Raw Food Friend: Kale
I have been in Boulder, Colorado for the last few days helping my daughter move into her new digs. As far as college “homes” go, she found a great house to share with some girlfriends. It has been an exhausting few days. We rented a truck packed up all her stuff, drove 6 miles and unpacked everything. Between boxes, assembling furniture, and organizing, it has been an exhausting few days. I will be back in my own bed tonight, sleeping soundly but missing my girls.
The first item on my agenda tomorrow morning will be hitting the Minneapolis Farmer’s Market. I need to restock my greens and at the top of the list will be kale. First because I am craving my favorite, Kale Chips, second, because after a bit of a exhausting trip, I feel like I need to refuel. And feasting on kale is a wonderful way to do that.
Kale provides one of the highest nutrition per calorie ratio. Kale is a part of the brassica family. Other members include cabbage, collard greens and brussle sprouts. High in calcium, lutein, iron, and Vitamins A, C, and K, kale has seven times the beta-carotene of broccoli! It is also a great source of fiber. But what makes kale really stand out are the phytochemicals sulforaphane and indoles which kale is abundant in. Research suggests that these important nutrients protect us against cancer.
Research has found that kale’s sulpher containing phytonutrients activate detoxifing enzymes in the liver that help neutralize potentially carcinogenic substances. When we eat kale, our genes increase production of enzymes involved in detoxification, and our bodies eliminate harmful compounds. Kale is one of the powerhouses in it’s ability to help our bodies be healthy.
It is interesting to note that when you lightly cook kale, the vitamin K content increases significantly. Food for thought.
You can find the recipe for my favorite Kale Chips here: Rawmazing Kale Chips
Judith wrote on August 17, 2010
I LOVE kale cut extremely fine and squeezed till soft. I put lemon and oil with it and wonder if you ever use this method to make your own ideas. It is addicting. I love how it tastes. You can add so many things to this but I imagine you have (or will) come up with
some really gourmet combination ideas. Look forward to learning more.
Marcia wrote on August 17, 2010
i am also addicted to kale and collard! beside the kale chips i am always including them on my juices!
I just finished a 72 days on green juice fasting and everyday i was at least with one kind of kale beside dandelion and collard – with celery+cucumber+parsley+cilantro+aloe vera+lime juice and ginger!!!!
So i will be preparing kale chips too this week! Craving them now!
Ah! Susan, Boulder is a great city right? I heard that they are the healthier city in USA!
What can you comment about it?
Sending you love and blessings
Susan wrote on August 17, 2010
Marcia, I love Boulder. Would like to move there eventually. People are very healthy as they are playing in their mountains ( the rockies) all the time. My dessert cookbook was just picked up by a bookstore there and he expects it to do very well. I sure hope so!
Jessica @ Dairy Free Betty wrote on August 17, 2010
I heart kale and I LOVE kale chips soooooooo much! Thanks for the reminder, my garden runth over with kale right now, so it’s looking like a kale chip making day!!
Ronn wrote on August 16, 2010
If I may ask a question of others who posted comments, specifically Rick, how do you consume your (raw) kale? In green smoothies? Salads? Just plain? I’d like to know, because I want to be eating more of it, but about the only way I can handle the strong flavor is in smoothies or kale chips. If I knew that some people like it just plain or in salads, etc., that would be motivation for me to learn to do it too, lol.
Susan wrote on August 17, 2010
I just posted a kale salad that you will like. I am also adverse to the flavor of raw kale but love this salad. I used dinosaur kale in it. http://www.rawmazing.com/recipes/marinated-kale-salad/
Tanya wrote on August 16, 2010
KALE is my favorite! I’m addicted to it. And I just ate a ton of it, steamed. But now I want some more, after seeing this photo 🙂
Rick wrote on August 16, 2010
kale is my favorite green, period!
Eco Mama wrote on August 16, 2010
Kale rules. And lucky you–in Boulder with your daughter, how fun!
xo
Eco Mama
Maggie(livingfoodjunkie) wrote on August 16, 2010
I love kale! I think I might make a batch of kale chips too 🙂
I just came across your blog yesterday and I think it’s beautiful. Your pictures, advice, recipes, everything is just so well done. Congrats on a lot of hard work!
xoxo
~Maggie