"I forgot how good kale tastes!"

Quoted from my kid tonight at dinner.  I know ... more hip hip hooray about kale!  You're probably so tired of hearing about it if you see me around town but I just wanted to pass on a new product I found this week at Trader Joe's.  They currently have "Organic Lacinto Kale" already washed and chopped for use.  Yes, there are so many uses for kale such as sauteed kale with olive oil and garlic or stir-fried or even hidden in chicken noodle soup ... but my favorite is just plain old kale chips because the kids really do eat them!  I like this bag of kale because it is so easy to do.  The chips are definitely smaller and there are a lot of stems in the bag (I usually don't use stems), but sometimes easier is better.  Plus they are organic ... that's not always easy to find and kale is one of those that you should try to buy organic as the pesticides are high on conventional varieties. 

Kale Chips

*1-2 bunches of kale (aka "King of Calcium and "heavy hitting” crucible)
*olive oil
*sea salt or other spices you like (I use Gomasio, curry, garlic  or cumin)

Preheat oven to 425 degrees
Remove kale from stalk, leaving the green in large pieces
Brush or use your fingers to lightly oil the kale
Put the kale on a baking sheet and bake for 4 mins. or until it starts to turn a bit brown.  Keep an eye as it can burn quickly!
Remove and serve!

Enjoy!

Ok, done.

Lots of goodies in this one!

"I love carrots!"

I swore I died and went to heaven!  Coming home from a ridiculously hot soccer practice on the turf in Summit, NJ (97 degrees at 6:00 pm) with my daughter's friends ...I try to offer the good stuff ... I TRY and hope that if they are desperate for food, they will eat the good stuff first!  So I pack grapes, carrots, and Cheerios.  Exciting right?  I couldn't believe my ears when my daughter had to actually ask for her Cheerios back when they were being inhaled by her 3 teammates in the car.  Just cleaned out the vehicle ... and those grape stems and empty containers were on the ground ... ok, not the neatest kids but I didn't care because I heard those words!  And yes, after the 30 minutes of swilling water and eating healthy I stopped at our famous ice cream shop in town.  Here they are ... young people are amazing with their never ending energy.  They just got out of the pool a few minutes ago and I'm still trying to get mine to bed.  Wish I had that boundless energy!

Stay Cool!
Krista

Walking on Sunshine ...

Hydrangea Angel ...
She's watching over all the flowers here in my perennial garden ... we haven't had rain in a long time here in NJ.  Hope she can keep watch during the next heat wave coming next week.

Just an update to those of you who didn't see my facebook post two weeks ago (see below picture) ... I had a follow up appointment with my neurosurgeon just to go over the latest mri done 3 months post-radiation/cyberknife.  There is nothing new to report ... the tumor hasn't shrunk as of yet (maybe it will with the radiation) but it hasn't grown either so that is great news!  I am now on a "come back in one year" regimen - yippee! I'm so grateful for those who have supported me through the last 2 years and 6 months! Wow I just can't believe it's been that long!

NYU Medical Center - Dr. Chandraneth Sen's office

I've been busy learning the ropes of book publishing the last few months.  It has been a really good experience and I highly recommend it for those of you who have thought about writing a book and just gave up on the idea as it seemed too overwhelming!  I'm currently sending my book files to be formatted to be an ebook (Kindle and Nook)!  The book and ebook will be available for purchase very soon ... in fact I have a shipment on the way to my house right now!  I can't wait to hold it in my hands and read it!  My book is a manual ... it is designed to help busy moms who need some guidance in feeding their young athletes healthy food while maintaining a bit of sanity!   I'm not saying it will ever be the easiest job in the world ... it never will be!  Busy moms will always be busy if their kids play sports or are engaged in other activities.  But, in this day and age of never ending sports, fast food and limited time, we sometimes just want to feed them something! Bonus points if  it is easy and healthy!  So, that's what I'm all about ... quick, easy and helpful to growing athletic bodies (and us parents too)!

 So, go out and enjoy summer and when the back to school thoughts kick in (shhh, not yet) my book will be ready for you to get your kitchens, cars and fridges in order!

Summer Love,
Krista

PS  If you have young athletes check out the www.youth1.com website for news in sports!  I get to contribute an article every Sunday on athletes and nutrition!

Meningioma Madness!

I am sorry if you are tired of hearing about Sheryl Crow.  But as upset as I was when this story first came out a few days ago, I am thrilled we are finally getting some attention in the medical community and the media.  I (and the meningioma survivor community) was upset at the way a brain tumor was being portrayed by her publicist and the doctors reporting on her condition.  Some articles were comparing a meningioma tumor to a wart … or saying that half the population is walking around with one and doesn’t know it as they are asymptomatic, or how bout the fact that 90% of them are benign … when people hear benign they generally think of them as minor.  Let me tell you, they can be minor if you have found it early enough and can treat it with radiation or a “wait and see” method.  Mine, on the other hand was more like a “Holy crap … get her in here … we are booting Mrs. Jones from her appointment to make room for this woman who needs it out pronto… before she leaves her kids and husband with a house full of  dirty laundry!” 

BRAIN TUMORS SUCK REGARDLESS OF WHAT KIND YOU HAVE!

There I said it.

In the attached article (http://vitals.msnbc.msn.com scroll down to June 6th),  you will read that it truly is a matter of location and size that determine a patient’s prognosis.  If it is big (mine was about 5 cm – golf ball size which is considered big), the more likely it will be to cause problems.  “It can actually be wrapped around the eye and you can lose vision (been there…).  You can lose speech, and on down the list.  Meningiomas can affect one’s sense of smell, equilibrium, and physical strength.”

I am sending lots of love to Ms. Crow and all those who are employing the “wait and see” suggestion. Every case is different for sure!  I was so lucky to have some symptoms to alert me something was up!! I feel so fortunate that I was given a second chance at this life!  Some brain tumor patients aren't as fortunate.

 I truly hope that the attention this week is beneficial to the entire brain tumor community as they are finding more links between certain things like earlier radiation to the head, bitewing dental x-ray exams, and hormone receptors in the cells that may be involved with the tumor development. 
By the way if any of you have anyone who is dealing with this diagnosis please contact me for more information on treatments.  I have learned so much the last two years and I love to share resources!!! 
Thanks for reading and supporting me through my own diagnosis!

Much Love,
Krista

Happy Memorial Day Weekend - Dry Rub Steak with Fresh Fruit Salsa

Enjoy your holiday weekend everyone!  Just wanted to pass on a great recipe if you need something for your BBQ!

Dry-Rub Steak with Fresh Fruit Salsa

Steak

1 T. fresh lime juice

1 1/2 t. salt

1 1/2 t. minced garlic

1 t. chili powder

1 t. finely chopped fresh or 1/4 t. dry oregano

1 t. freshly ground black pepper

1/2 t. ground cumin

1 (2 pound) sirloin steak

Salsa (best prepared right before steak is grilled)

1/2 cup finely chopped red onion

2 T. fresh lime juice

1/2 t. kosher salt

1 1/2 cups finely chopped peeled mango

1 cup finely chopped peeled kiwifruit

1/2 cup quartered cherry tomatoes

1/4 cup chopped green onions

2 T. minced fresh cilantro

1 T. chopped fresh mint

1 t. sugar

1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced

Remaining Ingredient:

cooking spray

1.  To prepare steak, combine first 7 ingredients; rub evenly over steak.  Cover and refrigerate 2 hours or overnight.

2.  Prepare grill or broiler.

3. To prepare salsa, combine red onion, 2 T. lime juice, and 1/2 t. salt, tossing to coat.  Let stand 30 minutes.  Combine mango and next 7 ingredients (mango through jalapeno) in a medium bowl.  Add onion mixture; toss gently to combine.

4.  Place steak on grill rack or broiler pan coated with cooking spray;  cook 6 minutes on each side or until desired degree of doneness.  Place steak on a platter; let stand 5 minutes.  Cut diagonally across grain into 1/4 inch thick slices.  Serve with salsa.  

Yield:  8 servings (about 3 ounces beef, 1/3 cup salsa)

Calories:  229 (36% from fat)

Fat:  9.1 grams

Protein:  24.7 grams

Fiber:  2.1 grams

Chol:  66 mg

Iron:  2.7 mg

Sodium:  535 mg

Calc:  29 mg

 

A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.
                                                                                                           -Joseph Campbell

Feeling Flattened by Rain?

Happy Monday Morning!

It is one of those rainy Mondays that would be easy to sleep in isn't it?  Sometimes it's hard to get motivated after a gorgeous weekend!

There is a lot going on in May for us parents!  There's prom, graduations, field trips, art shows, music shows and all the games of spring sports!  So honestly a rainy day feels pretty good to me today. 


I love to find quotes to inspire me ... some quotes just sound like they are talking to you.  If you are needing some direction to help you through an ambiguous time, here is one that I absolutely love:

"The very least you can do in your life is to figure out what you hope for.  And the most you can do is live inside that hope.  Not admire it from a distance but live right in it, under it's roof."
                                                                                                   ~Barbara Kingsolver

Dig in and live your hopes!
Krista








Please check out my new spot on www.youth1.com as a weekly Sunday guest on sports and nutrition.

Never Too Old...

Today I went to treat myself to a mani/pedi for Mom's Day.  I sat down with all my magazines and catalogs that I never get to look at ... ready for some chill time.  My little happy buzz was brought to a halt when I saw an elderly couple come in and sit down next to me for their pedicures!  The reason I wasn't thrilled was that I recognized them.  They live kind of behind me.  I have only had issues with them once when their cat bit me.  No big deal but I didn't think they'd be good company for my "me" time.

To my surprise, it was the best pedicure I ever had!  They had me laughing and chatting the whole time.  Here he is - an 86 year old man telling me about his time in WW 2 and his war buddy Mario from Italy, his kids, his dogs, his ducks, his quadruple by pass last year, he and his wife chatted up all the women who worked there about where they were from (Guatemala, Argentina and so on).  This was his first pedicure!  Why was this manly man of 86 years in there?  Because his wife is tired of cutting his toe nails!  How funny.  She announced later that "Getting old sucks!"  She is turning 85.

Can you imagine?  They came in together to get their first pedicure together at their ages ... he said he was definitely coming back because he liked it!  I just got such a kick out of their present moment candor!  It made me realize that you're never too old to try new things or maybe get some help where you least expected it ... even if it is cutting your toe nails!!