Harvest of the Month: Spinach
Spinach is a superfood that’s loaded with tons of nutrients. Dark leafy greens, like spinach, are great for skin, hair, and bone health. They also provide protein, iron, vitamins, and minerals. Health benefits of spinach include improving blood glucose, lowering the risk of cancer, and supplying minerals and vitamins that have a range of benefits. Spinach can easily be incorporated into any diet or meal as it is cheap and easy to prepare. A bonus? It’s also a low-calorie food!
How to Select
When selecting spinach, look for crisp, fresh, and green leaves. You’ll want to avoid any spinach that looks like it has insect damage or is wilted or soggy. Seasonally, spinach is best in the spring, summer, and fall.
How to Store
To keep spinach fresh, loosely wrap it in a damp paper towel and refrigerate in a plastic bag for up to five days.
How to Prepare
Before consuming spinach, it should be washed and spun dry in a salad colander. You can also rinse it off and pat dry with a paper towel. Spinach can be sautéed on a stove top for just a few minutes with olive oil and spices or served raw in a salad. Spinach can also be cooked inside an egg frittata or stuffed chicken. Looking for a way to get more greens in your diet? Throw a handful of spinach in your smoothie!
Try spinach in the recipe for Ricotta and Spinach Frittata from Clean Eating.
Tags: Cooking, food, health, spinach