SO L.A. : Kale Chips and Go Green Smoothie

One of the requirements of living in Los Angeles, is eating weird green food to make yourself feel healthy.  Well not really, but anywhere else in the country would definitely think these next few recipes are simply just silly.  But actually, they are quite good and GOOD for you!  


Here are some of my favorite snack recipes with the health factor kicked up a notch! 

Kale Chips 

(a.k.a. Hollywood's Version of Potato Chips)

A good friend of mine turned me onto these wonderful morsels.  I am always trying to incorporate different kinds of greens into my diet because they are so good for you.  But they generally taste like you are eating grass.  This recipe is a total fake-out and it will surprise all of your friends.

Ingredients:

Kale (buy a few bunches)

Olive Oil

Salt (use only a pinch)
Pepper

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees.  Wash and dry Kale.  Tear off the leaves from the stems into smaller pieces.  Drizzle with olive oil and salt(no need to drench with oil - after all, this is a low-fat snack!)  Toss on a baking sheet and bake for 10-15 minutes or until crispy.  Don't let them turn too dark in color, so keep an eye out! You will be eating them like potato chips!

Go Green Smoothie
A well known trainer in Los Angeles turned me onto this smoothie. Why not add something green to your smoothie from now on?  You hardly taste the spinach and you feel like you've done something good for yourself after drinking it.


Ingredients:
Handful of your favorite frozen fruit
1 Banana (optional, but it adds creaminess to the smoothie.  you can definitely add any of your favorite fresh fruit to this as well.)
1/2 cup of non-fat yogurt (I prefer greek yogurt, but flavored yogurt works great too.)
Drizzle of honey
Splash of orange juice to get things going in the blender
and . . . (drum roll please . . .)
Lots of and Lots of fresh spinach!


Directions:
Add all items to the blender and blend away!  You can add as much or as little spinach as you like, but you can really pack in quite a bit.  If you need to add more orange juice if the smoothie is too thick, go for it.  This is not a precise recipe.  Don't be turned off by the color.  Depending on the type of fruit you use, the smoothie outcome could be green or a little brown.  Just ignore and drink!  You will be getting most of your fruits and vegetables for the day in one drink!