I can’t emphasize enough that it is easier to be healthy than you think. You do not have to eat a “perfect” diet right away—start with baby steps. Begin by implementing vegetables in everything you can imagine. As your daily diet changes, your body changes and your happiness improves. This flavorful salad is one of my favorites, and a perfect example: It’s simple to make, a feast for the eyes, and full of phytonutrients that boost the immune system and fight inflammation.
— Samantha Hua, certified holistic health coach, Happy Food Health

Kale Salad

Ingredients
1 bunch kale (remove stems and slice leaves thinly)
1 small red cabbage, shredded
2 navel oranges or Clementines, peeled and segmented
1 large red bell pepper, cored, seeded and thinly sliced
¼ cup Dijon mustard
¼ cup orange juice (or juice from one orange)
¼ cup balsamic vinegar
½ tsp ground black pepper
¹/³ cup sunflower seeds or other nuts (optional)

Preparation
1. In a large bowl, combine kale, cabbage, orange segments, bell pepper and sunflower seeds.

2. In a small bowl, whisk together mustard, orange juice, vinegar and pepper. Pour over the kale mixture and toss to coat.

Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to two days.

Samantha Hua, a certified holistic health coach who helps people achieve health and find balance and happiness, has been involved in fitness and healthy eating since 1992. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biology and has studied under David Wolfe, Marion Nestle, Barry Sears and Deepak Chopra, among others. Hua works with individual and group clients in San Diego and also offers phone consultations to the rest of the U.S. and her international clients. For more information, call 619-876-2655 or visit HappyFoodHealth.com.