Well we can feel less guilty - cooking can improve the health value of some vegies and microwaving frozen may be better (sometimes). Check out what and when with these links:

Steamed or Raw Veggies and Fruits-To Cook or Not

http://www.realage.com/ct/eat-smart/food-and-nutrition/tip/8119

Fresh vs Frozen AND To Microwave or Not Microwave Fruits and Veggies
http://www.realage.com/NutritionCenter/articles.aspx?aid=10488

TO healthier all of us!!!!

By Northcountrymom on Monday, March 16, 2009 - 10:27 pm:

Kale is really cheap these days (less than $3 at Walmart near us for a gigantic bag). I just discovered that you can microwave it (basically steaming in the microwave. Put vinegar, olive oil, salt and pepper and some peppers in it and a little hot sauce and you are in tasty but healthy veggie land. I love that its a fresh veggie for less than the price of frozen too.

Steaming kale in microwave directions:
http://www.mealsforyou.com/cgi-bin/recipe?id.10185

By Enchens on Tuesday, March 17, 2009 - 01:02 am:

Linda, I've heard of kale and I've seen it, but I've never purchased it. What does it taste like? Is it something that my "I don't like eating my veggies" dh and children might like?

TIA

By Northcountrymom on Tuesday, March 17, 2009 - 11:43 pm:

Enchens,
Its a mild, large dark green leafy veggie like spinach or collard greens (overview of Kale-they call it the Queen of Greens- http://www.vegfamily.com/whole-family/kale.htm). Has more vitamns, minerals and health benefits ounce for ounce than any other vegetable.

Easier to get adults to love than kids but..............My teens liked it prepared kind of southern style - with bacon and a little sweet.

I cook it by eye -found a similar recipe to guarantee your outcome. This is a super healthy version but can substitute bacon (pork or turkey) for the ham. http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/southern_kale.html

Its one of the best vegetables for women if you are trying to increase YOUR veggie quotient, gives tons of iron, antioxidants and vitamins A and C and calcium. Helps with estrogen levels and that the short list.

If you want to try the Kale with the kids these Kid kale recipes might help (love these kid foodie sites by the way):

http://foodietots.com/tag/family-friendly/

http://kidscooking.about.com/od/sidedishes/r/crispykale.htm

http://www.greenearthinstitute.org/recipes/greens/kidfriendly_spinach_and_kale_turnovers_.html

http://customcom.typepad.com/gastrokid/2006/10/the_friday_fami.html

http://vegweb.com/index.php?topic=16634.0

http://www.mothering.com/articles/body_soul/bodywise/kale.html Kid recipes are toward the end of the Kale description.

This is more family friendly as a whole meal, but only if they like pork (can use kielbasa - turkey even instead)- also only if they don't fish out green anything. This is Disney's kid foodie site.

http://family.go.com/food/pkg-healthy-families/recipe-ew-504952-pork--white-bean---kale-soup-t/#

These are both spicy but good (we love spicy but if yours don't then these aren't for you):
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Spicy-Stir-Fried-Chicken-and-Greens-with-Peanuts-241891

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Skillet-Greens-with-Cumin-and-Tomatoes-241866

For other more user friendly kids veggies, my little guy loves things like broccolli especially prepared chinese style or just with butter, things that are stewed in tomatoes, peas(buttered of course), anything with a cheese sauce, sauteed carrots with orange juice, butter and brown sugar.

If frozen works for you there is a line of new veggies that are almost as good as fresh and focus on healthy vision, immunity etc. - basically healthy eating but in lightsauces and my kids and husband love them. When I shop next I'll post the name - ran out already - husband took to work for lunch.

Whatever works to increase quantity is my philosophy on the veggie front.

By Enchens on Thursday, March 19, 2009 - 01:25 pm:

Thank you, Linda. I'll have to give kale a try.

Oh, I meant to clarify. It's dh who doesn't really eat veggies. lol

The boys are just a bit suspicious of anything new until they've tried it. So far, they only dislike lima beans.