Now that Thanksgiving has kicked off the holiday season, green is abundant everywhere in the form of trees, wreaths, decorations and more.  So, how about adding another green to your repertoire?  I’m talking about the almighty kale.

Kale is a leafy green that is actually a form of cabbage. It comes in several varieties – curly, purple or dinosaur (must be because it is so powerful!), and it is packs a potent punch. Not only is it chock full of vitamins K and C, beta carotene, potassium, iron and fiber, it is a fairly rich source of the much sought after calcium. It is also low in calories, which around this time of year is a very welcome attribute. Popeye should have switched to kale as it has three times the amount of fiber as spinach! It also gives your immune system a boost as it seems to block the growth of cancer cells and helps DNA repair in cells. Its high concentration of carotene and lutein can’t hurt your eyesight either.

There was a time, not that long ago, when most people hadn’t a clue what kale was. These days, it seems to be popping up everywhere! It’s been mentioned in magazines, television shows, newspapers and of course, on the internet. Along with all its amazing merits it also has the quality of being quite versatile. It can be the star of salads (just chopped and mixed with crushed avocado, lemon juice, a little salt and pepper and sprinkled with toasted sunflower and pumpkin seeds is one of my favorites), soups, stir-frys, wraps, smoothies, and can even be baked into crunchy little chips! As always, the internet is an abundant source of recipes and ideas to integrate kale into your weekly meal planning.

So with all the values that kale literally brings to the table, if you haven’t yet tried it – run, don’t walk to the grocery store and make this green a year round part of your diet.

*As always, if there is a choice, it is recommended that you choose organic produce.