It may not be easy being green, but it can be easy to encourage your family to eat them. Here’s some tips for getting your family to get some of their nutrition for the day the green way:
Why eat green vegetables?
Their deep dark color hides a bunch of vitamins and minerals — vitamins K and folate, along with phytonutrients, make these plant foods nutritional powerhouses. Phytonutrients specific to green vegetables have been shown to fight against various cancers, support eye, heart, and skin health, and fight off infections – such as lutein. Did you know that lutein can also be found in the human eye?
How should I eat them? How can I prepare them?
- Green leafy vegetables can be bitter! To reduce bitterness, try steaming them with a pinch of salt or lemon juice.
- Encourage snacking on greens by mixing in raw broccoli or snap peas with some orange carrots, red pepper strips or cherry tomatoes.
- Roast kale or spinach as chips. Click here for a recipe!
- Blend up in any smoothie, to taste. Here’s a great recipe that you can add greens to, according to taste.
- Briefly steam spinach, Swiss chard, broccoli, or other greens and mix them into pasta dishes (macaroni, cheese, and greens, anyone?) You can even add them to tomato sauce!
- Though green vegetables are naturally high in fiber and low calorie, keep in mind how they are prepared. Adding sauces or frying them can quickly increase their calorie, fat, and sodium content.
My favorite green vegetable is broccoli, or Brussels sprouts! I like them roasted with balsamic vinegar. What are your favorite green vegetables?
