Food of the Month: Spinach
We all remember Popeye the sailor man when he said ” I’m good to the finn-ich cause I eat my spinach.” A whole generation of kids grew up thinking they would be stronger if they ate spinach. While that is still true it turns out the genesis of that popular notion actually began by mistake. A scientist misreported the number of grams of iron in spinach. According to thekitchn.com in “1870 a German chemist Erich von Wolf correctly ascertained the amount of iron in spinach, but while transcribing his notes, he accidentally misplaced a decimal point: instead of recording that spinach had 3.5 milligrams of iron per 100-gram serving (as is the case), he wrote that it had 35 milligrams.” That is a lot of iron! In response to this, the creators of Popeye decided that this would be his superfood. The rest is history. Despite the error it helped spinach gain popularity with parents and children alike. In my opinion spinach is extremely versatile and I use it almost everyday. Spinach is a great way to get your servings of greens in your diet. They are easy to throw into smoothies or soup as well as finely chop and add the foods like spaghetti sauce.
What is it?
Spinach is a nutritional powerhouse that is in the same family as beets, chard and quinoa.
Health Benefits
Spinach is rich in Vitamins A,C, and K, minerals such as iron, magnesium and calcium, and antioxidant flavonoids and carotenoids.
Storage
To be the most economical you can buy it frozen
Fresh should be kept unwashed, wrapped in a paper towel and placed in a plastic bag. It can be stored this way in the refrigerator for about a week.
Uses
Throw in soups or smoothies for a nutritional boost
Saute with garlic and/or onions
Sneak it into sauces
Use for salad alone or with other lettuces
Use in a stir fry
Here is a great recipe for a spinach dip appetizer! This is a healthier dairy free version that I love! Enjoy! https://www.forksoverknives.com/recipes/healthy-spinach-artichoke-dip/
