Surprisingly Spinach

Popeye sprouted muscles every time he squeezed a can of spinach. This characterization was right on, as the health benefits of this tender leaf are well documented. Spinach is also a surprisingly delicious vegetable, perfect for a robust salad or as a colorful addition to a stir-fry. Mellow and sweet when raw and flavorsome when cooked, you’ll forget how nutrient-packed this veggie really is.

The Nutrition Action Healthletter lists spinach, along with other leafy greens, as one of its “Ten Super Foods For Better Health.” As a nutrient-dense food, raw spinach has only seven calories per cup, but is packed with vitamins, minerals and other phytonutrients. This wonder food is an excellent source of vitamins A and K, and a good source of vitamin C, folate and manganese.

So if you’re looking for an easy way to boost the nutritional level of any meal, consider this quintessential leafy green. Try it in a salad, steamed as a side, or as a distinctive addition to an omelet or pasta dish. Sauté some crisp, fresh baby spinach from your local market in a little olive oil, lemon and garlic, and you’ll have a dish that Olive Oyl herself could not refuse.