The Most Delicious Way to Eat More Kale

The Most Delicious Way to Eat More Kale

Hint: Chocolate may be involved

Consider it the queen of greens—kale is a nutritional powerhouse and it is everywhere lately. Wondering what makes this superstar vegetable so special? Let’s review some of its good-for-you benefits: 

Kale is low in calories, high in fiber, and great for heart health. One cup of kale has only 33 calories and a whopping 5 grams of fiber. This makes it great for aiding in digestion, protecting against heart disease, lowering cholesterol, and keeping you feeling fuller longer. 

It’s crazy high in iron and vitamins A, C, and K. Iron is essential for good health (watch out for these 10 signs you need more iron), and eating a diet high in vitamin K can help protect against various cancers. Plus, the vitamin A in kale is great for your vision and skin, and all that vitamin C does wonders for your immune system and metabolism.

It’s filled with powerful antioxidants. The antioxidants in kale—specifically carotenoids and flavonoids—are associated with many cancer-fighting benefits.

Kale is an anti-inflammatory and detox food. No wonder green juices are so popular. One cup of kale has 10 percent of the recommended daily allowance of omega-3 fatty acids, which help fight inflammation in the body. Plus, the fiber- and sulfur-containing phytonutrients in kale are great for detoxifying your body.

But let’s be honest, there are only so many kale salads and kale chips you can eat, right? Problem solved. These deliciously sweet chocolate almond date balls (with kale!) are a sneaky way to add more of the leafy superfood into your diet.

Chocolate Almond Date Balls (with Kale!)
Makes 30 balls

20 medjool dates, pits removed
1/2 cup almond butter
1/4 cup coconut flour
2 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1 Tbsp cinnamon
3/4 cup baby kale leaves
1/2 cup finely shredded coconut flakes

1. Mix all ingredients in a food processor, except for the coconut flakes. (Note: The kale should be fully pulverized and almost impossible to see.)
2. Roll into small balls, about 1-1 ½ Tbsp each. Then roll the balls in the shredded coconut to coat.
3. Place them on a pan lined with parchment paper, and refrigerate for about an hour to set.
4. Keep leftovers refrigerated.

Nutritional Info Per Serving (1 ball): 74 cal; 2.3 g fat (0.3 g saturated); 13.6 g carbs; 10.9 g sugar; 1 mg Sodium; 2.0 g fiber; 1.2 g protein

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