Beat the Heat! 3 Simple Recipes

Finally, it feels like summer is on its way! It’s been pretty hot here in New York and my body can feel it. Our bodies know the different foods we need in different seasons — warm filling foods in colder times and light refreshing foods in warmer times. Right now fruit is about the most appetizing thing to me. Fruit is water dense, light, refreshing and delicious — the perfect summer food.

Photo courtesy of Google Images

So I have 3 delicious ways for you to beat the heat, two of which include fruit.

1. Watermelon-Strawberry Refresher

Ingredients:

• Frozen watermelon chunks
• Fresh strawberries
• Unsweetened almond milk or pure coconut water

What to do: simply blend all 3 ingredients together in your Nutribullet or favorite blender. I made this one with almond milk, but if you’re having it mainly as a beverage and are going to enjoy it outside, coconut water may be the more refreshing option. If you need it to be a little more filling, then opt for the almond milk.

2. Frozen Banana Slices

Ingredients:

• 1 sliced medium-large banana

What to do: simply slice and freeze! Let freeze for a few hours, serve in a cup and enjoy.

This is possibly the easiest and most delicious treat there is. And it’s hardly a “treat.” It’s just banana for crying out loud. But it tastes like banana ice cream. Remember Dippin’ Dots? Are those still around? Well, you no longer need them. These banana slices are like slices of banana flavored Dippin’ Dot ice cream. Except they are good for you and you know exactly what’s in them — good ol’ banana.

3. Iced Coffee — organic all around and no sugar!

A girl who loves iced coffee, such a shocker right? I know coffee is kind of a hot button issue… to drink it or not to drink it? Well, I decide to drink it. I typically have one or two a day, and I drink tons of water so it doesn’t bother me.

How do I take my coffee? I take it all around organic, meaning organic coffee and organic full-fat half & half, with a teensy tiny bit of stevia. That’s ideal and how I like to make it at home. I can’t always get it like that, but I don’t freak out about it. If I’m going to freak out, I’d rather not have it. Save me the stress. If it’s not gonna stress me out on a particular day, I’ll take it the best way I can at the present moment.

Ways to make your iced coffee healthy and guilt free:

• Opt for and brew organic fair-trade coffee
• Use a little bit of stevia to sweeten it, if you must (but be sure to check your stevia, I like Sweet Leaf)
• Make it creamy with: organic full-fat half & half, organic whole milk or unsweetened almond milk with no carrageenan (I like Silk. It’s also non-GMO). You could also choose another non-dairy milk, but I really recommend you get one without carrageenan. Read those labels!

Don’t know what carrageenan is and what to read more about it? Here is an article with everything you need to know about carrageenan by Kimberly Snyder. Again, it’s something people take a side on. I choose to avoid it. It’s not that difficult to avoid, and I feel better doing so. Read up on it. You are then free to make your own choice.

As the season goes on and we actually enter summer, I hope to bring you more meals that are ideal for the warm weather. Here’s to hoping that creative chef’s hat finds its way onto my head so I can deliver. In the meantime, embrace fresh fruit, fresh or cold-pressed organic juices, green smoothies, fresh or grilled veggies and these 3 cool treats. You should be refreshed and satisfied. Now get out and enjoy the weather, we’ve all earned it after that horrific winter. 🙂

Good food. Good tips. Good moves. Good for you.

xo Kim, Running on Good

Kale Chips Recipe (and Sweet Potato Chips)

Hey all! I’ve been MIA for the past few weeks, but I’m back 🙂 Here’s a new recipe that is great for summer–kale chips! They are so easy, and the method can be used to make many things into chips with a few small adjustments. So this is a great recipe to keep because it is so versatile.

For the kale chips, all you need is:

• a bunch of kale (washed, dried, stems removed or cut)
• about 1 tablespoon of oil (I prefer and recommend coconut oil or any other high heat oil, like safflower or grapeseed)
• 1 tablespoon of sea salt
• Optional: 1 tablespoon of cracked pepper, chili powder, or seasoning of choice

All you need to do is:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
• Wash, dry, and trim kale
• Layer a baking sheet with a very thin coating of oil or line with parchment paper
• Whisk oil and seasoning in a bowl; throw in kale and toss using tongs
• Spread kale on baking sheet (let excess oil drip into bowl before placing on baking sheet)
• Bake for 10-15 minutes (you want the kale to be browned and crispy but not burnt, so keep an eye on it)

Voila! The whole process should take less than 30 minutes.

You can also use this method to make potato chips! The best kind? Sweet potato chips. Ingredients will remain the same, with the exception of using sweet potatoes instead of kale. All you need to do is make a few small adjustments in the preparation:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F or 450 (sweet potatoes are thick and hard so a higher temperature is necessary)
• Slice sweet potatoes into chips (I like to leave the skin on)
• Whisk oil and seasoning, throw in chips and toss (you maybe need a little more oil and seasoning if you use 2 or 3 potatoes; 1 tablespoon of oil and seasoning to 1 potato)
• Spread on baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes or until chips are browned and crispy (again, watch for browning and you may need to test for crispiness. If you wish to bake longer, be my guest! Don’t be afraid, just watch for burning)
• When done, let cool and serve

Homemade chips of any kind are a great alternative to store bought chips–no unnecessary ingredients or preservatives. Kale chips have the added bonus of getting you your greens, too! What’s better than eating chips and knowing you’re eating well? Kale is a superfood packed with nutrition, and sweet potatoes are good complex carbs, providing sustainable energy for your active days.

Summer is around the corner, and healthy snacks are a must with all the barbequing, parties, and down time that comes with it–especially for kids. With school out and more free time, kids may be reaching for more snacks. Be prepared for trips to the pool, beach, park, or elsewhere with healthy, home-packed snacks, and you can have more of a care-free summer!