Kale Sucks

…I hear this all the time, and if I didn’t think I could change your mind I wouldn’t even be trying to convince you that kale doesn’t suck.

Kale is tough and bitter – much like an ex-girlfriend that you dumped for someone prettier, but now she’s growing in her independence and conquering her dreams but still misses the good days when you weren’t a total douche…

And, much like a bitter ex-girlfriend, kale has to be romanced into being your friend. You can’t just take a bite out of kale and expect it to taste good. You gotta put in some effort and get your hands dirty!

How to Make Kale Taste Good

…Raw

 

Yasssss…

…Cooked

Cooking kale is the easiest because the heat helps break down the toughness. I like to add a little olive or avocado oil to my pan because the fats from the oil will help your body absorb the vitamin A and K from the kale. You don’t need to add oil if you are eating other sources of fat with your meal (i.e. salmon, avocado, beef, eggs, etc). Then I’ll de-stem the kale leaves and throw the leaves in the pan on medium heat. After a few minutes the leaves will wilt down. This is when I add my seasonings.

Our most used seasoning is coconut aminos. It adds a little bit of sweet and salty to the kale. You could also squeeze some lemon and sprinkle on your favorite spices, such as smoked paprika, cumin, chili powder or hot sauce. The kale is done once the leaves are wilted down. How easy is that?!

You don’t have to reserve kale as a side dish, you can throw it in the pan with anything you’re cooking – stir-fry, fried rice, soup, stew, pasta, everything but the kitchen sink!

…In a Smoothie

I love adding a handful of kale to my smoothies, but let me warn you – if you don’t have a high-powered blender I recommend using a softer leafy green, like spinach or baby kale. I used to add kale to my smoothies when all I had was a Cuisinart blender. This was back before they started coming out with blenders that rival Ninja, Vitamix and Blendtec. My smoothies ended up being a little chunky which required some chewing. Not good.

Years ago I upgraded to a Vitamix and it has been my trusty friend ever since! That thing could blend up bricks, I swear! If you have a high-powered blender, try adding kale to your smoothies. You’ll be surprised how kale can go from thick and tough to liquid in no time! Just make sure to discard the kale stems.

If you don’t have a high-powered blender but you’re interested in buying one, my favorite is Vitamix which I purchased at Costco. You can also buy Vitamix here. (This is not sponsored. I’m just helping you make your blender dreams come true!)

Still think kale sucks??

If you’ve tried out these tips and still can’t wrap your taste buds around eating kale, it’s all good. At least we tried! The good news is that there are tons of different leafy greens to choose from. You don’t have to eat kale to be healthy, just like you don’t have to eat any specific “super-food” to be healthy.

BUT, if you tried these tips and are now converted to a kale-iever, let me know! Tag me with your kale creations @stephaniemoore_rd on Instagram!

Items I Used in This Post:

Disclosure: Please note that one or more of the links on this post are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you I will earn a commission if you click the link and make a purchase. All products linked on this page are products I use personally and trust. Do not feel obligated to purchase any of these products unless they are products that you are interested in.