KALE: The Superfood That NEEDS a Good Rubdown

KALE.

Four letters.

So much drama.

Why?

Because every superfoodie says you need it to eat. Period. They give all kinds of reasons, from fiber and iron to carotenoids and flavonoids, but the important part is that you just basically have to chomp down on kale at least 17 times a week to be healthy.

Well, maybe not 17 time a week, but you get it. Kale = doing the right thing for you body, mind and probably your spirit animal.

So why is there drama? Because recreating the delicious kale salad served at your local farm-to-table hot spot is about as hard as nailing Pungu Mayurasana (look it up, that sh*t aint easy). Kale straight out of the grocery store tote is leafy, rough and virtually tasteless – if not bitter. Oh and dousing it in dressing doesn’t change any of that, as we’ve learned from experience.

We sat down with Renee Dorski of JUS Organic in Atlantic Highlands and begged to know the secret for elevating kale from “good for you” to just GOOD. Or dare we say, great?

Renee’s advice was to show the kale some looooooove. “I get you! You want to have a kale salad, but you are so tired of chewing. Sometimes it feels like eating kale is something you really have to commit to. So here’s how we fix that. You have to massage the kale! Massage it to break down the fibers. Massage the kale and you will cut the chew factor in half.”

Massage the kale?

Renee says YES. Massage that kale with both hands for about 5 minutes, with olive oil, lemon juice and salt. She also recommends talking nicely to it. “Tell the kale it’s beautiful and it’s going to win the lottery. You need to infuse the kale with positivity. And sometimes you have to talk dirty to it.”

Oh yes, that we can do.

Oh hey leafy green. I know you’ve got lots of vitamin A and D, but I think you’re suffering from a lack of vitamin ME.