Kale, Kale, the Gang's All Here!
Over the years, I’ve touched on my continued quest for health and happiness after a breast cancer diagnosis. Like most women (make that people) faced with trying to find renewed and lasting health after getting the scare of their life, I’ve pretty much tried any and everything I can to prevent a recurrence. As a result, I’ve had some great things come my way, and a few that are just too silly to mention.
Since I’m firmly convinced the mind-body connection is a crucial key to our health, I try to surround myself with as much positive energy (for lack of a better word) as possible. I get little email missives from “The Universe” Monday through Friday that pump me up and tell me what a wonderful creature I am, just because I’m me. Although I do sometimes wish “The Universe” worked on weekends, I’m grateful to have five days in a row where I feel good about myself. And, if you happen to have “The Universe” sending you the same message, just remember, he/she/it likes me best!
My dear friend, Georgia Davis (another breast cancer survivor), turned me onto a great little inspirational website a couple of months ago called Peaceful Daily. The brainchild of Sandy Henson Corso, Peaceful Daily provides what she calls Daily Living Tips. Since I’m all for daily living – even long-time living – I thoroughly enjoy her gentle take on everyday peace. I would love for not just the day, but entire lifetimes to be peaceful.
She touches on things like spirituality, going green, being kind to animals, holistic products, traveling to new places, following your passions, wellness, forgiveness, affirmations and eating whole foods -– to name just a few.
I’m all about each of those topics, but as I’m sure you must know by now, eating whole foods is one area of special interest to me. Quite frankly, if you feed me whole foods I am much more apt to be spiritual, go green, be kind to animals, etc. In fact, I’m pretty sure I’ve been known to chant “whole foods, whole foods, whole foods” until someone finally shoves food in my mouth just to shut me up.
So, a few weeks ago when I got my Peaceful Daily Tip (and yes, these only come Monday through Friday too, so I’m not nearly as nice on the weekends), telling me about New York Naturals Raw Vegan Kale Chips, I was elated. Why, you ask? Because I keep hearing about how healthy kale is for us, but try as I might, eating large portions of kale is not the easiest thing for me to add to my diet.
Since Sandy raved about how delicious these are, I knew I had to try them. I’m really grateful she hasn’t discovered some healthy, delicious tidbit made from something less palatable than kale, because I’d be willing to bet, she’d have me on that bandwagon too. I would, I’m quite sure, stop just short of a Rhinoceros Sweat Smoothie, but I’ve been wrong before! If I was assured that rhinoceros sweat prevented cancer, I might be tempted! Just add some Goji berries and I’m on board.
I followed Sandy’s link to read more about these kale chips, and decided I had nothing to lose, so I ordered some. Okay, at this point I’m thinking they will be a nice substitute for less healthy snacks. Little did I know that once I tasted them I’d be trying to figure out if a human being can exist on a diet of kale chips, smothered in kale chips, with kale chip topping. Or to put it in modern vernacular, after my first taste my whole body went OMG!
I quickly read the labeling and was thrilled to discover I could eat an entire box and only be ingesting a little more than 300 calories. You laugh now, but you don’t have a box in hand, do you?
These delectable snacks are created by Amy Hamberry and come in three varieties: Vegan “Cheese,” Spicy Miso and Bombay Ranch. I honestly can’t say which one I like best. What I can honestly say is I think I’m addicted. In my quest for more kale chips, I had the great fortune of talking to Amy. She is as delightful as her chips! I have kiddingly told her they are going to have to open a Betty Ford Kale Chip Clinic for people like me. She laughed, but she knows it’s true!
Long story short (okay, okay, I’m lying) I ended up ordering an assorted case. Today, when I called to arrange for payment, I caught Amy working in an area that would require she climb several flights of stairs in order to find my invoice. While she was huffing and puffing her way to the next landing, she mentioned she is eight months pregnant. Part of me thought I should give this poor woman a break and call back later. I mean, after all, how in heaven’s name could I justify having someone in her condition struggle just so I can have my kale chips? You betcha’!
In my defense, let me just say – I should have called her Monday through Friday. Unfortunately for Amy (and my standing as a good human being), I made the call on a Saturday – so I’m really not to blame – The Universe and my Peaceful Daily self were nowhere to be found. And I should probably add, if you decide you just must try these kale chips, and in some way create a shortage so I am unable to get them when I run out, you will want to avoid me at all costs on the weekend!
