- Kale is considered one of the most nutrient-rich foods a person can eat. However, most of us can’t stand the taste.
- I like Bilal’s EasyKale Organic Kale Powder because it takes the off-putting flavor and rough texture out of the equation while keeping the important nutrients.
- Though it’s on the expensive side ($14.99), each bottle is packed with the equivalent of 60 cups of kale, and the company offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
I have a tolerate-hate relationship with kale. As an adult, I know that I should probably eat kale because it’s good for me. On the other hand, there are hundreds of food items I’d rather eat instead of kale. And even though I consider myself to be a talented home chef, I’ve had the hardest time making kale palatable. My kids are even pickier. If they see a leafy green anywhere near their food, they won’t touch it.
Fortunately, like a soldier sneaking into the enemy’s camp, EasyKale sneaks the healthy food into your child’s diet. Developed by CEO and co-founder Bilal Qizilbash, the powder has no noticeable impact on the flavor of dishes and drinks while delivering all of the antioxidant properties you would get from raw kale. Read on to learn more about my experiences with this flavorless “seasoning.”
Nutritional Facts
Each bottle of Bilal's EasyKale has the equivalent of 60 cups of kale in it. The suggested serving size is one tablespoon, and there are 15 servings in each bottle. Each serving is made from four cups of kale leaves and offers the following nutritional content:
- Calories: 15
- Calcium: 8% daily value (DV)
- Vitamin A: 6% DV
- Vitamin C: 8% DV
- Vitamin K: 120% DV
- Niacin: 6% DV
You can get the full nutritional facts by visiting the EasyKale website.
How to use EasyKale
I added the EasyKale to just about everything I could. After workouts, I like to make myself a protein shake - usually with some protein powder, a banana, and milk or water. I just tossed a tablespoon of the powder in with the rest of the ingredients before blending. There was no difference in the taste, but it did produce a somewhat unpleasant green color. Of course, no one drinks a protein shake for the looks.
I also tried EasyKale in soups, pasta sauces, curries, and even in the refried beans my family likes in their quesadillas. My only failed experiment with it was trying to add the powder to scrambled eggs - my attempt at "green eggs." I mixed a teaspoon in with three eggs. It was a near disaster. The powder didn't mix well with the eggs and formed a weird grainy crust.
What makes EasyKale stand out
I don't pretend to be a nutritionist so to find out if EasyKale was the real deal, I reached out to Mandi Knowles, a registered dietitian with more than 15 years of experience. Today, she mainly focuses on helping women lose weight through empowerment and positivity.
Mandi has experience using Bilal's EasyKale in her home to sneak a healthy food into her kids' meals, and she recommends it to her clients who simply can't stand eating kale in its other forms. In addition to being a good source of vitamins A, C, and K, Mandi appreciates that the kale powder is packed with antioxidants and flavonoids, including kaempferol and quercetin, which she says help fight free radicals and reduce the risks of cancer and other diseases.
But do you get the same benefits from powdered kale as you would from the fresh, raw variety? "Through Bilal's process," Mandy said, "the kale retains most of the vitamins and antioxidants. The only notable losses are some of the protein and fiber." Despite losing most of the roughage, each serving of EasyKale still has a gram of fiber and protein.
I appreciated that EasyKale only has one ingredient: kale. The company didn't try to add any ingredients to try to appeal to a broader crowd. It's just a basic powder that just about anyone can enjoy, regardless of their dietary restrictions and allergies.
While I was testing the powder, EasyKale sent me two dozen chocolate chip cookies. Each 3-inch-diameter cookie contained the equivalent of 8 cups of kale. I gave them to my sons for dessert, and they couldn't tell there was kale in them. In fact, on subsequent nights, they asked for more of the cookies for dessert. My hope is the company expands its offerings to include kale-infused goods like these cookies.
Cons to consider
Most powdered supplements come with a handy measuring spoon. Unfortunately, this was not the case with EasyKale. Since the serving size is a tablespoon, a scoop that size would have been nice to have. Of course, most of us already have a tablespoon in our kitchen, and by not including a scoop, the company is keeping extra plastic out of landfills.
The bottom line
If you already love the taste of kale leaves and incorporate them into your diet, then you can probably pass on Bilal's EasyKale. However, if you are like me and can't stand kale, this is the easiest way to fit the nutrients and antioxidants into your diet without compromising your need for tasty food. EasyKale is easy to work into meals and snacks to give you a little healthy boost each day that could potentially keep the oncologists away.
Pros: Flavorless, mixes well into a variety of dishes and snacks, retains most of the nutrients of leaf kale
Cons: Less fiber and protein than leaf kale, doesn't come with a scoop, expensive