Imagine if every person who read Fifty Shades of Grey began to incorporate kale into their diet.  Our country would be so much healthier!  Less obese!  Maybe even feel sexy enough to try out a few scenes from that trashy novel!  This is the idea behind Dr. Drew Ramsey’s and celebrity chef Jennifer Iserloh’s new book, Fifty Shades of Kale.  Yes, kale is very much in vogue right now, but it is not just hype.  Did you know that one cup of chopped kale has more vitamin C than an orange, more calcium than a cup of milk, 121 milligrams of alpha-linoleic acid (healthy omega-3’s that are beneficial to brain function), and 133% of a person’s daily vitamin A requirement?  Read this article written by Dr. Ramsey for The Huffington Post.  It is so eye-opening (and kind of exciting, if you’re a health nerd, like me).

This great cookbook consists of recipes for breakfast, bites and snacks, vegetarian and meat-eater entrees, and even desserts.  I wish there were more salad recipes included, but most of us do have a lot of those in our arsenal already.  Cost: about $20.  Purchase it here.

BLUEBERRY KALE SMOOTHIE

Serves 1.

• 1 cup frozen organic blueberries
• 1/2 cup whole milk – I substituted 1 cup of organic unsweetened almond or coconut milk
• 1/2 cup packed roughly chopped kale, stems removed – about 1 large leaf, torn to shreds
• 1 tablespoon honey or agave – I used 2 teaspoons raw honey.
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 ice cubes
• I added 1 scoop of my favorite plant-based protein powder

Place all ingredients in powerful blender or Vitamix and blend until smooth.  Serve immediately.

Has anyone tried and loved any of the other recipes in the book?  Have a favorite kale recipe you’d like to share?  Let us know!

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