Today I’m shaking things up with a fun and fresh recipe for my delicious Zesty Collard Tacos! Unlike greasy fast food tacos, you can actually feel good about nourishing your body with this beauty food…without sacrificing flavor! Plus, if you’re like me, you’ll enjoy rolling up your sleeves and playing with your food as you assemble these bright and beautiful tacos :)

Collard Greens: Not Your Go-To Leafy Green

Kale, romaine and spinach are some of the more popular leafy greens that we choose to throw in our smoothies, salads and other healthy recipes. While those greens are incredibly powerful beauty foods, I believe it’s key to rotate your greens for optimum health! This recipe is the perfect chance to switch things up and give collards a try, if you haven’t already :)

Vitamins, Minerals, Antioxidants… Oh My!

The leaves of collard greens are packed with a variety of essential vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Bursting with this goodness, you can almost feel the plant’s strong, vibrant, living energy!

For instance, here are just a few highlights of the beauty benefits packed into these dark green leaves:

• Vitamin C aides in the production of collagen in our bodies, which is responsible for building strong joints, hair, skin and nails.
• Vitamin A is fantastic for your hair and skin. It’s a vitamin required for our bodies to produce sebum, which keeps hair moisturized and is necessary for the growth of body tissue.
• Chlorophyll and alkalizing magnesium help to minimize dark under eye circles.
• Lipoic acid, an antioxidant that regenerates vitamin C, reduces discoloration and brightens skin.
• Vitamin K is crucial for bone health and calcium absorption. (Side note: Just one serving of collards contains a whopping 8 times the amount of your daily Vitamin K requirement!!)

Not only are collard greens absolutely delicious and brimming with health benefits – they’re also affordable AND durable. That’s why they are the perfect substitute for holding together these zesty tacos in place of a wrap made of refined carbohydrates.

Taste the Plant Rainbow

What I love about this Zesty Collard Tacos recipe is that invites some of my very favorite superfoods to play together at the fiesta! Just look at how vibrant and colorful the tacos are, thanks to the bright yellow mango and red bell pepper. Zesty lime and zingy cilantro tie the flavors together for a tastebud party that is also sure to uplift your spirits!

While you’re enjoying the flavors of this recipe, your body will also thank you. Just take a look at the benefits each ingredient brings to the table:

• Juicy mango is an amazing source of beta carotene, which is a natural antioxidant used by the body to make vitamin A.
• Red bell pepper are packed with vitamin B6 and folate. In combination, these two are important in preventing anemia.
• Cilantro is a super detoxifying herb – it binds to toxic heavy metals in the body and helps your body to eliminate them.
• Jalapeño may help to boost your metabolism, thanks to a compound in the pepper called capsaicin.
• Lime is loaded with vitamin C and enzymes, and has powerful cleansing properties for liver support.

So next time you’re bringing a dish to a social gathering, give these Zesty Collard Tacos a try! If anything, they’re a great excuse to play with your food, so they’re sure to be a hit ;)

Zesty Collard Tacos Recipe

Happy cooking, Beauties!

Lots of love,