Monday, March 21, 2011

Put a lil' Spinach in it.

Remember this guy?

All I think of when people say Popeye was how he ate lots of spinach and it made him big and strong. I wonder if this ever made kids actually eat more spinach? Pretty sure it didn't work on me as a child. Good things times have changed. I am a big fan of spinach these days. I eat a few cups of it every day. I think it's one of those "super foods."

I have been buying this bodybag sized bag of spinach at costco for about $4.00, and it's like a man vs. food challenge for me to eat it all before it goes bad.

Last time I ran into Costco to pick up a few things, and I had a new bag of spinach I happened to walk past a sample table of an employee who must not have been getting much attention. The conversation went a little something like this.

Costco: (Yelling at me as I walk past his table) You just come from the gym?
Me: Yep. Sure did.
Costco: You must workout a lot.
Me: Yeah, I do. It's part of my job.
Costco: What do you do?
Me: I'm a personal trainer, and a nutrition coach.
Costco: Ohh...of course you are. That is a lot of spinach. You eat really healthy. I bet I eat more spinach than you.
Me: Do you? Good for you. It is really good for you. (Me rearranging the 5 giant items in my hands, trying not to drop them)
*I never get a cart at Costco. I buy too much if I do.
Costco: I put it in everything...in pasta, eggs, sandwiches....(trailing off for 5 minutes...)
Me: Yep, it's great. (Juggling goods again) Well, I have to go. Have a good day!
Costco: Wait...personal trainer...how do I make my chest huge?
Me: Get a personal trainer, and eat lots of spinach...

Anyways...despite the fact that I almost lost all of my purchases about 5 times while he stared at me juggling them around, I did like his point. You really can put spinach in anything.

Today for lunch my spinach addition went a little something like this...

Scrambled eggs...(1 whole egg, 3 egg whites) and a sprinkle of fajita seasoning. 
 To that I added a healthy handful of fresh spinach.
 It cooks down to basically nothing, so you can't even tell it's there.
I put that inside a La Tortilla Factory Whole Wheat Tortilla.
 Added some salsa. Because what isn't made better with a little salsa?
 And Ta-Da! It was real good...
(did anyone see the modern family episode with the "ta-da??")
You really can add spinach to anything.

Why is spinach so good?
- It's RIDICULOUSLY low in calories, but very high in nutrients, vitamins, and minerals.
- It is a good source of...(are you ready for this jelly?) an excellent source of vitamin K, vitamin A, magnesium, folate, manganese, iron, calcium, vitamin C, vitamin B2, potassium, and vitamin B6. It’s a very good source of protein, phosphorus, vitamin E, zinc, dietary fiber, copper, selenium, niacin, and omega-3 fatty acids.
- It contains flavanoids and antioxidants which are cancer fighters! (And just help to boost your immune system in general.
- It helps promote good digestive health. Sooo good for the colon.
- The carotine found in it helps keep your eyes in great shape.
- It contains a TON of iron. This is especially beneficial to women who lose a lot of blood through menstruation. It partners up with hemoglobin which delivers oxygen in the body. This means that if you have a low amount of iron you will likely have lower amounts of energy.
- It is SUPER versatile. Pasta, salads, sandwiches, smoothies, omelets, etc. Get creative. It's great.

My challenge to you? See what you can get spinach into! Oh and trade it out for that iceberg lettuce, it's not doing anything for ya...

What do YOU put spinach in? I think the possibilities really are endless here.

24 comments:

A Prelude To... said...

I chop it up VERY fine and add to my omelette. It has to be small itty bitty bits if it's cooked, or I don't like it.

I do put about 2 cups of it in my smoothies, though - you don't taste it at all and I LIKE THAT.

Spinach/Strawberry salad. YUM.

Anonymous said...

i really only put it on pizza. i'm so not a fan of leafy green veggies. like all other veggies except the green leafy ones! but when i do put it on my pizza i put like 3 cups on and go all out hahah!

Rene said...

I hated Popeye as a kid all because of canned spinach. I couldn't stand the smell, texture, or taste. I love fresh spinach though. I'll eat it in salads and in wraps. Your egg/spinach tortilla looks so good I'm going to make one after my workout tonight.

Unknown said...

love this! gotta love the costco crew! Its so funny how they always want to know what you the "personal trainer" does when in fact, you just want to get your food and go. But you are so nice!
I use greens in and on everything.
:)

Unknown said...

I blend it up in my smoothies. My kids love it!

Momma got the runs said...

I also love spinich. I put it in coconut curry, pasta, cooked down on pizza, anything with a sauce--even cioppino. You cant taste it and its soooo good for you and it also adds awesome color. I also make salads with it and drown it in salsa. Which is another costco must have!

ash & diz said...

Love spinach! I put HUGE handfuls in my scrambled eggs (i'd call them omelettes, but they aren't ever that pretty!) and have spinach salads all the time and I put it on my sandwiches too!

COLORADOctor said...

I looveee spinach. I think I had 4 cups or more today. Salads, smoothies, eggs, and straight up steamed w/ nutritional yeast are my favorite ways to eat it. And to think I only tried spinach for the first time about a year ago!

Unknown said...

I love spinach and just threw it in some pasta tonight! I've been a little MIA and playing catch up on your blog....going to enter that Yogurtland giveaway now!

Julia said...

ummm i love spinach and seriously have been putting it in everything lately. at first i was scared and thought it could only be a salad thing...but now it goes in everything from pasta, to stir fry, to eggs, to rice, sandwiches...everything. Gotta get rid of it before it goes bad is what I tell myself as well. Hope you are doing amazingly! we should hang out again soon :)

Nicole said...

Love spinach. I used to buy frozen spinach and cook it at least 4 nights a week. I also love it in the now classic "green monster" smoothie. It still amazes me that you can't taste it and that it makes the smoothie even healthier.

Jody @ Raising Fin and Fish said...

I have been on a huge spinach kick lately! I buy a bag every week (although not a costco sized bag!)

I've been putting in my eggs, smoothies, on my pizza (see today's post!), salad, in a la tortilla factory tortilla with turkey and cheese then grilled on the george foreman at work. Awesome!

My husband and I were just talking about the "ta da" episode. My husband came back from spring break with all his college kids and now says "boom" all the time. I told him that is the college version of "ta da" and should not be used by a 32 year old.

Unknown said...

I put spinach in omelettes, soup, sandwiches, salads, on pizza, in chili, in pasta, in casserole, in quiche...

Pretty much any and everywhere!:)

Thisisme said...

spinach, cranberries, goat cheese salad is my fav!!!

Stephanie said...

I put it in everything. We call it the magic veggie. The kids love showing their friends that they can put a whole bunch of yum +spinach in their smoothies that turn green but don't taste like spinach. Now they love it in everything! Great break down of the nutritional stats. :)

Jen said...

Love spinach in eggs! I love to put it in lasagna and in soups and in meatloaf. You really can put it in just about anything. You always have the most inspirational posts that make me want to eat better! Thanks!

Mara Campbell said...

I am really learning to embrace spinach. I recently started making green monster smoothies and I love them. I put it in eggs in the morning, in my sandwiches and tacos and it's always the base for my salads. I love the huge Costco bag and always TRY to eat it all before it goes bad. It's a big challenge!! LOL!

I also read something that said the iron in spinach is really hard for us to digest and it stays locked up and we don't get as much as we think. Have you read that before?

I am behind commenting on your blog (i've been out of town) but i'm getting caught up!!

ShortSkirts said...

i love spinach. I add it to eggs, i ate some this morning with my poached egg on whole wheat toast.

And i ate it for dinner the night before as part of a spinach, strawberry, goat cheese salad. mmmm

Keri said...

Oooh spinach is one of my faves! I think I actually did a similar post one time because I buy so much of it. I love how it cooks down and you can eat a lot of it. I love it in eggs, on pizza...with everything!

Anonymous said...

i put spinach in/on everything!
smoothies, omelets, pasta, sandwiches, wraps, pizza etc
my favorite is probably a spinach, goat cheese, strawberry and walnut salad!

Edible Art said...

Spinach is one of my favorite veggies,
its sooooo good as a salad, or just sauteed with some garlic. YUM!

oh, and i think popeye did influence me to eat more spinach, (not that i complained as a child to begin with) , but watching cartoons at a young age, seeing that 1 can of spinach made popeye into the modern day hulk, beating up bad guys with just his muscles .... i mean what child COULD avoid all that hype?

My brother and i would eat our spinach and pretend to wrestle around with our giant teddybears after dinner. haha!!

ah good memories.~

Erin@gosupermamago said...

New follower...and I too put spinach in everything. My kids love it too. We put it in smoothies, pasta sauce, omelettes, as a pizza topping, instead of pasta I'll put romaine/spinach in a big bowl and put the sauce over that. I eat scrambled eggs or an omelette everyday with spinach, black beans and salsa. YUM!!!

Anonymous said...

I've shove spinach, veggies normandy, or broccoli into just about anything.

Today I made a pina colada smoothie before I left for work and threw in frozen spinach for a mighty tasty green monster

Anonymous said...

yumm. i put it in my smoothies, in salad, in my turkey burgers and turkey meatloaf! in brownies even! i sneak it into everything!