Happy St. Patrick's Day

I hope y'all are wearing your green today so you don't get pinched!

In case you're not wearing green, here's a couple recipes for green smoothies =)

Vary the amount of fruits and veggies depending on how many you're serving.

Green smoothie 1:

pineapple

banana

kale

orange juice

Green smoothie 2:

apple

kiwi

kale

orange juice

Smoothies not your thing?  How about kale chips?

Wash your kale.  Trim the leafy part from the stems.

Mix olive oil with your choice of seasoning.

Gently message the oil into the kale.

Lay the leaves on a rack over a cookie sheet.

Bake one the lowest temp.  Most ovens are 175- 200*.  Check the kale after 30 minutes.  It's done when the leaves are dry and crisp.  Watch carefully because they burn quickly once they're dry.

You may notice that kale is the common ingredient in these smoothies.  What's so wonderful about kale?

1. Kale is filled with so many nutrients- vitamins, folate and magnesium.

2. Kale is high in iron. Iron is essential for good health, such as the formation of hemoglobin and enzymes, transporting oxygen to various parts of the body, cell growth, proper liver function and more.

3. Kale is filled with powerful antioxidants. 

4. Kale is a great anti-inflammatory food. One cup of kale is filled with 10% of the RDA of omega-3 fatty acids, which help, fight against arthritis, asthma and autoimmune disorders.

5. Kale is great for cardiovascular support. Eating more kale can help lower cholesterol levels.

6. Kale is high in Vitamin A.Vitamin A is great for your vision and your skin.

7. Kale is high in Vitamin C. This is very helpful for your immune system, your metabolism and your hydration.

8. Kale is high in calcium, which aids in preventing bone loss, preventing osteoporosis and maintaining a healthy metabolism. Vitamin C is also helpful to maintain cartilage and joint flexibility

How do you like your kale?