It's not sexy. Heck, it's not even cute. Okay, aesthetically it looks cute in a garden but it'll give you enough gas to get to Pittsburgh (which btw is not always a bad thing). Cabbage is not first date fare. When done right, though, it's terrifically tasty. And really, really good for you. Really. Cabbage may very well be your dream comfort food.

If you rarely put cabbage in your shopping cart, maybe mull over the health benefits you're missing out on. Rich with vitamin K and anthocyanins that boost cognitive function, cabbage has been linked to deeper defence against dementia and Alzheimer's. Anthocyanins are flavonoids that give cabbage it's colour, so grab a dark red one. Plus, it'll make you easier on the eyes. Cabbage has tons of sulphur which helps your body make keratin, the protein building blocks in your hair, skin and nails. It's also high in potassium which will lower your blood pressure and like all cruciferous veggies in the cabbage family (brussels sprouts, broccoli, bok choy, cauliflower and kale), it's a proven cancer fighter. Loaded with an impressive list of antioxidants, cabbage is also great for heart health, eyesight, your immune function and mood disorders. And at only 33 calories a cup with plenty of fibre, it's your next diet BFF. Breastfeeding women are even advised to place cabbage leaves on their breasts to help ease engorgement. Fact.

Prepared right, it's also delicious, so the leafy ball is worth celebrating. How fortuitous that today is National Cabbage Day. Don't worry, you don't have to go door to door singing cabbage carols. But if you do, sweet Jesus, please Instagram it and tag us. To mark today's festivities though, you may want to try some of the following recipes for dinner:

Our very own Steven Sabados swears by this comfort food classic.

Fit for a crowd and just as tasty the next day — leave it to the Queen of Italian Cuisine to bring us a cold weather comfort food favourite.

This side is a make-ahead dish that uses cabbage instead of brussels sprouts to save you from all of that tedious brussels sprouts prep.

If you still hate cabbage after trying these recipes you can blame the french, and by extension, me I guess. The explorer Jacques Cartier brought the cabbage to the Americas in 1534. Cabbage comes from the french word caboche which, used informally, means head. But go easy on the French, their contribution to the culinary arts is tough to beat. Besides, the Irish wouldn't have been too far behind with cabbage in any case (again, you can blame me, or my other genetic half). Not to mention the Russians, Ukrainians, Finns, Poles and Koreans. It's a robust veggie with a lot of global fans going back thousands of years. The cabbage roll is almost culturally universal.

No matter your relationship with cabbage, Happy National Cabbage Day! May all your cabbages, decorative or delicious, be red! Or green!

And if you're miffed that everything has a day now, as if you don't have enough to manage with the other holidays, you're right. There is National Sweater Day, Read in the Bathtub Day, Umbrella Day, Hippo Day, Wave At Your Neighbor With All Your Fingers Day, International Dog Treat Appreciation Day. Tomorrow is Drink Wine Day. Cheers. And those are just this month.

Oh, today is also Random Acts of Kindness day. So do your body a kindness and get some cabbage in it.