10 ways to eat more greens that are not salad
We've all heard it: greens are important! Greens are good for you! There is absolutely no denying the health benefits of our greens and how essential they are in a healthy diet but we all wonder what to do with them besides putting them in a salad. That's what I'm here for today. I'm going to show you ways to use greens so that you can get these miracle foods in on a consistent basis.
It's important to first remember that not all greens are leafy. Leafy or not, it's fair game. So in addition to the kale and spinach that you hopefully have stocked in the fridge, here are some examples of other greens to not neglect either:
•Cucumbers
•Zucchini
•Cilantro
•Avocado
•Kiwi
•Cilantro
•Spirulina
•Wheatgrass
•Seaweed
1. Make a green smoothie. I'll admit that my first green smoothies were basically salads in beverage form. Not exactly what I had in mind. There's a trick to them. Green smoothie literally means you want it to be green. It does not have to be all greens! It can still be the fruity smooth goodness you're looking for. I like to use a base of frozen mango and banana with coconut water and a little bit of lime juice as my liquid, just like I do for all my smoothies. Then you add your greens. Kale and spinach are popular choices. I personally recommend spinach for easier blending. I also like to use spirulina or wheatgrass powder in my green smoothies. You don't have to use enough to taste it but if you so choose to use enough to be able to taste it, that's cool too. Smoothies are not rocket science.
2. Green salad dressings. I'm entering salad territory here but only to tackle salad dressings, not salads. It's not unhealthy to use salad dressing because healthy fats are in fact necessary for good health and the dressings can provide that. I only use homemade salad dressings and my usual dressing formula is 1 part oil to 1 part vinegar. However, if I want to sneak in some extra greens, sometimes I'll mix a little bit of avocado into the dressing.
3. Avocado cheesecake. What? Did somebody say avocado cheesecake? Yes, somebody did. Simply substitute avocado for half of the cream cheese the recipe calls for, using a ratio of 1 avocado per 8oz of cream cheese. I personally don't do this because I didn't really like it when I did it but my family and friends did so while I may not be a fan, majority wins so I think it's a really great suggestion.
4. What's better than a green juice? You don't need a juicer to do this. A blender is fair game. Unlike making smoothies, the base should be very watery. Citrus fruits, cucumbers, and watermelon are all wonderful bases for juicing with a blender. Banana, mango, and avocado should be avoided when juicing because these will thicken the juice and that's not what we want. Whichever watery base you juice with, cover it with coconut water, water, or lemon or lime juice and then add your greens. Just like in smoothies, spinach, spirulina, and wheatgrass are all great to include in your green juices.
5. Kale chips. Chips are a weakness for a lot of us. While I as a health conscious foodie whole heartedly approve of potato chips that only use potatoes, some sort of healthy oil, and salt (as opposed to artificial flavors, preservatives, and other additives that our bodies regard as trash), chips can also be a good way to get your greens in if you don't mind doing a little bit of cooking. You just rip kale apart into small pieces and put them on a cookie sheet. Pour a small amount of olive oil onto them and add salt to taste. Bake for 10-15 minutes at 350°F (177°C). And that's all you have to do! They taste like regular chips so the picky eaters in your life can enjoy them too.
6. Zoodles are oodles of fun. You have probably seen a tool called a spiralizer on the market. What it does is it turns vegetables into noodles. Cucumbers and zucchini are very good spiralized. They can be used in any way traditional wheat pasta would be used but it's an innovative way to take in the goodness of fresh veggies.
7. Lettuce wrap your burger. Whether you're gluten free, cutting back on processed foods, testing the potential of a low carb diet, or simply trying to get more greens in, lettuce wrapping your burgers is a great way to healthify your burgers at this summer's cookouts. It can get messy if you don't know how to do it. I am probably not the best person to explain the procedure because I haven't mastered it yet either but I'm working on it.
8. Seaweed chips. Seaweed is like all seafood: you either love it or hate it! I don't eat what most people think of when they think of seafood and I don't miss it. Before going vegan, I absolutely hated seafood and avoided even being near it. Seaweed is the exception. Seaweed may be an acquired taste for some people but I loved it at first taste and seaweed is super healthy and shelf stable, making it a great snack to take on the plane, have on hand in your purse or briefcase, or stash in the car to avoid the temptation to go to McDonald's.
9. Guacamole. Guacamole is just like salad. The base is green and you can add whatever you want to it. I'm not an avocado person so I prefer to load it with other vegetables and add enough lime juice that it becomes overpowering. Adding other things to it increases the health potential of the guacamole.
10. Steam green beans. Green beans are one of my personal favorites. They fit seamlessly with many different meals but they can also be a quick and easy meal on their own, making green beans indispensable for busy folks who sometimes just need a quick and easy dinner.
There are certainly several more ways one could creatively use greens. These are some of the ways I have used them and most are ways that I regularly incorporate more greens into my lifestyle. The ones that I do not regularly do are things I have done before and I think they are very good suggestions. Different methods work for different people so you may have some tricks to incorporate more greens into your diet that I might not have even thought of! So I'm curious about how you get your greens in and if you try these tips, what did you think?