Something green at every meal.
It’s a habit that provides many health benefits.
I could offer up a list of reasons that green foods are considered nutritional powerhouses. If you’ve been following me for a while, you likely know their benefits.
But how to explain the importance of eating something green at every meal to a seven and 10-year-old?
I had that opportunity this summer when the two grands joined us for two weeks…without their parents.
Was I successful in getting them to embrace the green habit at every meal? Not entirely. Nonetheless, we had fun starting small (grapes, kiwi, and avocado at breakfast; green beans and Brussels sprouts at dinner) and eventually creating the list below.
How did we start the conversation?
Given their fascination with superheroes, we discussed how greens can serve as their fuel. As you know, superheroes need to maintain their powers to stay strong and fight off the bad guys. (Some of you might remember Popeye and his spinach.)
Green foods help:
- Your brain stay sharp for school and learning new things,
- Your tummy feel good, so you don’t get sick,
- Your muscles and bones grow strong so you can run, swim, play, and do all the things you love,
- Even fight off germs, kind of like tiny bodyguards.
So, eating something green at every meal is like giving your body a superpower boost.
There are so many different greens to choose from, we discovered that it is like a rainbow of only the green section!
Since greens are some of the most nutrient-rich, disease-fighting, and metabolism-supporting foods that you can eat, making them part of every meal is an easy way to upgrade your health—no complicated plans or tracking required.
Here’s a list to get you started, courtesy of the grands, with a bit of help from the open spice cabinet.
- Pickles
- Cucumber
- Grapes
- Kiwi
- Mint tea
- Green tea
- Zucchini
- Brussels sprouts (a favorite)
- Cabbage
- Lettuce
- Spinach
- Parsley
- Green onions
- Green apples
- Green pepper (another favorite)
- Celery
- Avocado
- Broccoli
- Peas
- Lima beans
- Green beans
- Limes
- Lemon lime cake (dessert, of course!)
- Ramps (wild leek; these girls are from West Virginia)
- Beet greens
- Radish greens
- Pistachios
- Thyme
- Oregano
- Basil
- Rosemary
- Dill
- Sage
Stay green, my friends!
