Spinach gets a bad rap. Really.

I mean, how many times as a kid were you forced to choke it down? And I don’t know how much good Popeye did to help us kids change our minds about it. Watching him eat a can and then become super human just didn’t do enough to make me want to run right out to the kitchen and beg mom for some.

Cut to the nutrition stuff…

We all know it’s good for us. I’m going to focus on the fresh stuff for this post – because that’s my favorite way to eat it. And honestly – it’s the easiest way IMO.

Here’s the deal:

You can eat a whole 1.5 cups of the stuff and only be charged 40 calories – not bad. And it’s filling as well. We’re talkin’ no fat, and no carbs. But it does have the super awesomeness of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Iron, Calcium, Fiber and Protein – I know right? Who would have thought calcium and protein in a veggie?!? Not bad for a beautiful green leaf.

For 1.5 cups you get 2 grams of Protein and 5 grams of Fiber – so that’s why it’s nice and filling :)

Try it… today!

Fresh spinach is sooo easy to use. I like the mildness of it’s flavor because you’re getting all that green nutrition without it overpowering other flavors.

These two salads are my favorites:

Fresh Strawberry/Spinach

1/2 Cup fresh strawberries – hulled and halved
1.5 Cups of fresh baby spinach
1/4 Cup creamenie mushrooms

Toss ingredients together. You can add a vinegrette dressing if you’d like. I love a good raspberry vinegrette on this one – delish!

Spinach/Tomato/Nut

1.5 Cups of fresh spinach (baby or fully grown)
1 whole tomato cut up the way you like it
Hand-full (or a little less) of your favorite raw nuts – chopped or crushed how you like

Toss ingredients together and top with a vinegrette dressing. This is such a simple salad, any dressing will work – I like the bite of vinegrettes against these mild ingredients.

There are days that my body is craving greens, but my mouth just does not want a salad. On days like that, I throw some greens in a blender. Again – LOVE spinach because of it’s mildness and ability to blend in behind other flavors.

Spinach Smoothie

I know – the name may not be all that appealing – but trust me – you can’t even taste the spinach. AND! My daughter, who is 7, actually ASKS for this. She knows there’s spinach in it, but she always tells me she likes how it tastes pink.

1 cup of water
2 cups of spinach
1 Frozen Banana (can also use fresh)
1 Peach
2 cups of frozen berries
1 cup of seedless grapes (green or red)

Throw it all in a blender, blend till smooth – enjoy!