Running a close second with Chia for trendy items at the 2014 Expo was the highly touted Kale. We've been hearing a lot about this cruciferous vegetable lately. At the show, one woman told me, "I've had Kale salad, Kale soup, Kale juice, Kale chips - you name it... they had it here with Kale."
On their website, Whole Foods calls Kale "one of the healthiest vegetables around." And this reputation is undoubtedly a main reason Kale was in so many products this year. WF says Kale stands out in three specific areas: (1) as a deliverer of antioxidants; (2) anti-inflammatory aspects; and (3) anti-cancer properties through glucosinolates. To learn more about the benefits, go to Kale's page on the Whole Foods site.
KALE CHIPS were at the show at a number of booths. My favorite was by BRAD'S RAW FOODS, a company that invited us to "Join the Kalevolution."
Brad's chips come in three flavors: (1) Kale; (2) Hot Kale and (3) Cheddar. I sampled the Cheddar product at their outdoor booth and it was tasty. Brad's chips are made with carrots, red bell peppers, nutritional yeast, flax seeds, raw buckwheat groats, scallions, extra virgin olive oil, garlic, cayenne pepper, and Himalayan sea salt. His site says that the chips are "never baked or fried," and instead they are "dehydrated at or below 115 degrees. " Visit the Brad's Raw Foods site for more info on this line of chips and their other products.
A friend tells me she likes to add a little kale to her HOME-MADE SMOOTHIES, and one blogger (www.heathersdish.com) says the secret to success with this idea is to freeze the kale first. For more on her tips for "How to Make a Kale Smoothie That Doesn’t Taste Like Dirt" click here.
Remember Whole Foods, who provided us with nutritional info on Kale earlier? They recommend steaming Kale for 5 minutes before eating, and you'll find their recipe for 5-Minute Steamed Kale here.
My next and last report on the Expo will be an assortment of my findings. Til then!
Be a picky eater for the health of it!
Robin Quinn
Health Educator
