Sneaky Vegetables: Bagged Spinach

Fresh Spinach Leaves

Since my diet started in January, I've really gotten into fresh spinach and other salad greens.  I put them in nearly everything I cook.  And over the last few months, my family has gotten so used to finding little green leaves at dinner that they don't complain, much.

According to the food database at Nutrition.gov, fresh spinach is full of folate, potassium and vitamin A.   It's also a decent source of calcium, if you are cutting back on dairy fats. Its only draw back seems to be that it has no caffeine.

Below I've put together a few tips for getting these important vegetables into your diet.

Pre-Washed, Bagged vs. Loose Leaf

• Loose leaf is cheaper per ounce unless you look for sales on bagged brands
• Bagged offers more variety (think mixed greens) in smaller quantities that are used up faster.  If the product goes bad and you throw it out, you didn't save money.
• Bagged greens have been recalled in recent years for harboring bacteria.  

My trick:  Wash the bagged leaves that are you going to use right before you use them, and store the rest of the bag as is.  If you do wash any greens, bagged or loose varieties, dry them thoroughly and use quickly.

Using Greens

• Baby spinach and many types of mild lettuce varieties do not have to be cooked.  I put them on pitas, sandwiches, quesadillas and in enchiladas. 
• Wilt greens (let them get warm but not cook) by putting spinach and other leafy greens into just cooked rice and pasta.  Or warm them up in sauces.
• Bitter greens, like turnip greens, need to be cooked.  Kathleen has a great post regarding turnip greens.

Egg, Spinach and Carrot Pita

1 egg

1/2 cup or 1 small handful of fresh baby spinach

1/4 cup of carrots, shaved with vegetable peeler

1 pita

Start your stove top and preheat a small frying or saute pan.  Once the pan is hot, add egg.  When egg is almost cooked to your liking (over hard for me), add spinach and shaved carrots.  Cook for approximately 1 minute or until spinach starts to wilt.  Add salt to taste.  Remove from heat and put egg and vegetables into pita.

Got any great recipes, tricks or ideas of your own?  I'd love to see them in the comments!