🎓4 Leafy Greens🌿 I Know Best (And Why I Eat 3 Regularly

Growing up, Bigmomma and Mommie often served collard, mustard, and turnip greens. Sometimes we had Swiss chard. Daddy rarely cooked, but he grew up in Louisiana where his father built the family's shotgun house and raised a thriving garden of greens beside its length. Fresh greens were simply part of life. Long before I understood vitamins or nutrition, I just knew that if my family ate greens, they had to be good for me.

🍃Spinach

Spinach is my leafy green of choice whenever I eat at Subway or order a side dish at a restaurant. I simply liked the taste.

Not only because of Popeye, I always knew spinach was good for me, but it wasn't until adulthood that I learned why. Spinach is especially rich in iron, magnesium, potassium, and folate. It also contains compounds called oxalates, which can reduce how much of certain minerals your body absorbs. Even so, spinach remains one of the most nutritious leafy greens you can eat.

🌱Kale

If there's one leafy green that's always in my freezer, it's kale.

 Because I'm constantly on the go, frozen kale is one of the foods I always keep in my freezer.  It's the main ingredient in my favorite smoothie made with banana, vanilla almond milk, turmeric, and flaxseed. Sometimes I even drink it before a speed walk because it tastes great, gives me lasting energy, and takes only minutes to prepare.

Nutritionally, kale is loaded with vitamin C, calcium, and antioxidants like beta-carotene. It also contains fewer oxalates than spinach, allowing your body to absorb more of its calcium.

🌿Traditional Greens

Collard greens, mustard greens, turnip greens, and Swiss chard were regular visitors to our dinner table growing up.

Back then, I never wondered whether they should be cooked slowly, sautéed, or steamed. I simply ate what was placed at our dinner table. Looking back, I'm grateful because these greens are nutritional powerhouses.

Like kale, they're rich in vitamin K and contain plant compounds that researchers have linked to heart health and may help support the body's natural defenses against certain diseases.

These days, I don't often have time to cook a large pot of greens, so when they are available, I simply add or substitute them into the same smoothie I make with kale.

🥗What About Iceberg Lettuce?

Iceberg lettuce sometimes gets a bad reputation, but it still has value.

It's about 96% water, making it a refreshing, hydrating choice. It also provides vitamin K, vitamin A, small amounts of potassium, and a little fiber.

That said, darker leafy greens generally contain higher amounts of vitamins, minerals, and beneficial plant compounds. Because of that, I usually choose spinach, kale, or traditional greens whenever I have the option.

✔️What They All Have in Common

No matter which leafy green you choose, you're making a healthy decision.

Most leafy greens:

Are excellent sources of vitamins A, C, and K.

Are naturally low in calories and carbohydrates.

Provide fiber that supports digestion.

Help support heart health and healthy blood pressure.

Contribute to strong bones and overall wellness.

✨My Takeaway

I've learned that eating healthier doesn't have to be complicated. I don't sit down to elaborate meals very often anymore, so I look for simple ways to get more nutrition into my day.

Sometimes that's a salad. Sometimes it's spinach on a sandwich. Most days, it's my favorite smoothie packed with kale and other greens.

"Whether you choose spinach, kale, collards, or another leafy green, finding one you enjoy is a simple way to add more nutrition to your day."