Popeye can’t get enough of it. You can sauté it, boil it, freeze it or eat it raw. A town in Kansas even has a festival dedicated to it. And on July 16, the nation will celebrate it. That’s right, we’re talking about spinach, and National Fresh Spinach Day.
Not only is spinach good for the eyes, bones, and digestion, it is one of the most versatile vegetables around. Spinach can easily be incorporated into a meal by throwing the raw leaves into a healthy salad, sautéing it for a tasty side dish, or even adding it to soup.
And did you know that cooking spinach actually increases its health benefits? According to Care2.com, just half a cup of cooked spinach will give you three-times as much nutrition as one cup of the raw vegetable. They also found that spinach in juice form is actually the healthiest way to consume it. Blend spinach with other vegetables or fruits to create a delicious glass of juice, or try a green smoothie.
Need some great spinach recipes? Birds Eye has a trove of recipes that star vegetables, including this profile on spinach! If you need more inspiration, check these recipes out:
Breakfast: Get energized for the day with a Mushroom, Spinach, and Swiss Scramble.
Lunch: Berries pack a punch in this Cranberry, Raspberry Spinach Salad.
Dinner: Celebrate nutritious spinach with this Sweet Potato Noodles with Spinach recipe.
Snack: Get refreshed with a Green Morning Smoothie.
