I’m slowly giving in to the kale kick. For a while now, my brain has been telling me that I should eat more of the “super” foods, but my tastebuds haven’t always thought it was such a good idea. Super foods like kale are loaded with vitamins A, C, and K, as well as fiber, calcium, and other minerals that are just plain good for you, so adding them to your diet can only be beneficial in the long run, right? After a couple of bad experiences with homemade green monster (kale) smoothies, I’d almost given up on this super food idea until I tried a couple of salads with kale as the base. I’ve never liked cooked “greens” so if I was going to add kale to my diet, it had to remain in the raw state (I think it’s one of those texture things for me!). One of the tastiest and easiest kale salads to make at home is Kale Slaw, a healthy substitute for regular mayonnaise-based cole slaw.

Kale Slaw is a mixture of shredded kale, purple cabbage, and carrots tossed with a homemade poppy seed dressing. To make this side dish more interesting, try tossing in a few dried berries or sunflower seeds. I’ve found that with the right flavor combinations, I actually enjoy kale! Wow! I must be a real grown-up now!

You might also enjoy this Kale Cabbage Chicken Salad with Thai Peanut Vinaigrette, which is another flavorful combination and is a meal all by itself.

Yield: 8 servings

Kale Slaw

Name: Kale Slaw
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 1 h 15 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 4 cups baby kale, shredded and chopped; 1 cup purple cabbage, shredded; 1/2 cup carrots, shredded; 1/4 cup mayonnaise; 1 1/2 tablespoons milk; 1 1/2 tablespoons white wine vinegar; 1 tablespoon honey; 2 teaspoons poppy seeds; pinch salt