For the Love of Kale!

​4 Types of Kale Salad
If you are looking to use more superfoods during the winter season, then leafy greens like kale is a great choice. Kale grows well in the winter and is easy to find at any grocery store. It is a superfood with tons of vitamins and minerals, and is great for many diets, from clean eating to Paleo or Keto.
I do understand some people do not enjoy kale because it is tough and can be bitter.  Have you ever heard of massaging your kale?  This trick does wonders and may change your mind about this nutritious leaf.  Take lemon juice, Himalayan sea salt, a little olive oil and then massage it until it starts to soften and wilt (should take about 2-3 minutes). this winter.
 
Chopped Kale Superfoods Salad
This first salad is a great choice when you are feeling really hungry but still want to have a salad. It is very filling plus you get your sweets in with your greens.  This is a good trick that helps me not crave a sweet treat after I just finished eating such goodness. Since it has quinoa, it is a heartier salad that really fills you up. It is also ideal if you follow a clean eating diet. You are going to chop the kale since this is a chopped salad, then add rinsed uncooked or cooked (cooled) quinoa for a nice crunch. You can add any superfood toppings you want, though berries like cranberries and pomegranate seeds work great. For more crunch and some good fat, add some crushed walnuts as well.
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Kale and Veggies Salad
Another great option for a winter kale salad is one that uses even more veggies. You can also add some berries to this salad, but it is going to be primarily for all the veggies you want to use. This can be a good main course, but it works good as a light lunch or a side dish as well. This salad uses fresh kale, along with some brussels sprouts, broccoli, and cauliflower, all of which are available throughout the fall and winter seasons. If you want to add a little fat to the salad, you can add some nuts. From there you can leave it as-is or make a simple dressing with olive oil, red wine vinegar, honey, and some lemon juice.
Or if you want to get more fancy here is a dressing recipe to try:
Raw Apple Cider and Carrot
Serves 2-3
½ cup carrots, chopped
1 tablespoon raw apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 small garlic clove
salt and pepper to taste
 
PREPARE THE DRESSING. Add carrots, raw apple cider vinegar, olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper to a blender. Blend until smooth
 
Kale Sweet Potato Salad
If you want to add more vegetable superfoods during the winter, consider vegetables like sweet potatoes and butternut squash. These begin showing up in grocery stores in the fall, and are often available throughout the winter as well. You can use either vegetable for this salad, or add some of both. Dice them into cubes, then add to your bed of kale, along with some olive oil, salt, and pepper. You can also make a dressing with lemon juice if you want a little kick to the simple kale salad.

Kale and Apple Salad
Kale also happens to taste great when combined with sweet fruits. This kale and apple salad is perfect when you want to combine fall and winter flavors. Use your chopped kale, along with some sliced sweet apples, cranberries or pomegranate seeds, and some chopped walnuts and goat cheese on top.

If you try any of these ideas let me know what you think!  Also keep your eyes open for the Skinny Black Dress Challenge coming up soon!