Understanding leafy greens isn’t easy. They come in all kinds of shades, shapes, textures, and flavors. Which is why you might struggle to include them in your diet. Sound like you? You’re in the right place.
Eating your greens is worth it! Because they’re nutritional powerhouses, they may protect you from various diseases and health complications. This blog post DOESN’T list out a bazillion benefits and green-eating strategies – it's just a simple guide to getting to know your greens and how to cook with them. One more note — don’t forget eating organically grown greens is always the best choice.
Kale
Kale is noted as one of the most nutritious vegetables on Earth due to its great deal of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. It’s high in fiber and water, which promotes a healthy digestive tract. Kale is super versatile and can be enjoyed raw, sautéed, steamed, boiled, baked, juiced, or blended. Check out the recipes we’ve included below!
Microgreens
Microgreens are what they sound like — small and green. Nonetheless, they have a mighty impact on our bodies. Microgreens are immature greens of vegetables and herbs and usually appear as a garnish for meals for added texture, flavor, or a pop of color. Enjoy them raw or blended up into a smoothie for extra nutrition!
Collard Greens
Collard greens are slightly bitter in taste and have larger leaves than other leafy greens. They contain a high amount of Vitamin A and C, which both strengthen the immune system. To eat them, we recommend removing their tough stem and center rib. While collard greens can be enjoyed raw, most people prefer to cook them. Grab your greens and give these recipes a go!
Swiss Chard
Swiss chard is a natural powerhouse and a great source of vitamins A, K, C, and magnesium. They’re part of the beet family and have some of the same health benefits, including promoting heart health. Swiss chard can be enjoyed raw in a salad or sandwich or tossed into a soup or casserole.
Spinach
Spinach is one of the more popular leafy greens and can be used in several variations — both savory and sweet. If you want to have glowing skin, build your immune system, keep your blood sugar low and have strong bones, don’t skip out on this superfood!
We hope you enjoy some (if not all) of these onolicious recipes. Don’t forget to grab some leafy greens on your next Down to Earth shopping trip and tag us in your green recipes on Instagram @downtoearthhi. We can’t wait to see what you come up with!