Obama Green Lights Operation Kale

Four years ago, my friend Chef Jennifer Iserloh and I started National Kale Day. The mission is simple. Improve America’s health with more nutrient-dense plants. Kale is the shining star in our movement. Millions of people are eating kale and world production and consumption are at an all time high. This is outstanding for our health and our kale planet.

Why Kale? She represents all that is good in the plant kingdom, a glorious Queen of nutrient density. With only 33 calories per cup of raw kale, you get over 100% of the daily recommended value of vitamin K, A and C, along with iron, calcium, folate, fiber and protein, plus the many plant-based phytonutrients that protect our health.

Kale is also versatile in the kitchen. Don’t believe me? 50 Shades of Kale. It’s available year round, affordable, and easy to grow.

This year we have tons of ways for you to get involved.

Kale parties, big and small, happen around the world on Kale Day. Just hashtag #kaleday2016 to join the movement on facebook, instagram, pinterest, and twitter. Show us your kale! Need help getting the party going? Download this years free eCookbook. And, did we mention, we’re giving away $1,000? Join our Twitterchat at 9pm EST for more prizes and fun.

We’ll be reposting photos of your kale dishes and scenes from our favorite kale heroes, home cooks, farmers, moms, dads, kids, chefs, and (hopefully) the White House kale patch.

This year, we are honored and thrilled to have our military joining the kale party. To celebrate, every military commissary is serving up our favorite green. Operation Kale will is the largest ever mobilization of kale. Know someone in the military? Please spread the word to our kale heroes. They serve the country, let’s serve them kale.

I’ll be celebrating back in my home state of Indiana at Earlham College and Eskenazi Hospital. The wonderful folks at Eskenazi are handing out 4000 bunches of kale through Indianapolis Wednesday morning!

And, last but certainly not least, a big thank you to our sponsors this year. We have been supported every year by San Miguel Farms, great produce farmers who take to the streets handing out free kale in LA. This year they are joined by Simply 7 and Glory Foods, two companies offering an array of healthy choices. Please help thank our sponsors and look for their products in your local store.

During my annual kale mania I made a few memes and graphics… check them out and please share! Kale tastes even better with a side of laughter. Let’s have a wonderful celebration this year and thank you for your engagement and support.