Why Grownups Eat Spinach

 

I don't know about anyone else but I hated spinach when I was a kid. I mean really HATED it. It may have had something to do with my mother (God bless her) believing that vegetables should be boiled in water until you could eat them with a straw but, whatever the reason, I would rather have just gone hungry than eat it. I'm not sure when that began to change. It may have been the spinach in the omelets that I used to have at IHOP. Or when I discovered (probably because I was served it at someone's home) that it was actually pretty tasty raw in a salad. Or floating around in an otherwise very appealing bowl of soup. Whenever it happened, it is rare that a week goes by any more that I do not polish off a bag of it.

It turns out that is a good thing. I don't believe in the word "superfood". But if I did, then spinach would be on the list. Spinach contains vitamins and antioxidants that protect from chronic diseases and promote brain, cardiovascular and eye health. And you can easily add spinach to your meals to maximize those benefits. 

Here are some of the benefits to revisiting your relationship with spinach.

- It's packed with a wide range of important nutrients.
- High in free-radical busting anti-oxidants.
- Supports brain health as we age.
- Helps to manage healthy blood pressure.
- Promotes eye health.

If you have not been a fan, how do you ease into eating more spinach? Happily it could not be easier because, basically, you can add spinach to nearly any dish. Incorporate a handful of spinach into your meals as a bed for whatever else you're eating to add a few spinach leaves with each bite. For a quick and easy side dish, toss spinach with a simple vinaigrette made by whisking together extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, and dried Italian herb seasoning. Saute spinach in extra virgin olive oil with sweet red bell peppers and crushed red pepper, or steam and toss the greens with jarred olive tapenade. Add it to soups, stews and egg dishes.

Read more here.

One of the great things about getting older is you can stop hating the foods that you hated when you were 13!