Greens, Greens, Get Your Greens!

Do you get your daily dose of greens? You know what I am talking about, those beautiful green vegetables! The ones that are chock full of vitamins, antioxidants, phytonutrients and more?

Many adults do not get their daily dose of green veggies, let alone their recommended dose of vegetables for the day.

Let’s talk greens.

Kale – is a very popular green, some deem it as the world’s healthiest vegetable. It is said that if you like spinach, then you will like kale. This leafy green comes in several varieties and it is easily grown in home gardens.

Arugula – is in the same family has kale, perhaps they are siblings. Just like kale, arugula is known for housing large amounts of vitamins such as A, C and K as well as other nutrients your body needs.

Collard Greens – is a leafy green that is full of fiber, so it will help you digest the other foods that you eat. Collard green leaves are quick thick and have a slight bitter taste.

Beet Greens – are just as important as the root vegetable itself. Beet greens are famously known because of the tryptophan that they contain. Tryptophan naturally helps with sleep cycles.

Spinach – leads the pack when it comes to nutrient dense leafy greens. You can find more than 20 nutrients in just one leaf of spinach. Just as the nutrient list of spinach is long, so is the list of it’s benefits. If there is a green that you want to include in your diet, spinach is typically easy to incorporate and packs a punch with nutrients.

Dandelion – is a green that is full of calcium, vitamin A, along with many other vitamins. Did your great grandma tell you that dandelion greens were good for you? Yep, she was not kidding. While the dandelion greens may give a bitter taste, you can always pair it with a sweet banana in your smoothie to axe that bitterness.

Parsley – is more than a common table side garnish. Parsley is a great source of folic acid as well as vitamin B. This heart healthy herb, is a green that can be found year round in most grocery stores.

Turnip Greens – might be originally known for it’s bitter taste, however it should be known for the amount of calcium it brings to the table.

Chard – many people use this leafy green in Mediterranean style cooking. This vivacious vegetable comes in a variety of colors: white, yellow, red. Chard is rich in vitamins A, K and C along with many others.

Wondering how to get more greens in your diet?

• Hilary’s Products – many of their amazingly delicious products are made with those beautiful, tasty, good-for-you greens.

• Green Smoothies – this is often the most popular and easy way to incorporate more greens into your daily routine.
• Steam Your Greens – steaming greens seems to be one of the least destructive ways to cook your greens.
• Green Juice – juicing greens is another way to source your daily dose of greens. You can juice greens at home with a juice and many stores now offer freshly juiced green drinks.
• Toss It In – get in the habit of having fresh greens in your fridge so that you can toss it into whatever you are making. You can easily toss a handful of greens into pasta dishes, casseroles, soups and on top of pizzas.

Challenge time: take a few moments to think about greens. What greens have you tried? What greens would you like to try? Make a goal to incorporate one new green into your meal plan for next week.

 

 

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