Everyone knows that salad and leafy greens are healthy and wonderful for your diet. However, eating a salad every day can get boring, especially in the winter when there’s less produce available to liven it up. Here are a few fun ways to work in leafy greens.
Spinach and romaine leaves are probably the two easiest greens to find and to use. Spinach is a powerhouse of vitamins and minerals and works well on sandwiches, in cooked dishes, as a sauce, as a garnish, etc. Cabbage is another widely available vegetable which is horribly underrated. It’s crunchy raw and adds a great texture to salads, wraps, and sandwiches. Instead of a garden salad, try these delicious alternatives.
Spinach and Tomato Egg Scramble
Instead of pairing eggs with the traditional and fattening accompaniments bacon, sausage, pancakes, or hasbrowns, try a healthier egg scramble with some veggies. Simply toss some eggs into a mixing bowl and beat until smooth. For the healthiest scramble, use only egg whites or very few yolks. Mix in a small amount of milk, as well as salt and garlic to taste. Use plenty of fresh ground pepper to season this tasty dish. Once your egg mixture is ready, pour it into a greased skillet over medium heat. Add fresh spinach leaves and chopped tomatoes. Spinach actually becomes better for you as it cooks, unlike most vegetables. Scramble mixture together and once cooked, separate the dish into individual plates or bowls. Top with shredded parmesan cheese and a bit more black pepper. Serve hot for a delicious brunch.
Asian Lettuce Wraps
A popular Asian chain restaurant makes a delicious lettuce wrap that’s terribly popular but also less than nutritious. While egg rolls, spring rolls, and many appetizers or snack require a carbohydrate to hold them together, they’re not really necessary. Try making your own using a large romaine lettuce leaf or a large cabbage leaf. Using ground beef or soy crumbles, sautee in a pan your meat with some garlic, salt, ginger, and a dash or peanut oil. Add onions and carrots if you wish and cook until tender. Spoon the mixture into the center of an open leaf. Top with crushed peanuts and cilantro.
Curried Spinach –
If you’re the adventurous sort and don’t mind trying different cuisines, Indian food offers a great variety of ways to eat your veggies. Curried spinach can seem intimidating at first…it is basically a spiced puree of spinach, but it’s a delicious dish that’s super healthy and easy to make. It’s also incredibly easy to find a ready-to-cook varieties to try before taking on the homemade task yourself. Tasty Bite offers a preservative-free, ready-to-cook version that offers curried spinach with paneer cheese (a cheese made of milk and lemon). Simply heat up the sauce and pour over rice. The all natural sauce is a wonderful source of essential nutrients and aside from the green color, you’d never know you were eating spinach. Once you’re feeling adventurous you can try out a few ‘made-from-scratch’ spinach curry recipes.
Veggie and Cheese Sandwich –
Vegetarian sandwiches are not only for vegetarians. Pick your favorites among lettuce, spinach, cabbage, onions, tomatoes, and cucumbers. Or pile them all on and add a few slices of cheese. Brie, white cheddar, swiss, gouda, and muenster all stack well with veggies and have enough flavor to create a mouth-watering sandwich. Just make sure to pile your veggies higher than your cheese. For a really mouth watering sandwich, use a crusty, grainy bread layered with spinach, onions, tomatoes, brie, and gouda, topped with a spicy brown mustard. You may consider converting to a veggie lifestyle all together.
