How and why to eat more kale

Do you too often steer clear of that large leafy bunch of kale because you don’t want to go through the effort of taking the tender leaves from the hard, woody stems? You aren’t the only one! So buy a bag of already-cut kale and eat the conveniently chopped dark leafy greens as often as possible.

Bags and bags of kale

It’s not a surprise you can find bags of chopped kale at Trader Joe’s but you can also get your fill of bagged kale at your local market. Companies like Cut N Clean and Earthbound Farms offer the healthy convenience food right alongside bags of spinach, arugula and the like.

Why eat more kale

I frequently wake up craving kale so I don’t need an excuse to eat it, but if you need some convincing as to why it should be on your daily menu, you’ll be thrilled to know that kale is a superfood, power-packed with vitamins and minerals. A whopping 3.3-ounce serving of raw kale is only about 45 calories and delivers 2 grams of fiber and 3 grams of protein. The same serving also bolsters your body with 420 milligrams of potassium, 290 percent of the Daily Value (DV) for vitamin A and a stellar 950 percent of vitamin K, which you can’t find in many other foods. Kale is also loaded with vitamin C, calcium, manganese, B vitamins, and more. When it comes to vegetables, leafy greens are the most concentrated source of nutrients. So eat up!

Ways to eat more kale

You can shove handfuls of kale into your mouth as a snack (I’ve been known to do that often), or you can eat it for every meal of the day. Saute kale in olive oil and garlic then add it to your morning tofu scramble. Add handfuls to your breakfast smoothie. Toss it with your vegetable or grain salads. Stir kale into soups and stews. Saute and serve it as a side dish. Or make kale chips.

What is your favorite way to eat kale? Let us know below.