Simple Ways To Add More Autumn Greens To Your Meals
Leafy greens exude health - even just looking at a bunch of kale causes one to feel good about oneself… and consuming them will do wonders for your well-being!
With winter bringing it's comfort-food-cravings, leafy greens aren't really the flavour of the season.
And yet, we'd all feel a lot better for eating them: the dark green crops - think spinach, silverbeet, chard, kale, cavolo nero and collard greens - tend to be loaded with antioxidants, minerals, vitamins (with vitamin C being a biggie - so important for our immune systems at this time of year!) and, of course, good nutrients. The issue is convincing oneself - and/ or one's family - to eat them…
Well, we've got you covered!
Here are a few sneaky ways to incorporate those good greens into the family diet without causing a stir:
Blend them into your daily smoothie.
Smoothies are such a fabulous way to enjoy a whole bunch of good foods in a easy-to-consume manner.
Tossing in a handful of kale or spinach takes little effort, and the flavours of berries and bananas tend to outcompete the subtle tones of our succulent verdant leaves!
Put them in pasta sauce.
If you've cooked with spinach (or any of the aforementioned greens), you'll know that a huge bunch disappears into almost nothing.
While it can be disappointing, it's actually a great attribute when tricking certain unconvinced souls to eat their greens!
They'll disappear in a tomato-based sauce, contributing a light earthy tone and an abundance of nourishment.
If you're after a creamy béchamel sauce, wilt the greens, then, using a stick blender, blitz that baby into a smooth, green-tinged tasty sauce loaded with goodness!
Braise them.
Braising is a lovely way to explore the potential of your favourite veggies. Braising potatoes, celeriac, broccoli or leek is delicious, and goes fabulously with a hunk of crusty bread.
Go one step further and toss in a chopped bunch of kale, cavolo nero, spinach, collard greens, silverbeet or chard - as stated before, they'll disappear into almost nothing, but they'll certainly impart some good flavour and a fantastic amount of nutrition.
Soups, stews and casseroles.
Anything goes in these sorts of dishes, which makes it pretty easy to toss in a handful or three of leafy greens - you'll barely even notice them!
The trick is to start small, stay subtle and maybe minimise the crowing of having just outsmarted your loved ones… at least until they've accepted that eating greens isn't all that bad!