Often times when we look at diet we often look at what we can take away from our diets – sugar, refined carbs, food dyes, high caloric counts, artificial sweeteners, etc. Sometimes that can feel overwhelming! A great step you can take is looking instead at first what you can ADD to your diet. This month we have been focusing on ADDING more leafy greens to your diet.
Leafy greens are superfoods and typically the darker the leaf, the better for you. One of the easiest ways to add greens is to add a side salad to your lunch or dinner time meal. Organic is best if you can. You can add other fresh veggies on top as well to make it even healthier and often times even more palatable. Salad dressings are fine as well (remember we are focusing on adding to your diet, not necessarily subtracting!).
Adding a handful of greens to a smoothie is another easy way to add greens to your diet. Often times you do not even notice a big difference in taste (although it will definitely change color!). Spinach is a bit sweet and a great place to start. The freezer section of most grocery stores even carries frozen greens ready to throw in the blender!
Another idea is to cook your greens! Often times sautéing with a bit of olive oil and spices makes for a great side dish. You can also chop the greens up into small pieces and add to a casserole or soup.
The more leafy greens you eat the more you more find you like them! And your body will definitely thank you as well! The family of dark green leafy vegetables delivers many nutrients including vitamin A, vitamin C, antioxidants, fiber, folate, vitamin K, magnesium, calcium, iron, and potassium!
How can you add a few servings of leafy greens to your diet this week?
