Most people when given a choice would reach for almost anything else over vegetables, especially leafy greens. Chances are if you didn’t develop a taste for greens as a child, it’s not likely that you are eating them as an adult. In fact, only 6% of Americans eat the daily recommended servings for vegetables according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention health partner, Fruits & Veggies More Matters. Leafy greens don’t even make the list of the most consumed vegetables. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the top three vegetables consumed by Americans are potatoes, tomatoes, and onions. Luckily, if your intake of leafy greens comes up short, there are ways to add leafy greens to your diet.
If done correctly, eating your daily serving of vegetables doesn’t have to be so difficult, or disgusting. Which is good news considering leafy greens have many health-boosting, cancer-fighting benefits as they are packed with flavonoids, phytochemicals, calcium, magnesium, iron, fiber, folate, as well as vitamins A, C, and K. If you are looking for easy ways to add leafy greens to your diet, check out these helpful tips.
Add your pasta sauce– Adding some kale or spinach to your homemade pasta sauce is a great way to sneak in some vegetables. Depending on your other ingredients, you can easily hide the taste of greens with garlic and tomatoes.
Add to homemade pasta– If you make your own pasta be sure to add some veggies to the mix. Chances are you will not taste the vegetables over the pasta sauce, and even if you can taste it, the taste of greens can really compliment the meal. Give it a shot!
Adding to smoothies– There are many fruits that can hide the look and taste of greens when made into a smoothie. While you don’t have to make an entirely green smoothie, it’s easy to add some greens to your smoothie and between the fruit and the added honey you are not likely to taste the greens at all.
Make your own chips from kale– While it may not sound appetizing, if done correctly, kale chips can taste delicious. Probably the best alternative to unhealthy snacks, there are many recipes on the internet to help you make your own yummy green chips. Try it, you may find that you love it!
Add to soups– There’s nothing better than a hot bowl of soup, especially during the winter or when you are sick. The nice part is your soup can offer plenty of protein, but you can also use greens to help balance out the soup. Take a look on the internet. You are sure to find a recipe that makes your mouth water.
Add to pesto sauce– You can easily make green pesto that’s even greener, and with the help of spices such as garlic, parsley, and oregano you can easily hide the taste of the spinach that you added to the mix. There’s no better way to top your delicious hamburger or sandwich!
Make green wraps– If you are out of wraps, you can easily make your own wrap by using a piece of lettuce. Wrap up a hotdog, a hamburger, or simply make your own tacos by using this method. You would be surprised how delicious it tastes, especially with all of your favorite garnishments added!
