Name: Kale, or borecole, which most likely originates from the Dutch word boerenkool – meaning “farmer’s cabbage”.

Origins: A descendant of wild cabbage, kale is believed to have been brought to Europe around 600 B.C. by Celtic wanderers.

Nutritional Value: Kale is highly nutritious, but one aspect that makes it such a “superfood” is the fact that is has more nutritional value from fewer calories than almost any other food. Kale is also high in vitamins A, C, and K, fiber, anti-oxidants, and anti-inflammatory nutrients. Read More

Meatless Monday – The Kind of Vegetarian that Eats Kale

The first job that I ever had was at a vegetarian grocery store and macrobiotic cafe in a hip neighborhood of Philadelphia. I was sixteen years old and just settling into my Doc Martin’s and teen angst attitude. Thutete hot bar in the cafe at the back of the store was, unlike the cold bar, not self serve. It was my job to work the hot bar for all the hungry vegetarian diners.  I served the pureed sweet potato, the short grain brown rice, the tofu casserole, the miso soup, and the kale. Yuck, kale!  I always thought to myself when a customer would ask for it.  I was a vegetarian at the time but not the kind of vegetarian that ate kale.  I was basically a kid so I ate French fries and drank milkshakes. Because I was a kid and an opinionated, angsty one I considered anyone that ate kale bizarre and not to be trusted.  After plopping a steamy mound of kale onto your plate if you insisted I add more, I was put over the deep end with disgust. You want to eat two icky piles of kale? Suffice it to say that I barely lasted a week at my first job.

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