Made a new version of chopped salad last night by adding fresh chopped thyme and oregano to the mix (a little goes a long way). Adding goat cheese to the finished dish along with sliced almonds, blackberries olive oil and jalapeno vinegar. Pow! Another idea I like is using the chopped mixture adding chopped fresh mint, a mild cheese, cranberries, walnuts and a squeeze of lemon with olive oil and ground pepper.
@ Ms Spock I like to use kale in smoothies with strawberries, almond milk and any other berry. Makes for a nice green drink with lots of protein. First, I clean the berries and keep them handy in a bowl. After stripping the kale off the stiff stalk, rinse then I'll soften the kale with a flash boil and keep cool in fridge. Also, like others, I like kale sauteed with garlic, (and sometimes onion) and a little balsamic vinegar. I use the same recipe for artichokes when in season. I just started eating raw kale and found it to add a nice texture when chopped pretty small if used raw in a salad. Lots of protein, too.
I do feel better when not eating processed breads or sugars. Eating mostly gluten free is just a personal choice. I notice I have huge and never satisfied cravings for bread, sweets and more bread if I eat the processed stuff. My doctor says it is a best for me to limit the wheat since my digestion is better when I limit the intake. I try to buy gluten free flours and products in bulk since I am on a very limited budget, and I keep an eye out for sales, too. I even made a yummy pizza last week that was a great success!!
However, the dark cacao is an especially nice treat and I really enjoy it. To ween off the sugar I used teaspoons of raw honey whenever low blood sugar set in and would dip the honey with a spoon. It damped down my sugar cravings and helped with some allergies, too. Fruits (other than berries) are a difficult thing for me and one that I am working on in therapy. Unfortunately, (and only for now) I rely on supplements for many of the minerals and vitamins I miss with my fruitless diet.
Lots of great information I found here and the input is really great. I haven't really been much on fads when it comes to my health. But, our bodies change as do certain nutritional needs as we age. I like the way I feel with less sugar and caffeine. I try to find organic products to satisfy the cravings.
Congrats to all of us for trying to feel better through healthy eating habits. Its a change that has been worth it for me.