Tag Archives: eat your greens

What’s for Dinner when Spring is springing

Its been quite a productive day that almost calls for celebration after a pretty challenging week last week (thanks Pink Moon). I was expecting to see instant green after all the rain we have been getting and was a little surprised when it didn’t happen right away. It got me thinking about the gentle balance of spring. The cloudy, rainy days still call for a little rest. There is so much happening under the surface and like a small child that needs frequent naps so does all the new growth around us. So do we! (no matter how stir crazy we feel) A little sunshine after the rain is when the magic happens but without either we wouldn’t get to enjoy all the vibrant, fresh, young green shoots around us and all the flowers that, in their own time bloom so beautifully for us. So be kind to yourself if you’re feeling inspired to move and do and if you’re still needing a little hibernation. 🙂

This week’s menus comes with a few requests, some solid repeats and something new. What are you cooking?

Chicken Curry with broccoli slaw, broccoli, orange peppers and rice

Asian fried rice and beans

Hamburgers with mushrooms and onions, side of sweet potato fries

Jumbo Scallops with creamed kale and noodles

Trader Joe’s Palak paneer

Sneaky Greens for Picky Eaters

My daughter I’m discovering is a unicorn eater. She has her favorite go to carbs like most kids but she will pretty effortlessly eat just about anything in front of her. My son started out this way and as he nears 2 has discovered the words No! and Yucky! I have no idea where 🙂

In an effort to get him to eat more than yogurt, cheese, crackers and seaweed I’ve been inspired by this weeks “eat your greens” challenge.

Magic Spring Muffins

 

When I get back from a yoga class my son and I usually share a protein shake of some sort. I switched them over to green shakes this weekend and he no longer was so excited about them when they weren’t chocolate. Yesterday I threw in some cocoa powder and dates and we were back in business. I realize that even lots of “grown ups” aren’t huge fans of veggies and as a once very picky eater myself (sorry mom) I am sharing these 2 recipes to help you get more greens into your lives.

Sneaky Smoothie

Sneaky Smoothie

Chocolate “green” smoothie

What you need:

  • cup of packed spinach or greens of your choice
  • 1 banana
  • 3 dates
  • 1 teaspoon cocoa powder
  • 1 scoop of collagen
  • 2 cups water

blend everything until smooth ( you could add a nut milk or honey for extra sweetness if you need to)

you could also switch out strawberries or raspberries for the banana to mix it up

Enjoy!

Magic Spring Muffins

Magic Spring Muffins

Magic Spring Muffins

We used maple syrup as this is technically in season right now but you could also use honey too.

What you need:

  • 1 cup packed peas or spinach ( I used spinach)
  • 1 cup milk of your choice, I used ripple plant based milk
  • 1/4 melted coconut oil
  • 1/2 cup (or more to taste) maple syrup
  • 2 ripe smashed bananas
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 cups flour of your choice
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 2.5 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 cup chocolate chips

What to do:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 and line muffin tin.
  2. Put spinach, milk in blender and blend until smooth. Add coconut oil, bananas, syrup, and vanilla to blender and blend until smooth again.
  3. Add dry ingredients in mixing bowl and whisk to combine.
  4. Add wet ingredients to dry and stir until green and creamy.
  5. Pour in muffin tin 3/4 of the way full.
  6. Bake 15-18 minutes.

Enjoy!

 

 

What’s for dinner: eat your greens

Tomorrow is officially the first day of spring! To celebrate I challenge you to eat some greens everyday this week and notice how you feel. I find if I buy a big bag of greens at Costco it makes me motivated to get through it before it goes bad. Greens don’t just have to be leafy- broccoli, asparagus, peppers, green beans count too! 

We are having a Green Day around here and started the day with a bed of sautĂ©ed greens for a left over bean burger, a little cheese, salsa and fried egg on top. 


After a quick hike we had a smoothie with a cup of spinach, strawberries, 1/2 banana, water and a scoop of powdered gelatin.


Lunch was leftover chili with green peppers and an avocado. 

Dinner is shredded chicken over Asian slaw salad. 

The nature of spring is to flourish. I hope you are feeling that way! 

Here’s what’s on the menu this week:

(Hubby requested) BLT with roasted pepper and tomatoes soup with a few handfuls of baby chard thrown into the soup

Kale salad with cilantro tuna

Surprise meatloaf (this has a hidden hard boiled egg inside I’ll post a picture and maybe recipe after my husband makes it) with a side of asparagus and a few veggies hidden in the loaf too.

Rice cakes (not the stale crunchy kind) with steamed broccoli 

What are your favorite green recipes?