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Kale Salad with Roasted Chickpeas (And I’m a RD!)

RD RD RD RD RD!

Trust a RD

These are letters and a most important credential I’ve been dying to have behind my name for years now! And as of yesterday, I am officially a Registered Dietitian, after passing the national board exam. I’ve been working 3.5 years for this, including pre-reqs before graduate school, so it was a big day of celebration for me! Apologies if the blog has been slacking lately…studying has been why!

This is what you do after you pass the exam..during the lunch hour..chips, salsa, tacos and margs = celebration at its finest.

marg this Post!

I know some of my readers are future dietitians and #rd2be, so I was planning on doing a separate post next week about how I studied for the exam, materials, time, etc. Would that be helpful or interesting for you guys? I may not be the perfect example, but I got through it!

I’ve also held back on some of the more sciency, nutrition posts I want to share because I wanted to wait until I had the proper credentials. Sooo, I think those are some things to look forward to!

I also have a super easy (but flavorful) salad recipe for you guys because a) it will make you feel good, b) It’s superbowl weekend and you’ll probably have plenty of less-healthier recipes around you and c) It’s good for you and will make you feel good (I am stressing this part!). Sharing it on Foodie Friday!

kale salad

roasted chickpeas

I really like roasted chickpeas. They are stellar and delicious and an easy, portable protein-filled snack. Plus, they’re not mushy like regular beans! I figured out the perfect seasoning, which included some parmesan cheese, italian seasoning, thyme, sea salt and garlic powder. Then, bake, and when you’re done, revel in your accomplishments. Try not to eat too many.

The chickpeas are the star of this show. They bring a little extra crunch to the party, as well as extra protein, fiber, B-vitamins, calcium and iron. Pro tip: the best part is when you get to the bottom of the salad, since the little guys hide under the kale. Then it’s the true party.

easy kale salad

Ingredients

 

  • • 1 bunch kale, washed and rinsed
  • • 2 tbsp olive oil, to massage kale
  • • 1 can chickpeas, rinsed
  • • ½ cup edamame
  • • Tahini sauce, optional*
  • For the chickpea seasoning:
  • • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • • 1 tbsp parmesan cheese, omit if vegan
  • • ½ tbsp. Italian seasoning
  • • ½ tbsp. thyme
  • • 1 tsp sea salt
  • • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • *To make sauce, combine 2 tbsp tahini, 2 tbsp water, 3 tbsp lemon juice, 1 small garlic clove and ¼ tsp garlic salt
 
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 400.
  2. Mix seasonings in bowl. Grease a baking sheet, lay out washed chickpeas and spread seasoning mix over it. Roast them for 25-30 minutes.
  3. Prepare your tahini sauce and set aside in the refrigerator until ready.
  4. While chickpeas are roasting, wash kale and massage it in a large bowl with olive oil and sea salt. Add in edamame.
  5. Add roasted chickpeas as toppings and sprinkle your tahini sauce as dressing.
  6. *Note: I added dressing each time I had the salad, rather than adding it all at once and having the salad get soggy in the fridge.

I topped my leftovers with goat cheese, carrots, cauliflower and broccoli, but the salad is really a vehicle for any sort of topping (vegetarian or not)!

kale salad leftovers

It’ll be quite an eventful weekend here in Charlotte with the Carolina Panthers playing in the Superbowl. I’m running a four miler that morning through downtown Charlotte and I’m sure the city will be electric. What are your Superbowl plans?

[Tweet “Who are you rooting for in the #superbowl? #keeppounding #panthers”]

 

Have a good one, friends!

Sarah Schlichter is a Registered Dietitian with a Master’s in Public Health Nutrition. She specializes in sports nutrition and intuitive eating, and recipe development. She also co-hosts the podcast, Nail Your Nutrition.
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  3. Congrats on the certification!! This salad sounds so yummy! I love adding crunch to my salad. Those chickpeas sound amazing 🙂

    Reply

  4. NOW THIS IS AWESOME NEWS!!! I didn’t have a doubt there would be another outcome, but I know you must feel so relieved! I hope to get together soon to hear about it.

    Reply

  5. Love any kind of kale salad! This looks delicious- thanks for sharing and linking up 🙂 And congratulations- that is so exciting!!!

    Reply

  9. Congratulations Sarah!!What a wonderful accomplishment. All your hard work has paid off. You make us all proud. Can’t wait to see all the wonderful adventures ahead of you. Good to have a food expert in the family. Really have enjoyed all the simplified recipes and practical suggestions. Here’s to an excited future. Love, Kay and Tim Collare

    Reply

  13. CONGRATS! That’s so exciting!!! It’s the best feeling when your hard work pays off. I’m sure I’ll watch the game Sunday, but I don’t really have a preference over who wins, I just hope the game is exciting to watch. Also, sounds like a blast to run around the city before the game!

    Reply

  15. Congratulations Sarah!! A long time and a LOT of hard work finally gets its fruition. You make sure you continue to congratulate yourself all throughout the weekend, mmk? (I support more margaritas)

    And what a perfect recipe post for an official RD ;). I love edamame in salads. Always need a little crunch.

    Reply

  17. Congratulations Sarah on becoming an RD! So much hard work and all that chemistry (never my favorite class!) Looks like you celebrated with yummy food and drink. Keep on blogging,, lots of great info.

    Reply

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