C.I.A.P

C.I.A.P

C.I.A.P stands for Clean in a Pinch :-).  I am all about clean eating...ha, well I was before I had my son.  Now I find that I just don't have time to make all of the clean snacks and meals that I used to make.  What I've found is that I can still eat clean, I just have to do it in a pinch of time.  I have to plan out snacks and meals for the week on Saturday and prep them on Sunday's.  I also have the task of making one meal two ways... I try to make a vegetarian version of the same meal as my husband and I have to add more vegetables to my portions because my husband only eats a very small variety of vegetables.  The main thing with C.I.A.P is time (must be quick!) :-) Enjoy!!!

Kale Chips

If you google kale chips you will find several different ways to make them. I don't use recipes, but I did get inspired by a recipe to add Parmesan cheese to my chips.  I love the salty taste it added to the chips!

Kale chips sound gross if you've never tried them but they are delicious and they are a GREAT alternative to chips...

PROS: An easy way to sneak in some leafy greens, practically no calories
CONS: Cutting the leaf from the stems

TIPS: Make sure they are dry as you can get them before you put EVOO on them. 

Variations: Sea Salt, Garlic Salt, Cayenne Pepper, Parmesan Cheese

Recipe:
1-2 Bunches of Kale with stems removed, washed and dried (Try to buy organic if possible)
Preheat oven to 275-300
Drizzle kale with EVOO (Do not "drizzle" too much or Kale will become soggy and won't crisp up)
Season with salt or any of the variations :)
Lay on a cookie sheet, bake for 20-30 minutes, turn at least once to make sure both sides are crips
Enjoy
Keep in airtight container

Green Smoothie

This morning I made a green smoothie.  It was pretty good and I might even get bold enough to say GREAT because my husband drank it! 

What makes this smoothie done in a pinch is the fact that I cleaned all the ingredients on Sunday.  I freeze my bananas when I buy them.

This is just a quick little way to get your dark green leafy veggies in :-)

6-7 Leaves of rainbow swiss chard
1/2 large frozen banana
5-6 frozen peach slices (I always keep a bag of unsweetened frozen fruit on hand)
Approx 1 1/2 cups of cranberry juice
20 red seedless grapes

Blend away....go brush your teeth, put on makeup, come back and you've got breakfast for two! This recipe makes about 16oz

Variations: Any dark leafy green will work!  Apple Juice or Pineapple Juice (I wouldn't recommend OJ for this recipe). 

You could add greek yogurt for protein!  I am going to add greek yogurt next time around because without it, you are guaranteed to be hungry sooner than if you had the protein in the smoothie.

Enjoy!