfect point until 10-15 minutes before they are done.
8. Cook the oats for another hour until they are tender and look like this. You still want to leave them a little bit on the runny side because as they sit in the fridge they expand.
9. Allow them to cool for just a bit and then pour them in a storage container and keep in the fridge to eat all week! I can get 5-6 servings out of this pot. That is a low calorie delicious breakfast for you that is easy!
10. When I am ready to eat them I put some in a bowl and heat up for about one minutes, stirring halfway through. If they get a little thick in the fridge you can add a bit of almond milk before heating the up. I top them with some honey and walnuts and enjoy!!
You could do so many variations of this recipe. I have added raisins, almonds, different types of apples, cocoa powder, etc. The possibilities are endless. I hope you enjoy and that you get some time back in your morning to enjoy with your family...or heck to get 10 more minutes of sleep!!
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
TV/Cartoon Workout
If you are like any other mom you probably find it extremely difficult to fit your workout in. It is important for us to be able to be healthy and workout while also spending time with our family. I have come up with a great workout that you can do while your kids watch cartoons! This allows you to get a total body workout in while being with your kids. You will even make a great impression on your family that being healthy and taking care of yourself is extremely important and they may even jump in on your workout!
This workout is in two sections. The first is called "Showtime Strength" which is done while the show is on. This section is strength/weight training. You will do each exercise 10 times and keep repeating them until the commercial starts. The second section is called "Commercial Cardio" which is high intensity cardio bursts. You will do each exercise for 30 seconds (length of most commercials) and keep repeating them until the show is back on. Here is a video to walk you through the entire workout.
Showtime Strength: 10 seconds per exercise as many times as you can during the show
Commercial Cardio: 30 seconds per exercise until the commercial break is over
Showtime Strength 1
Lunges with bicep curls
Squats with shoulder press
Lunges with shoulder raises
Commercial Cardio 1
Half burpees
High knees
Mountain climbers
Showtime Strength 2
Lunge with tricep curls
Sumo squat with center shoulder raise
Deadlift with row
Commercial Cardio 2
Speed skaters
Plyometric squats
Over and back jumps
Showtime Strength 3
Plank (elbows and toes)
Commercial Cardio 3
Jumping Jacks
This workout is in two sections. The first is called "Showtime Strength" which is done while the show is on. This section is strength/weight training. You will do each exercise 10 times and keep repeating them until the commercial starts. The second section is called "Commercial Cardio" which is high intensity cardio bursts. You will do each exercise for 30 seconds (length of most commercials) and keep repeating them until the show is back on. Here is a video to walk you through the entire workout.
Showtime Strength: 10 seconds per exercise as many times as you can during the show
Commercial Cardio: 30 seconds per exercise until the commercial break is over
Showtime Strength 1
Lunges with bicep curls
Squats with shoulder press
Lunges with shoulder raises
Commercial Cardio 1
Half burpees
High knees
Mountain climbers
Showtime Strength 2
Lunge with tricep curls
Sumo squat with center shoulder raise
Deadlift with row
Commercial Cardio 2
Speed skaters
Plyometric squats
Over and back jumps
Showtime Strength 3
Plank (elbows and toes)
Commercial Cardio 3
Jumping Jacks
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Kale Chips
I got kale in my weekly local farm delivery this week and was immediately at a loss of what to do with it. I'm challenging myself to try all of the fruit/veggies that come so I get a larger variety of vitamins and so I don't waste any food. My husband and son are both obsessed with chips (and salsa) so I decided to make kale chips. I had a friend make these before and I'll admit I didn't even try one because it seemed gross. I was pleasantly surprised with them and my husband liked them to! My son tried one and didn't spit it out but for full disclosure he didn't go past one. I am not giving up and will continue making them for him but so far he's not a huge fan. I on the other hand really enjoyed them and will eat them when I need something crunchy or salty. My only negative so far is that they smell a little funky. I have them in a ziploc in my pantry and when I open the door I smell them. Luckily they taste way better than the smell. Here are the step by step instructions that I followed:
1. Wash and dry one bunch of kale.
2. Cut out the large vein in the middle of each large leaf.
3. Chop up the leafs into small chip size pieces and place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
4. Drizzle 1 Tbls of olive oil over the kale.
5. Use your hands and toss the olive oil throughout all of the pieces (they will look shiny) and sprinkle on some sea salt.
6. Bake the kale at 350 degrees for 10 minutes and then toss them around
7. Bake for another 5-10 minutes and keep an eye on them so they get crispy but don't get overly brown
8. Remove from the oven, sprinkle with sea salt and enjoy! They shrink up a lot while they cook so don't be alarmed that it looks like half of what you started with.
I stored them in a ziploc bag with a paper towel inside. So far they have stayed really crispy and I plan to eat some with my lunch today. Let me know what you think!
1. Wash and dry one bunch of kale.
2. Cut out the large vein in the middle of each large leaf.
3. Chop up the leafs into small chip size pieces and place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
4. Drizzle 1 Tbls of olive oil over the kale.
5. Use your hands and toss the olive oil throughout all of the pieces (they will look shiny) and sprinkle on some sea salt.
6. Bake the kale at 350 degrees for 10 minutes and then toss them around
7. Bake for another 5-10 minutes and keep an eye on them so they get crispy but don't get overly brown
8. Remove from the oven, sprinkle with sea salt and enjoy! They shrink up a lot while they cook so don't be alarmed that it looks like half of what you started with.
I stored them in a ziploc bag with a paper towel inside. So far they have stayed really crispy and I plan to eat some with my lunch today. Let me know what you think!
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