DIY: Kale Chips

These chips sound so foreign and exciting, almost as if they are extraterrestrial. I hate to burst your bubble, but once you make them, they really aren't that strange. I found them to be so easy to make that I plan on incorporating them into my meals weekly if not more often. Also, once you make your first batch, you can get all sorts of crazy flavor combinations going on in your kitchen!

You will need the following items:
1) One bunch of kale
2) Olive oil (about 3 tablespoons or enough to coat the all leaves)
3) Kosher salt

The aforemetioned items are the basis of kale chip making. I suggest making plain kale chips first, that way you know what you might want to tweak when exploring flavor combinations.

Left: Chopped kale tossed in olive oil and kosher salt, Right: kale chip baked on aluminum foil

1. The first step to making the perfect kale chip is thoroughly washing and drying the kale. If you have a salad spinner, this is the perfect opportunity to bring it out. If not, rinse and towel dry kale. (Seriously, your kale needs to be really really dry).
2. Next, cut kale into 2x2 inch chips. Of if you are like me, cut them into sizes that you would like to eat.
3. Toss kale in a bowl with 3 tablespoons of olive oil and one teaspoon of salt or enough olive oil to coat all leaves thoroughly.
4. Spread kale leaves onto a cookie sheet so that they lay flat. You will probably have to bake 2-3 batches.
5. Bake kale for 7-10 minutes depending on your altitude. Flip kale chips half way through the baking time so that both sides crisp. Kale chips will be finished when they are crispy.

**Browning does not necessarily mean that the kale chip is finished or crispy, this just means that it is burning.


Now that you have mastered Kale chip making, experiment with the following flavor combinations!

Salt and Pepper- Add 2 teaspoons of cracked pepper to the olive oil.
Vinegar and Salt- Add 1 tablespoon of white vinegar to the olive oil.
Spicy and Sour- Add 1 tablespoon of Tajin to the olive oil.
Wasabi - Add 1 tablespoon of wasabi to the olive oil.
Cheesy- Add 3 tablespoons of grated parmesan to the kale when it is on the cookie sheet before baking.

Day 1 of My Low Carb Week

Pasta, bread, cookies, crackers, muffins, scones, are a no no this week! I have vowed to avoid carbohydrates for one week. I eased into the process by beginning to cut carbohydrates over the weekend. I immediately began to feel withdrawal like symptoms. I felt a little jittery. Other than that, I can put my nose on it, but I just didn't feel at my best. I am glad that I began weaning off of my addiction over the weekend. All of those ugly feelings have subsided for the most part and I am beginning to feel more clear headed and energized. We will see where I stand in a few days.

I do not think that I can be low carb forever, but I definitely think this is something that I can do every other week if all goes well. I have been on a weightloss plateau for a while now and going low carb may just be the solution. My day one meal plan is as follows:

Breakfast: Bannana, grapes and 1 tablespoon of almond butter
Snack: Wasabi flavored Almonds (Trader Joe's brand)
Lunch: 1 Mahi Mahi Filet, Orange-Glazed Carrots and a Babybel Cheese
Snack: More Wasabi flavored Almonds (Trader Joe's brand), Oranges and a Nectarine
Dinner: To Be Determined....

This week, I have also decided to also eliminate artificial sugars from my diet. I know, big changes?! I drink lots and lots of iced tea with Splenda as well as diet dark sodas on occasion. I have noticed that after ingesting artificial sweeteners, I have an insatiable appetite. Through my research, I believe that my articial sweetner intake is the culprit. I purchased Wholesome Sweeterners' Organic Blue Agave and raw honey from Costco. These two products will replace my Splenda/Sweet n' Low products from here on out. I will keep you all posted daily to share my experience going low carb as well as artifical sweetener free.

My Lunch: Mahi Mahi and Orange Glazed Carrots

Favorite Office Snacks

I am always looking for high quality delicious snack to eat while I'm at work. I'm not one of those Special K bar girls, I don't like eating cardboard. I like taking a bite into something that is so tasty it doesn't feel like I'm dieting. When I started my weight loss journey two years ago, I was looking to make a lifestyle change forever. That is the difference between dieting and lifestyle changes - temporality.

Over two years time, I have tried new products and I make it a point to do so as a way of keeping things fresh. For the month of February, I was inspired by sweets (especially chocolate) and nuts. Just because I choose to be health conscious, it does not mean that I can't have a pop of indulgence inbetween all my veggies!

1) Trader Joe's Cocoa Almond Spread
2) Trader Joe's Dried Feezed Mango slices
3) Fresh bananas
4) Trader Joe's Almond Butter
5) Trader Joe's Wasabi Flavored Almonds
6) Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Lover's Chocolate Bar
7) thinkThin Brownie Crunch



 

 

Being Latina is complicated when trying to pack the most flavor into a healthy lifestyle, but it is so worth it!



The Perfect Torta

Now that I have been on a health kick for over two years now, I have become even more particular about what I eat, especially in regard to high calorie foods. Mexican and Italian food are notorious for packing in the calories and they happen to be my favorite. Although I love enchiladas and pizza just as much as the next person, I have had to cut back my intake.

Two years ago, I would have been the first person down to hit up a late night taco place, but it's just not worth the repercussions anymore. By living a healthier lifestyle, I have actually grown to appreciate when I do have the opportunity to splurge. I find it funny that when I post pictures of unhealthy food now on Instagram people freak out and think I have fallen off the wagon. It's actually the contrary! I give myself treats so that I can continue being honest with myself.

Becoming healthy is being willing to listen to your body and never denying it a treat if you worked for it. I stand by this and know that giving myself a little something out of my usual diet isn't going to send me into a huge food binge. I trust myself.

Now onto the real story. I have been craving a great carne asada torta, a Mexican steak sandwich, and these are hard to find! Now my husband can make a delicious one, but I didn't want him cooking after a two hour commute.

The only option at that point was eating out! The only place that I trust my order with is El Rincon in La Puente, California.  My sandwich was complete with a slice of white Monterey Jack cheese, avocado, mayo, refried beans, carne asada, lettuce and pickled jalapeños and carrots. It was divine to say the least. The chubberita inside of me wished that the sandwich was bigger, but I fought off the desire to buy a second.

Being Latina is less complicated when you are making strides to live a healthier lifestyle rather than dieting!

Friday Outfit of the Day (OOTD)

Pink is my favorite color, but I don't like to wear so much of it that I look like a big piece of bubble gum walking around. In order to get away with wearing pink and still look professional at the work place, try pairing it with a more muted color. Today, I chose navy blue!

I put a Ralph Lauren navy blue cotton cardigan over my super hot pink top. My blouse is ruffly and is able to hang outside of my sweater. Since there is a ton going on with my blouse, I do not need to wear a necklace today. Instead, I opted for a headband with a cute pink bow. For shoes, I picked out suede blue flats. Using different textured materials is the secret to making your outfit truly unique. Plus, I think suede adds a little touch of "I'm luxurious" into your fashion statement.

Lastly, I chose to sidestep from all the navy and pink with my earrings and nail polish by using charcoal grey. My nail color is called "Chinchilly" by Essie and I purchased my earrings from Forever 21. Why did I choose charcoal grey? I wanted a neutral color that wouldn't clash with pink or blue.

I'm all ready for date night after work!

Being Latina is complicated when you have to be cute and ready to go out with your husband after work and still be a business professional.