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Eat Your Greens!

Green vegetables can be tasty!

by Prepared by Devyn Britt (Lonoke County) ~ Adapted for blog by Katie Cullum (White County)

With St. Patrick's Day right around the corner, it's time to eat more greens! Seeing green everywhere this time of year should spark an idea in your head to make some green food. Walking through a grocery store during this time of year it is filled with sugary snacks, cakes, cupcakes, and much more all decorated for St. Patrick's Day. It's hard not to want to grab something easy and take it home, try going to the fresh produce section and getting a green vegetable instead. We always hear about eating your veggies, but the real question is, why? Why is eating vegetables so important? Well, I'm here to tell you that eating vegetables reduces the risk of diseases such as heart disease and strokes. 1 in every 5 deaths a year are from heart disease, but there are ways to prevent this. Adding vegetables to your diet helps increase fiber and potassium, which many Americans do not get enough of. Potassium can help lower blood pressure and reduce heart disease and stroke. Vegetables are also low in calories and fat by themselves without dipping sauces.  Try spicing up your diet this spring by eating greens! Plus you won't get pinched if you do. 

 Easy Ways to Add Greens Into Your Diet

• Add green onions to your favorite pasta, soups, and rice
• Enjoy a fruit dip with green apple slices
• Add a side of baked kale with dinner
• Toss in diced avocado to a salad
• Chop up some cucumbers and have them as an afternoon snack

Check out this green vegetable-packed Super Stir Fry recipe from Cooking With Extension/Florida Family Nutrition Program.

Sources: 

https://www.myplate.gov/eat-healthy/vegetables