If you are on a fitness journey to lose weight, or simply improve overall health, then kale is definitely one of those foods to add to your daily meals. Eaten raw, cooked, or blended in a smoothie, kale is fantastic for weight loss because it is naturally low in calories, high in nutrients, readily available in local markets, AND extremely versatile.
Still intimidated by this leafy green?
Keep reading. Our #TeamSkimble tips and tricks will help you pair our favorite KALE recipes with your next workout regiment.
It’s NATIONAL KALE day!
Believe it or not, #TeamSkimble is a small group of fitness enthusiasts and we LOVE to eat healthy. Ok, so you may find us behind our computers with a stack full of Android and Apple devices as we create amazing new workout features just for you, but we are human with legs and mouths — and kale is on our weekly grocery list! So how do we eat kale? And what are our favorite kale recipes and tips to keep us energized for WORK and WORKOUTS?
Take a look…
Kale Cubes (for Kale Smoothies) – No, we are not sharing a kale smoothie recipe! HOWEVER, we are sharing the funnest and fastest way to make kale smoothies when you are trying to get out the door. If you haven’t been converted into the green smoothie movement yet, here’s a tip that might get you moving! Fill your body with healthy fruits and vegetables by pre-making kale cubes! All you have to do is add it to your blender with a few other ingredients, and BAM! It’s really a great option for PRE or POST workout energy. Shout out to Lexie from Lexie’s Kitchen for showing us how to make kale cubes!
Burgers – This is for all you naysayers who think kale is boring. If you have a weight loss goal and you are challenging yourself with workouts like HIIT training, strength exercises, stretching, foam rolling, and low intensity moves, then you’ll need to make sure you have adequate protein and fiber to refuel and clear out! By simply adding finely chopped kale to your favorite burger recipe (veggie or not), you immediately up the protein and nutrients. Alexis, a Registered Dietitian from Hummusapian.com has it all laid out for you.
Breakfast Egg McMuffins – Forget the Wheaties, the NEW and forever thing is starting your day off with foods to keep you energized and satisfied to handle the most demanding part of your day. Upon waking or before a workout, you might not have time to cook (Ahem…sometimes we do – sometimes we don’t). A timesaver trick is to make these “ready-to-go” Kale Egg MacDaddy Muffins on the weekend or the night before from our friends at WakeTheWolves.com. Check out the full recipe here and a link to download their FREE book, “Kale All Day. Err Day.” You know that we LOVE how technology and health make our lives easier, right? This book is full of interactive step-by-step photos, and video all about KALE with tons more recipes than we can actually write about here!
Bonus! Try this “Basic No-Fat, No-Fuss, Colorful Kale” Recipe – One of Skimble’s co-founders, Gabe, grew up taste testing all sorts of ‘green’ recipes. Gabe’s mom, Johnna Albi, authored “Greens Glorious Greens!,” one of the earliest cookbooks that was dedicated to super-healthy, beautiful leafy greens. Kale was a staple in their home, and here’s one shorthand recipe that could be one of your go-to’s too. This one’s quick and easy, and creates sweetness through the simmering of carrots and corn!
Basic No-Fat, No-Fuss, Colorful Kale
Recipe Credit: “Greens Glorious Greens!” by Johnna Albi & Catherine Walthers
Ingredients
¾ Pound of kale or 1-2 bunches (about 6 cups, chopped)
2 Cups of water
3 Carrots, peeled and quartered lengthwise
1 ½ Cups of corn, preferably cut from cobs (if this isn’t handy, substitute organic canned corn)
Salt to taste
Steps
- Wash kale and strip leaves from stalk. Chop leaves into bite-size pieces.
- Bring water to boil in a large skillet that has a lid.
- Meanwhile, cut the quartered carrots into ½-inch pieces. Place carrots and corn in the boiling water, reduce heat, cover skillet, and simmer for 5 minutes.
- Add prepared kale to carrots and corn. Cover and cook for 4 minutes. Water should be bubbling rather vigorously but not boiling over.
- Sprinkle on salt to taste, stir to combine, and remove to a serving dish with a slotted spoon. Serve hot. Drink the “pot likker!”
Serves 3-4
Happy National Kale Day to all of you Workout Trainer fit-natics!
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