nutrition

Crispy Kale Chips

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I admit it. I was once a kale hater. Then I found a few ways to make it and now it’s a regular item in my house. Kale is one of the most nutrient-dense foods you can eat. Just one cooked cup has 36 calories and provides a whopping 1,180% of your daily-recommended intake (DRI) of vitamin K. That’s more than any other food on the planet. Crazy!?

One of the ways I love to make kale is seared with shallots, garlic, chicken stock and red pepper flakes. Once it’s cooked I drizzle it with balsamic vinegar and goodness, is it ever amazing.

I also love to have kale chips on hand when I am wanting a little snacky crunch.

Kale chips are a delicious, easy, and inexpensive way to get more greens into your diet. Try this recipe for original flavored kale chips or spice them up with other herbs and essential oils for more options. I like garlic powder, Parmesan cheese, and Lemon oil for an Italian twist, or cumin and Lime oil for Mexican-style chips.

Ingredients
1 large bunch kale, washed and torn into bite-size pieces
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 drops Lemon Essential Oil
Salt & pepper

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 200° F.
  2. Wash and dry kale thoroughly.
  3. Combine olive oil and Lemon oil in large mixing bowl.
  4. Add kale and toss. Make sure kale is well coated with oils.
  5. Once coated, place on baking sheet in single layer.
  6. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
  7. Bake on the center rack for 45–50 minutes or until crispy.

Besides cooking with pure essential oils, you can also support your health, your mood and bring non-toxic cleaning into your house. This gorgeous ebook walks you through the versatility of essential oils. And when you choose to get started, I load you up with goodies, mentoring and education, and a free wellness consultation!

I hope you’ll learn to love eating kale like I did. It’s truly one of the greatest foods you can eat and once you find a few ways to make it, you’ll be hooked!

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Photosensitive Oils

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When I first started using essential oils I had no idea that some oils could cause a burn. Crazy, right?

As we head into warmer months and more outside time, remember that some oils are photosensitive and cause a reaction that is uncomfortable when combined with sunlight.

Be mindful when applying the following if you plan to be in the sun. You can still use them, just apply on the feet or a covered area or take internally (I only ingest pure, certified therapeutic grade oils that I am positive have been tested).

Check out this gorgeous ebook for the basics and be sure to drop me a message if you’re not sure which oils are safe  I’m happy to help.

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It’s Really About the Nutrition 

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I’m on my third hip surgery recovery in just fifteen months. The same hip has never healed and the tissue has continued to break down, resulting in some pretty awful pain and limitation over the last three years. My last surgery used tissue donated from a cadaver and should elimate pain. 

Having once been a woman who weighed over two hundred pounds,  my first thoughts when I injured my hip were not how would I recover, but instead, would I gain back all the weight. I think I feared that because our world puts so much value on exercise, and I was right there with the common mentality. Unfortunately living  this idea of more is better, I actually was hurting my body rather than helping it. Extreme exercise habits and over use were what caused my tissue to basically break down. 

I am happy to say that just two and a half weeks into my third recovery, I have not gained an ounce of weight and in fact, have lost some over the last two years. I believe this is because I have become more aware and even more mindful of what I am eating. I’ve deliberately chosen foods that I know will assist my body in healing by keeping inflammation down and healthy nutrients up. 

A typical day for me includes tons of healthy fats through bulletproof coffee, coconut oil and avocados coupled with lean proteins and vegetables. I limit my fruits and sugars and avoid grains (unless it is sushi night). 

My movement has gone from one hundred mile bike rides and eight mile runs to a leisurely walk and some stretching. Prior to surgery, and between teaching my many adaptive yoga classes each week, I taught a Pilates class to typical people once a week and would grab a swim if I could. 

Seriously,  my movement and exercise has been 5% of what it used to be and I am leaner and stronger than ever. Why? 

Nutrition. Simple. What goes in matters.