kale-stalks or just the leafy part?

[climbing]

Hey everyone. I'm new here and this is my first thread. I didn't start an intro thread because my story of how I came to be here was so insanely long and complicated (its been one long journey from SAD to where I am now). Maybe I will share it in bits and pieces over time. :)

Anyway though, I've been looking through the forums a bit and it seems there are some educated raw experts here. I was wondering something when it comes to kale. I've been reading a lot about it and how awesome it is so I have been eating it. But what I'm wondering is, is it beneficial to eat the stalks as well as the leafy part? Thus far I've just been pulling off the leafy part and throwing away the rest because I wasn't sure how much nutrition I can get from it and it looks rather tough.

But I don't want to waste any part of the kale if it contains nutrients. Anyone know? THANKS!

[zinny]

The stalks are very tough and I don't eat them either. I push them through the juicer and drink them.

[ReneeH]

Hi Climbing...UP!!!

So nice to see you posting on the forum!!! Here are the 2 types of Kale I use:

Lacinato Kale (some call Dinosaur Kale cuz it looks like a Dinosaur Skin):



Now, this Kale I do like to eat... Just roll it like a cigar and cut with a knife in tiny strips. It's good marinated with EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil), Red Bell Pepper, Button Mushrooms, Black Olives, and Pine Nuts! I usually take off the thick "spine"...

I also use this Kale in Smoothies (with the stalk) and Juice (with the stalk)...



Green Kale in another one:



This is the one that looks like a "flower" Kale. This one is GREAT to use for Kale Chips (use the search above--shaped like a yellow banana) or smoothies or juices. Actually, they are both good. But, I prefer the Dino Kale marinated. Basically, it's a personal preference. I also hate to throw anything away, so I don't. I compost the stalk if I don't use it. Try that!

Hope that helps!

[climbing]

Thanks! I never thought of juicing the stalk. I will try that later today and maybe add it into my apple/celery juice blend. Also I want to try the dinosaur kale, I've only ever tried the green. But it's SOOOOO good. I love to just take a piece raw, dip it in olive oil and sit there chewing it like a giraffe or something while watching television. lol your marinade sounds good, too, I shall try it.

[BlackKat]

Mmm Lacinato... That's my fave kale in salads by far. At first I thought it was quite bitter tasting but my taste buds have changed and it's quite tastey and pleasant. (I never even associated dino kale=looking like dino skin but I will always remember that now when I'm eating it. )

[climbing]

I always thought it was called that because it's a big leaf like a veggi-saurus would munch. lol

[appifanie]

i used to like regular kale, but i recently had dino kale and loved it so much, i can't stand regular kale anymore! sad

[climbing]

I juiced the stalks last night and they actually made quite a bit more green juice than I would have thought. It was yummy. :)

[streetsurfer]

I munch on the stalks like celery, when preparing the leaf for other things (my celery allergy substitute). I sometimes leave it in for kale chips More silicon in stalks/stems provide their rigidity. Si is good for cell strength and I think particularly for hair/skin/nails.

[climbing]

Awesome! That is exactly the sort of info I'm looking for. I've felt that I need more silicon *is there a difference between that and silica?* in my diet for awhile. I have a lot of damage from a long term autoimmune disorder, still a lot of healing ahead of me. :)

[zinny]

Cool, glad you liked them as juice. Pretty much whatever produce scraps I have go into the juicer.

It has been a *long time since I tried to eat kale stems though--I will give them a munch next time and see if perhaps I like them more now.

[cara4art]

I just put the WHOLE thing in when I do my smoothies, otherwise I cut the stalks out. That's one reason I've loved my Blend-tec ever since I got it - because it does a number on those stalks of all sorts. Stalks have good stuff in them, but we're not willing to chew these all day LOL to get at it.