“I want to be seen green

Wouldn’t be caught dead, red

‘Cause if you are seen green

It means you got mean bread.”

So goes a line from a song from one of my favorite movies, The Wiz. I feel like I’m seeing green. Most mornings can find me starting the day with a green drink.

While kale is now all the rage, I’ve always loved it. As a child I loved it cook southern style, preferring it over collards. In my teens and early twenties I liked it sautéed with onion in olive oil. Then about 13 years ago I discovered raw kale salad and that was a wrap! I eat some type of salad every day for lunch and kale is in heavy rotation.

And what’s not to love about kale? It’s chock full of goodness. Here’s what you’ll get in a one cup serving:

• Iron

• Vitamin K

• Calcium

• 134 % of your daily value of Vitamin C

• 133% of your daily value of Vitamin A

• Fiber

From a side dish of sautéed kale, to kale chips, to smoothies, kale is an all-purpose fridge staple. My favorite type of kale for salads is lacinato aka Tuscan aka dino because it is very tender. You can find my recipe for kale chips by clicking here.

So, for the love of kale, whip up this kale smoothie. Your body will be more in love with you for it.

Kale Smoothie

1 large rib of kale, destemmed

¼ cup cucumber

½ cup blueberries

½ cup pineapple

2-4 cubes of ice

½ cup water

Blend in high-speed blender until smooth. I hope you’re seeing green too as you eat up plenty of Kale: The Mean Green.

As always, it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully!