Homemade Healthy Granola Swap!

On the same show that I saw the Kale chip recipe, I saw a swap for granola. I love granola so this was something I really wanted to try too. I should say that the show is Hungry Girl on Food Network.

Granola is something I have always loved. It can be loaded with Fat, calories and sugar though and that's just no good. This recipe is so simple and easy and it is really tasty. You can flavor it too.

Here is the actual recipe:

1/4 cup old fashioned slow cooking oats

1/4 cup puffed rice

1/4 cup puffed wheat

1 1/2 TBSP sugar free pancake syrup

Freeze dried apples

Mix everything EXCEPT apples.

Spray baking sheet or dish with cooking spray

Put granola in dish

Bake @ 275 for 30-35 min flipping once halfway through

add apples when done

Now I didn't have the apples and I do not like maple syrup. I used honey. I also doubled the recipe. I also added a few drops of vanilla and almond extract and some cinnamon to the honey and mixed well before mixing it in the granola. I say  add whatever you like and make it your own.

This granola is a pretty healthy snack. It is also great as a topping. I mixed it in greek yogurt. YUMMY! Kids also like this snack.

 

Kale Chips. My New Favorite Healthy Snack.

Recently I watched a cooking show in which Kale Chips were made. I had heard of them several times before but never really thought about making them. Since I have changed my eating habits and cut out 98% of processed foods, I figured now was the time to try them. 

I worked in the deli dept of a grocery store for a short while when i was a teenager. Kale was used in the display case as garnish and decoration around the meats and such. I never even knew you could eat it. I have been eating it in salads and using it in my green protein shakes (up coming blog post) I really like it and it's really good for you.

So Last night I made Kale chips for the first time. OH. MY. GOD. I can't even get over how good I think they are. The Kale was on sale 99 cents/lb so it was cheap too. 

So basically you wash and DRY the Kale. Make sure it is dry for best results. My first batch I tossed the kale in olive oil. I shouldn't have. The second batch I made using cooking spray and they came out much better.

I sprayed a baking sheet lightly with olive oil cooking spray. Placed kale on baking sheet in single layer. Sprayed them lightly with cooking spray and sprinkled with salt and pepper. Bake @ 425 for 5-8 minutes. It's that easy. This bowl has about 60+ calories. I swear to you, I can't stop eating them!

They are light and crispy and full of flavor. I'm on a mission to try new foods that are healthy but that also taste good. I refuse to eat something I don't like. I hope you will all try these. It's cheap, quick, easy and worth trying, even if you don't end up liking them. I have heard a lot of people say that kids really like them too!

My Quest For A Healthier, Better ME!

 In my quest for a healthier and better me, I have been working on exercising daily and eating healthier. I refuse to count calories or points or anything else. I know what the right foods are and I know what the wrong ones are. I have been working really hard on eating MORE whole foods and LESS processed foods. I'm also doing that on a tight budget.

BREAKFAST
Protein shake:
vanilla whey powder
almond milk
spinach
flax seed meal
banana

SNACK
orange

LUNCH
oatmeal with:
almond milk
plum amazins
grapenuts

 
DINNER
Beef and broccoli with carrots
Harri covert
brown rice/bulgar wheat mix
Mixed greens salad:
tomato, red and green pepper,
pineapple, radish, scallion
pomegranate balsamic vinegar for dressing
Fat free skim milk to drink

DESSERT
Greek yogurt
grape fruit

Drank 90 oz. water throughout day

EXERCISE
Pilates
5 miles on treadmill
incline 6
1 mile in morning
1 mile at noon
3 miles late afternoon
1 mile worth of  sprints at 6.0 1/10 mile at a time

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