Throughout my life I have experimented with quite a variety of healing diets. Weather I was eating a high protein diet, raw vegan diet, macrobiotic diet, low sugar diet, or any other type of whole foods diet, one thing that I have directly noticed improving my overall health and well being is making sure I get an adequate amount of greens into my body every day. Leafy green vegetables are loaded with many health benefits. They are an excellent vegan, and allergy free source of minerals such as iron, calcium, potassium, and magnesium, and a wonderful way to get vitamins K, C, E, and quite a few B vitamins.
Although I love salads, eating the same salad every day can become boring, and often times hard to digest if your intestinal health is compromised. There are so many amazing (and tasty!) green vegetables, herbs and salad greens available today, especially if you are fortunate enough to live here on the west side with all of the farmers markets, health food stores, and alternative restaurants. Sometimes when we are really hungry or in a hurry it can be too easy to forget our nourishing greens and to get tempted to just go for something sweet, or whatever may be in front of us. Luckily, there are many quick ways to get more greens into your daily meals and snacks, and once you get used to sneaking greens into your meals it can definitely become second nature. Below are some of my favorite ways to feed my body sufficient greens. I hops you enjoy!
Green Juices- are probably the quickest way to get in your recommended servings of vegetables. One of my favorite combinations are green apple, lemon, ginger, kale, parsley, and spinach. If you are avoiding fruit sugar then try parsley, spinach, cucumber, celery, and lemon.
Green Smoothies- great for when I’m pressed for time and want something green and nourishing on the go. Add a 3-4 de-stemmed large kale leaves or two or three large handfuls of spinach to any fruit smoothie and continue blending as usual. I love frozen blueberries, spinach, hemp seeds, unsweetened acai, banana, and almond milk together. Spirulina, chlorella, or a good green powder are also healthy smoothie additions.
Scrambled eggs or omelette- quick, warm and savory, what more could I want? Add cilantro or parsley to eggs while cooking and add in a couple hearty handfuls of spinach as well. Season with your favorite healing herbs and spices, like turmeric, or cayenne and garlic powder for extra warmth.
Kale chips – there are many amazing kale chip recipes online, can be made in a dehydrator or in an oven if you don’t have a dehydrator. Probably the most addicting ways to eat your greens.
Minty Desserts– if you are making a dessert with peppermint extract or any other recipe that might benefit from a green food coloring you can add a few drops of liquid or powdered chlorella without altering the taste of your recipe
Lettuce wraps– simply fill crispy fresh lettuce leaves with any nut pate, or a little avocado, tomato, cilantro and lemon. Roll and eat!
Garlicky chard and Kale (or any other greens)- Mince a couple cloves of garlic, chop 1/4 onion, and saute in coconut oil, after a couple minutes add greens of choice and saute until tender. add sea salt, cayenne or other seasonings to taste.
Nori Rolls- fill raw nori sheets with chopped avocado, baby greens, simple homemade dressing or dip of choice, and seal.