Leafy Greens: More than Just Salad
Written by Lisa Grentz, MS, RDN, CD
Despite leafy greens being versatile vegetables, many people struggle with incorporating them regularly into the diet. For new eaters, an easy way to add greens is by blending them into smoothies, tomato sauce, or soup broth.
Additional suggestions for adding more greens into the diet include:
· Blend into pasta sauce, pizza sauce, or pesto
· Use as a pizza topping
· Stuffed into a sandwich, wrap, or burger
· Added to curries
· Added to casseroles and stir fries
· Added to omelets or egg scrambles
· Chopped and added to pasta dishes
· Roast, sauté, or steam them for a side dish
· Add greens to a healthy bowl that includes lean protein and a whole grain
For St. Patrick’s Day, we wanted to share a fun shamrock shake recipe made with spinach. Enjoy!
Shamrock Shake
(makes one large shake or 2-3 smaller ones)
1 cup milk of choice (suggest whole milk, heavy cream, or full fat canned coconut milk for a calorie boost)
¼ avocado, pitted and skin removed; can substitute with banana
2 cups (about 2 good handfuls) of fresh baby spinach
¼+ tsp peppermint extract* (taste as you go and add more as desired); can substitute a good handful of fresh mint
2 Medjool dates, pits removed
½ - 1 Tbsp maple syrup (depending on your desired sweetness level)
ice as needed to reach desired consistency
Add all ingredients to the blender in the order listed. Blend until smooth. Taste and adjust sweetness and peppermint as needed. Add ice as desired. Blend. Enjoy!
Do you want to test out some new recipes with your growing eater before committing to our cookbook?
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