Southern comfort food and vegetables may seem diametrically opposed. In spite of my best friend’s insistence to the contrary, the carbacious and starchy sweet potato should not, in fact, be counted as a vegetable in your diet (even if it is a root vegetable). But there is one staple of southern cuisine and barbecues and the like that is both healthy and craveable. Enter the collard green, the cruciferous vegetable that is not only a staple in stick-to-your-ribs cooking, but also good for your body.

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Collard greens are extremely nutrient-rich, contributing ample amounts of vitamins A, K, B-6 and C, calcium, iron, and magnesium.

The collard green belongs to the same family as kale, broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, and bok choy. But while the nutritional benefits of many of these vegetables are the same, the humble collard green takes the cake in terms of