We often hear the term “leafy greens” thrown around in conversations about healthy living and healthy recipes, but what exactly are they? And, how do you get the family to eat them?
Let’s learn more about the types of leafy greens out there and why they are so important to include as part of our every day eating plans. We’ll also give you great ideas on how to incorporate them into your family’s meal plans including leafy green recipes that are easy to follow and delicious too.

What Are Considered Leafy Greens?

Leafy greens are also called leaf vegetables and the term refers to those veggies that are green and are any type of plant, leaf or stem that can be eaten. There are many different types of leafy greens, with the most popular examples of different leafy greens that can be included in our everyday diets being:

• Salad greens like lettuce, spinach, Swiss chard and kale
• Herbs like basil, rocket, thyme, rosemary and much more
• Vegetable greens like broccoli, peas, cucumbers, brussels sprouts

The Health Benefits Of Eating Leafy Greens

Leafy greens are so good for you because they are packed with vitamins, minerals and other antioxidants. Green vegetables are particularly high in Vitamin A, C and K which help to boost your immune system and help protect our bodies against free radicals. Experts will recommend eating between 3 to 5 servings of green, leafy vegetables every single day in order to get the most benefit. We’ve taken the best leafy greens that most people love and put together our top three leafy green dishes that can be enjoyed by the whole family, all year round.

What Can I Do With Leafy Greens?

Keen to know how to add more leafy green goodness into your diet? We’ve chosen three easy recipes that you can incorporate into any daily routine – from breakfast to lunch and dinner - to ensure you’re getting your vitamin quota. Here’s how to make tasty leafy greens any time of the day:

Broccoli, Spinach and Pea Omelette with Blue Cheese Dressing

Start your day off with a bang with this omelette recipe that includes three leafy greens in it. The omelette is veggie-packed, super healthy and utterly delicious too. Read the full Broccoli, Spinach and Pea Omelette with Blue Cheese Dressing recipe now.

Zesty Chicken, Quinoa and Kale Salad

Kale is a leafy green that’s packed with nutrition. When you combine it with the zesty chicken, feta, and quinoa and dress it just right, this recipe offers a wonderful tangy, nutritious take on the ordinary salad recipe.Read the full Zesty Chicken, Quinoa and Kale Salad recipe now.

Pea and Spinach Risotto

This delicious vegetarian dinner option is both creamy and satisfying, whilst being utterly nutritious too. It takes a bit of time to simmer to perfection, but its well worth the wait. Read the full Pea and Spinach Risotto recipe now.

Ways To Add More Leafy Greens To Your Diet

If you’re struggling to add leafy greens into your daily diet, we’ve got some clever tips on how to hide them in your regular everyday dishes;

• Add a cup of baby spinach to your morning smoothie with berries and bananas. You won’t even taste it and it’ll add a ton of extra vitamins to an already healthy smoothie.
• Beef up any salad by adding chopped up rocket, basil, and spinach to your lettuce base.
• Add broccoli and baby marrows into a blender and blend until they’re finely chopped. You can add these to any basic tomato sauce to add in extra vitamins. Add the sauce to mince or mix in with your favourite pasta dish.
  Want to know where to find recipes containing leafy greens? Check out Whats For Dinner now for a variety of healthy recipes as well as our Future 50 Foods section for plant-based recipes that are jam-packed with healthy vegetables and other plant-based goodies.