What is something I should eat every day? I get this question a lot. One food, or really a group of foods, that is a great choice is greens. They are super dense in nutrition and fiber, and they are hydrating. But after I tell people to eat greens daily, the response I often get is, “But I don’t like salads.” Well, the great news is you don’t need to eat salads every day to get your greens in. Check out my favorite ways to eat greens every day without eating a salad.
Add greens to your smoothies.
A few favorite raw greens I love to add to my smoothies are spinach, celery (stalk and greens), and kale in a range of colors.
Easiest option that requires zero prep: Organic Greens Booster! If you don’t like the taste of greens, you can add this greens powder to any recipe and you won’t even know it is there. It packs a nutrition punch, with 1 scoop giving 50% of your recommended vitamin K daily intake and other essential nutrients that support cardiovascular and bone health.* (1, 2) It is organic and has no artificial colors, preservatives, or sweeteners. Just the best of 1 cup of green goodness, packed in a just over ½-teaspoon-sized scoop. Yes, 1 tiny scoop.
Add greens to soups, sauces, and dressings.
Take your raw or lightly steamed greens, purée, and add them in.
- Pesto: Try adding spinach, kale, arugula, watercress, and swiss chard.
- Pasta sauces: All greens will work.
- Soups: Tomato soup and lentil soup are good options.
- Avocado dressing: This doesn’t need to go on salads, it can be used as sandwich spreads. Remember, I promised no salads!
Sauté chopped greens and add them to…
- Chilis, potato soup, veggie soups, and pretty much any chunky soup
- Salsas and chutney
- Pasta bowls
- Stir fries—another staple in my house. Asian greens like bok choy, Chinese cabbage, gai lan (or Chinese broccoli), and many more are great ways to add delightful crunchy texture and flavors to dishes. These greens will soak up any flavor you add to them, so experiment with spices and enjoy something you maybe haven’t tried before.
Here are a few more…
Layer soft greens onto the bottom of your bowl or plate before serving yourself pasta, soup, or a protein bowl. Bonus tip: When using up leftovers, add the soft greens to your bowl or plate, add the leftovers on top, and then microwave. This will add gorgeous color and create a brand-new recipe.
Wrap yourself in greens.
Swap your sandwich breads or taco tortillas for big leafy greens. Lettuce leaves like Bibb or butter lettuce are the more common choices, but collard, mustard, and Swiss chard work great too. Just cut off the stem to use in another recipe and use the soft leafy portion for your wrap.
Phew, that was a lot of non-salad options to eat more greens every day. What are you going to try? Did I miss any that you love?
Sarah is the Shaklee Pure Performance Team dietitian/nutritionist. She is also a two-time competitor for the USA in the Summer Games, participating in the 10-meter Air Rifle event in 2012 and 2016. Her experience as an elite athlete and her status as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) and Licensed Nutritionist (LN), make her perfectly suited to consult with Shaklee athletes on their nutritional needs. Sarah graduated from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas with a BS in Nutrition in 2013, and then earned an MBA in Entrepreneurship and Healthcare Management. She specializes in weight loss, improved sport performance, diabetes prevention, heart health, healthy aging, smoking cessation, and performance goals. Her hobbies include church ministries, mountaineering, physical fitness, and gardening.
