Feelin' Green: Part 3: Energetic Kiwi-Pineapple Salsa

Everybody is feeling green today.  It's St. Patrick's Day, and whether you agree or not, you're an honorary Irishman (smile).  So, kick back and enjoy the day with this delightful, Energetic Kiwi-Pineapple Salsa recipe.  What's so energetic about it?   The little mean, green powerhouse kiwi!  As I mentioned on Friday, just 2 of these guys is only 100 calories, has more potassium than a banana, more Vitamin C than an orange and more fiber than a bowl full of bran flakes.  They are the perfect on-the-go snack that can give you a energy boost anytime of the day.  They also are very delicious and versatile when it comes to cooking and baking.  Try this salsa recipe with the kale chips I told you about yesterday and wow your family and friends.  They probably won't realize the combo is so good for them because they taste awesome!

Ingredients

• 2 (8-oz.) cans pineapple tidbits, drained (you can use fresh pineapple too if you like)
• 2 kiwifruit, peeled and diced
• 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro leaves, minced
• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 1 teaspoon minced jalapeño pepper
• Salt to taste

Preparation

1. Stir together first 5 ingredients; add salt to taste.

Food for thought:

This recipe is really, really low in calories.  So don't sweat it.  Just eat it!  It's all about getting good things in your body and eating until you're almost full, not miserable.  Drink water before and after your meal/snacks.  Not during.  You'll get fuller faster, stay fuller longer and not want to crunch and munch on unhealthy, sugary, salty and fatty foods. 

Feelin' Green: Part 2: Krispy Kale Chips

 

Good Evening healthy and wealthy friends.  I hope you are having a super Saturday! As I promised yesterday, here's a tasty green recipe I simply adore!  It's for my Krispy Kale Chips.  They are super delicious, nutritious and great for those of us who crave crunchy and salty snacks.  They only problem is you feel like you can't stop eating them!  But don't worry.  You can eat a ton of these and still not rack up the calories, salt and sugar in a bag of potato chips.  Seriously, give them a try and let me know what you think.  Oh, and that frosty drink next to the bowl of kale chips is a berry-mango smoothie I whipped up.  What a great treat this was last night.  I think I may have it again tonight!

 

 

Ingredients:

 

- 1 bunch of fresh kale greens

- Olive Oil

- Your choice of seasonings

 

 

 

Directions:

 

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees:  Lightly coat a non-stick cookie sheet with cooking spray or line with parchment paper.

 

2.  Take your bunch of kale and separate leaves from stems (I like the stems so I left them on).  Wash and thoroughly dry the kale.  Then transfer to cookie sheet.

 

3.  Drizzle with olive oil and your favorite seasoning.  Try to use salt-free/sugar-free seasoning - we are trying to keep this healthy!!)  Himalayan or Celtic salt are also OK to use since these are salts that are good for you.

 

4.  Bake for 10-15 minutes until the edges of the leaves are "krispy" and little brown but not burnt.

 

5.  Enjoy!

 

 

 

Makes roughly 6 servings.  Calories will range from about 40 - 50 per 1 cup serving; this depends on the amount of oil and the type of seasoning you use.  Don't even sweat the fat - it will be a minimal amount anyway, plus it's olive oil - a good source of mono-unsaturated fat. 

 

 

 

Tomorrow I'll share an energy boosting, kiwi salsa recipe you'll simply adore!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm Feelin' Green...but that's okay! It's All Good!



Green, leafy vegetables and fruits - Should be 60% of your daily diet

I just can't get enough green things these days. Yeah, money ranks right up there, but I'm talking about food! I actually crave every green, leafy veggie and fruit you can think of. From collard to kale, from apples to kiwi, every day I make sure to get these bad boys in my diet. In fact, I aim for making fruits and veggies 60% of my daily diet. And if I may offer a suggestion (cuz' that's what I do - LOL!), you should start feeling green too!

Green is not just for St. Patrick's Day, although I do enjoy the Chicago River when it's fashionably dyed a darker green that it already is this time of year (ha!). We should incorporate the color in our daily diet. Plant-based foods are essential for our health. And the most potent ones are...you guessed it, GREEN. They packed with a lot of flavor and are a nutrient powerhouse! The have tons of vitamins and minerals and even protein. They help keep you feeling alive, fresh and clean (literally). They're great for clearing up respiratory problems, digestive issues and boosting energy. My two favorite glorious green foods are Kale and Kiwi - not together necessarily, but as I'm typing this, the pair may combine efforts for a scrumptious salad.

Why Kale? Kale is so versatile. You can enjoy it cooked or raw, lightly stir-fried, baked, as a condiment on a sandwich or the centerpiece of a really, super-duper smoothie. This "new beef" of greens is low in calories (1 cup = 36 calories), high in fiber, has more calcium than milk, an excellent source of antioxidants and a great source of vitamins A and C.

And that little mean-green kiwi isn't short-stopping either! The kiwi packs more potassium than a banana. It's also a superb go-to item when your energy needs a boost. Just 2 kiwi will only cost you 100 calories so it's the perfect afternoon snack, salad topping or smoothie ingredient.

If you'd like to learn more about why it's so important to really feel green in your diet or if you energy level needs a boost, please contact me today to schedule your free initial consultation. You can log onto www.ritechoicenutrition.com for more information


I hope you enjoyed these healthy and wealthy nuggets. Tune in tomorrow for some great Kale and Kiwi recipes!

Have a great Friday!