Scrumptious Spinach

Written by Deanna Teter
Part of National Nutrition Month 2014

Spinach is a veggie many people do not like because of the rep that comes with it; people do not think it tastes good. But, if you are not a fan of how it tastes by itself, it can taste great when you add it to many dishes. It can be added to sandwiches or wraps, omelets, in a dip, in a dish as an appetizer or even as a side dish. Not only does it taste great in recipes but spinach has many benefits and can be good for the body. It has lots of vitamins and minerals that make it a good vegetable to add to your grocery list. Spinach can help maintain bone health, protect eyesight, fight infections, and help keep skin healthy. Now that you know a little more about spinach here is a simple recipe you can try to add spinach to any meal.

Quick and Easy Sauteed Spinach

Image by Deanna Teter

Ingredients                 

1 Tbsp Olive Oil

1(10 ounce) bag spinach leaves

1 ½ tsp garlic salt

¼ cup grated parmesan cheese

Directions

1. Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat then add spinach and cover.

2. Cook for 5 minutes then stir in garlic salt and cover for another 5 minutes.

3. Remove from heat and sprinkle with parmesan cheese to serve.

If you are still not convinced on how spinach can taste great try some of these simple steps to incorporate spinach into your everyday meals:

·         Add spinach to a smoothie

·         Sprinkle spinach on any pasta dish

·         Eat a salad with spinach

·         Add spinach to your pizza

·         Toss spinach into soup

What will you do with spinach?

References

Basic report: 11457, spinach, raw.(n.d.) Retrieved from http://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/foods/show/3214 

Quick and easy sautéed spinach (n.d.). Retrieved from  http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Quick-and-Easy

Sauteed-Spinach/Detail.aspx?evt19=1

Spinach Health Benefits. (2014, February 20). Retrieved from http://www.newhealthguide.org/Spinach

Health-Benefits.html

What are the health benefits of spinach? (2014, February 2). Retrieved from

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/270609.php

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A Spin on Spinach

Written by Maureen Pryatel
Part of National Nutrition Month 2014

What words come to mind when you hear the word "spinach?"  Let me guess:  did the words gross, yuck, and blah come to mind?  Well, clear your mind of those negative connotations about spinach because this superfood is about to become your favorite vegetable!

Image by Maureen Pryatel

You might ask, well why should I eat spinach, anyway?  Spinach is a great source of vitamin K, which helps with the mineralization of bones in our bodies.  In addition to vitamin K, a serving of spinach contains a substantial amount of vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin C, iron, folate, and magnesium, just to name a few. Spinach has many health benefits, and there is a way to eat spinach that makes it taste good.

A great way to incorporate spinach into your meals is to make it a hidden ingredient, and make it seem like you are not even eating it.  Spinach can be blended into smoothies, which gives them a unique green color but tastes just the same.  It can also be hidden in common dishes such as omelets, or quiche.  Hide spinach at the bottom of your salad and pile all of your other ingredients on top.  You might even forget the spinach is there!

There is no need to compromise taste when it comes to eating healthy; you just have to be creative and find ways that work for you.  So give it a try and add some spinach to your meals--you won't regret taking a spin on spinach!

References

The World's Healthiest Foods.  (2014).  Retrieved from:  http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=43

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