No matter your health or fitness goals, one thing remains true for everyone: organic greens (and dark leafy greens in particular) are a cornerstone of nutritional health. In fact, they may be one of the closest things we have on earth to a “miracle food!” Packed with iron, micronutrients, and antioxidants, organic greens like spinach and kale are one of the healthiest things you could incorporate into your diet.
This isn’t news to most of us – it’s pretty clear that an organic salad is much healthier than a burger or a huge pasta dish. But then how do you get these greens into your diet without feeling bored or deprived with a constant stream of salads and raw vegetables? We all know we should be eating more veggies and greens – but it’s often easier said than done!
The good news is that it actually can be easy and painless to sneak greens into your body, so you can enjoy the delicious meals you love while still gaining the benefits from this superfood!
Here are four of our favorite fun, tasty ways to channel our inner Popeye:
Green juice and smoothies
Topping our list of sneaky ways to eat your greens is not to eat them at all – but to drink them!
Toss a few handfuls of organic spinach or kale (or both!) into a blender with a frozen banana, blueberries, almond milk, and some cinnamon – the fruit masks the flavor of the greens, and you’re left with a delicious, tropical breakfast or snack that packs a nutritional punch.
Experiment with different fruits (mangoes, strawberries, pineapple, etc.) to find the flavor combination you love best.
Kale chips
If you’re someone who tends to reach for the bag of potato chips when you get home from work, kick that nutritionally-devoid habit and replace it with a much healthier one that still delivers on that crunchy, salty craving.
Simply tear up some organic kale or collard greens, toss in some salt, olive oil, and lemon juice, then bake at 300 degrees for 25-30 minutes on a baking sheet. These types of greens bake into a sturdy chip that’s wonderful paired with hummus for a protein-packed, nutrient-rich snack.
Green powders
While it’s important to consume green leafy vegetables in their whole form for maximum benefit, green powders can be a great supplement if you just don’t have time to shop for and prepare greens on a regular basis.
Green powders can include everything from powdered spinach and kale to other greens like alfalfa, wheatgrass, barley grass, and other superfoods. The benefit of these powders is that you get the nutrients from a variety of greens in one source, without having to find them all separately. We recommend tossing a scoop or two of a green powder into your morning smoothie for an energy and health boost.
For vegetarians (or anyone looking for a protein and micronutrient boost,) spirulina and chlorella are other amazing green powder supplements, sourced from algae, that offer Omega-3’s, iron, and amino acids.
Sautéed greens
While we often idealize the health benefits of raw salads, it can be more difficult to digest these valuable greens in their raw form. Sautéing greens and other vegetables help break them down, making it easy for your body to digest and assimilate their nutrients.
Sauté some organic kale, spinach, chard, or other greens with carrots, mushrooms, and broccoli in olive oil for an easy and healthy side dish or add in the protein of your choice to make the main course.
At Sworkit, we’re all about empowering you through fitness and nutrition to live your healthiest, most energized life. Just because we’re encouraging you to eat more greens doesn’t mean you have to snack less just make sure you snack right.
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