Tag Archives: Munchies

Late Night Snacks

Posted on by
1

As I write this post, it is 11:37 at night, and I have a giant smoothie in my hand.  An Immune Booster Smoothie to be exact.photo-32

I am definitely a late night snacker. I get home from work around 11:00, and can’t help but want something. I know that lots of people think it’s bad to eat late at night. I’m not saying it is always the best choice, but I don’t like going to bed HANGRY (hungry/angry… bad combo). When I’m hungry, I eat.

Sometimes I want something more substantial, and sometimes a smoothie or a piece of fruit will suffice. Regardless, I always look for something that will be healthy and easy for my body to absorb and process.

Here are some of my favorite late night snacks :)

   Roasted Butternut Squash and String Beans

  • Butternut Squash
  • String Beans
  • Garlic powder, salt, pepper

Slice butternut squash thin. Place string beans and squash on a baking sheet (spray with cooking spray). Spray the top of veggies with cooking spray and sprinkle with spices. Bake at 450 degrees for about 20 minutes.

I like to dip them in a little catsup.. they remind me of “fries”.

Kale Chips are always awesome! Low in calories and totally guilt free :)

Upside down Cereal

  • Fruit of choice (Strawberries, banana, black berries, raspberries etc) sliced
  • 1/4 cup cereal of choice (I use an organic quinoa blend)
  • 1 cup milk of choice (I like coconut milk!)
  • 1/2 tsp chia seeds

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and ENJOY!

I love this because you don’t get a huge carb load from cereal (the amount in this is about 1/4 a serving). I love cereal…and again, this is guilt free :)

image-115

Roasted Parmesan Brussels Sprouts

  • Brussels sprouts cut in half
  • 1 TBS parmesan cheese
  • garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp olive oil
  • salt and pepper to taste

Spray baking sheet with cooking spray. In a bowl, drizzle oil over sprouts. Use your hands to evenly distribute it! Add in cheese and garlic powder. Place on baking sheet and cook at 450 degrees for about 20 minutes.

These are awesome because they are high in fiber, low in fat, and have a nice cheesy flavor. Brussels sprouts are no longer the veggie your mom forced you to eat… these are delish!

image-116

Chocolate Greek Yogurt Bowl

  • 1/2 cup 0%fat greek Yogurt (or one small container)
  • 1 TBS coco powder
  • 1 TBS rainbow sprinkles (common you know you love em’)
  • 1/2 Frozen Banana (or raw) sliced
  • frozen blueberries (or raw) sliced
  • 2 stevia packets

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and ENJOY!!!

I love this because it is fast to make. Literally it takes 5 minutes. Sometimes (always) I crave chocolate at night. This is a great guilt free (I love that term) way to enjoy a chocolaty desert! The protein in yogurt keeps you satisfied, and the frozen fruit adds a nice chill to the bowl (almost like ice cream).

What are your favorite late night snacks??

Big Fish Update: The show is going wonderfully!!!! It truly is a gorgeous piece of theatre…the audience seems to agree!!!

Thanks for stopping by!

xoxoSYN

More Kale Chips!

Posted on by
1

So I have a pinterest board for Cookies to Kale. My most popular recipe is for my Kale Chips. I’m not surprised. Kale chips are one of my favorite healthy snacks. They are quick, easy, and you can make them in a variety of flavors. Another plus? KALE IS AWESOME.

This green leafy veggie has gained popularity in the more recent years. It used to be that you could only find it in health food stores. Now, kale is sold at just about every grocery store! This stuff is a miracle vegetable.

  • It is jam-packed with vitamins and nutrients
  • It has more vitamin C than an orange
  • it has more calcium than a glass of milk
  • it is high in iron
  • it is an anti-inflammatory
  • If i keep going this is going to be a LONG list…

again…KALE IS AWESOME

How to make it even more awesome? Make it into a Kale chip :)

Here is my most recent favorite Kale chip recipe…

photo-39

Spicy Garlic and Parmesan Kale Chips

  • One bunch of kale
  • 1 tsp olive oil
  • 1/2-1 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 2 tsp garlic powder
  • 2 TBS parmesan cheese

Pre-heat your oven to 400 degrees (depending on oven) First wash the kale. Next, DRY it COMPLETELY (I used a salad spinner). Tear chip sized pieces of kale off of the stalk. Place the pieces into a large bowl. Take one tsp of olive oil and massage it into kale (make sure that each piece has oil on it.)

Next add all of the spices (mix them through out with your hands!) Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray and spread kale out evenly (they can overlap). Bake for 10-15 minutes. Take out, and move them around with a spatula. Continue baking for about 5-10 more minutes (keep an eye on them).

Let them cool for a few minutes and ENJOY! I like to dip them in a little catsup :)

image-112

I love these because the cheesy garlic flavor really comes through, and you get a nice kick of spice as an after thought. They are incredibly fast to make and are a wonderfully crunchy and HEALTHY!!!!

On another note, tomorrow is our first performance of Big Fish!!!! It is such a special show, and I feel so honored to be a part of it. COME CHECK US OUT!!!

xoxoSYN

SRIRACHA Chips

Posted on by
Reply

So, one morning,( a couple a months ago) I was watching the Today show. I was enjoying a healthy breakfast, and suddenly they presented the “Lays Your Flavor” contest. To my HORROR, the Lays company was going to be making their already unhealthy chips worse.   The final three flavors  were :

Chicken and waffles

Cheesy Bread

and…

Sriracha….ku-xlarge

Sriracha hmmmm… I LOVE SRIRACHA!!! That flavor actually didn’t horrify me!

I quickly forgot about this little contest, until yesterday.

A friend of mine (who reads this blog, and is a fan of all things chips hehehe) was talking about the Lays SRIRACHA chip. I instantly decided that I was intrigued by the idea, and wanted to make a healthy version of the snack.

image-88Veggie Sriracha Chips

  • Veggie of choice (I used Jerusalem Artichoke, but I think Carrots, Parsnips, butternut squash or sweet potato would work best)
  • 1 tbs sriracha  (more or less depending on how spicy you like!)
  • 1/2 tsp olive oil
  • pinch of salt and garlic powder

Pre-heat oven to 450 degrees (depending on your oven). Slice veggies thin. In a bowl, mix salt, garlic powder, and olive oil through out veggies.photo-29

Bake for about 25 minutes or until brown (keep an eye on them). Remove from oven, add some more sriracha if needed. ENJOY!!!

image-88

Ok, time for bed… rehearsal in the am!!!!

xoxo SYN

Munchies

Posted on by
16

Ever get home from a long day at work and all you want to do is EAT? That has been happening to me lately. I get home from a long day at rehearsal and I want to eat everything in sight. I mostly crave salty things, but before I reach for the chips, I reach for Kale.

Sound weird? Maybe, but Kale can be made into amazing  things! Kale is wonderful sautéed, steamed and most importantly when made into the Kale Chip. These little morsels satisfiy every salty, crunchy and munchie request your body makes!

I literally used an entire Bunch of kale. Over the course of the night I ate the entire thing, and I’m not ashamed!!! It is so important to eat greens, and if making them into chips helps you to get a huge dose of this wonderful leafy veggie, then so be it!

image-85

Crunchy Kale Chips Your Way

  • 1 bunch of Kale (Dinosaur or Lacinato)
  • 1 tsp olive oil
  • Spices

Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees (depending on oven) First wash the kale. Next, DRY it COMPLETELY (I used a salad spinner). Tear chip sized pieces of kale off of the stalk. Place the pieces into a large bowl. Take one tsp of olive oil and massage it into kale (make sure that each piece has oil on it.) Next add your spices…

The Great thing about making your own chips, is you can make your own flavors!!!

Some awesome ones are :

  • Old Bay
  • Parmesan
  • Garlic and herb ( Garlic powder with dried thyme, basil and parsley)
  • Salt and Vinegar (Add a tsp of red wine vinegar)
  • Salt and pepper
  • Curry Powder

(Just some suggestions!)

I used both Old Bay and “Parmesan” (Nutritional Yeast).

Pour your spices into the bowl and make sure that they are evenly distributed throughout. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray, and place the Kale on the sheet. If they overlap it’s ok, but you want them to cook evenly.

photo-28

Cook for about 10 minutes. Keep a close eye on them, they burn easily!!!

image-86

 

They come out crunchy and well seasoned. They really are the perfect snack, and with only 1 teaspoon of oil, you can’t go wrong!

Oh… and eat them all… you deserve it!!!!!

xoxo SYN