MIDDLEBURY — When Lisa Bernardin, Vermont Brain Bee Coordinator, learned that National Kale Day was Oct. 7, she decided to learn more about this day celebrating this highly nutritious leafy green vegetable.
A yearly event (first Wednesday in October), National Kale Day was co-founded by “50 Shades of Kale” authors Drew Ramsey and Jennifer Iserof.
Healthy eating being one of the “healthy brain habits,” Bernardin joined the effort to promote getting more kale in everyone’s diet. She said she as acted, in a very informal way, as the Vermont National Kale Day representative, contacting several food coops throughout the state to spread the word.
Locally, Middlebury Natural Food Coop has jumped at this opportunity to help get this “superfood” out to everyone by celebrating Kale Day. The Middlebury store will be hosting demonstrations and offering free samples, recipes and nutritional information on Wednesday.
Harriet Milligan, a member of the Middlebury Union High School Brain Science Club, will be volunteering with Bernardin at MNFC between 3:30 and 5:30 p.m., sharing their knowledge about the benefits of adding kale to one’s diet.
Bernardin also reports that the Addison Central Supervisory Union school district has also jumped on the bandwagon and has requested all schools participate in this day by offering kale at their lunch meals. Mary Hogan Elementary School is offering Kale Caesar Salad and Kale Chocolate Chip Cookies on Oct. 7.
“We, the wellness leaders of ACSU, are encouraging staff and students of ACSU to celebrate the day by incorporating kale into your meals,” the ACSU leaders said in an email.
More information is at nationalkaleday.org.