Kale to the Chief (and Everybody Else!)

Day 5 of our 12 Days of Healthy Foods brings us to kale. I think kale is one of those vegetables you either love or hate. If you love kale, you probably always prepare it the same way just because that's the way your family has always done it. Although kale can be eaten raw, roasted, or fried, the simplest method of steaming kale seems to produce the most health benefits. However you decide to prepare kale, it's worth it to your health to include kale in your diet.
Kale is packed with good nutrition. Its rich phytochemical content and 95 different flavonoids (plant nutrients) put kale at the top of the chart for antioxidants and anti-inflammatory foods. Kale shows evidence of lowering the risk of bladder, breast, colon, ovarian, and prostate cancer, and kale also seems to promote eye health and protect against cataracts. It is high in calcium, Vitamin K, Vitamin A, and Vitamin C, and is also a good source of dietary fiber.
But you say, "I have picky eaters in the family who won't eat green stuff!" Well, I have just the suggestion for you. Offer them Kale Chips! This Crispy Kale Recipe might be just the thing to get those stubborn eaters to try something different. In fact, if you shop at Daisy Mae's Market at Findlay Market today (1/8/11), we'll give you some free kale with your $15 purchase so that trying something new and healthy will be good for your pocketbook, too.