Adding Simple Greens to Your Meals
- Elizabeth Cancade
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
One of the things people tell me most often is, “I know I should eat more vegetables — I just don’t know how to actually do it.”
It’s such a common challenge. Many of us want to eat more vegetables, but when it comes time to cook dinner, we fall back on the same familiar ingredients.
Over the coming months, we’re going to tackle that problem together by highlighting specific vegetables that are in season and sharing simple ways to work them into everyday meals. The goal isn’t complicated recipes or big changes — it’s learning how to naturally add more plants to the foods you’re already making.
Let’s start with one of the easiest and most versatile simple greens out there: spinach.
Why Spinach Deserves a Spot in Your Kitchen
Spinach is an early spring and late fall leafy green that packs a serious nutrition punch. In fact, it’s often considered a superfood thanks to its impressive levels of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
But beyond its nutrition, spinach has another big advantage: its mild flavour.
Unlike some leafy greens, spinach blends easily into dishes without overpowering them. That means it’s a great ingredient for anyone trying to add more greens to their meals — even picky eaters or kids who might normally push leafy vegetables aside.
How to Cook with Spinach
One of the easiest ways to work spinach into your cooking is simply to add it near the end of the cooking process.
Spinach wilts quickly and only needs a small amount of heat. Adding it at the end of a recipe not only preserves its texture and colour, but also helps protect many of its nutrients.
If you chop spinach finely before adding it to a dish, it almost disappears as it wilts. This makes it incredibly easy to incorporate into foods you already make regularly, like:
Soups
Stews
Chili
Pasta sauces
Lasagna
Casseroles
Slow cooker meals
A handful of spinach stirred in just before serving can quietly boost the nutrition of a meal without changing the overall flavour.
Spinach Beyond Cooking
Spinach also works beautifully raw.
It makes a great base for salads, either on its own or mixed with other greens. One classic combination is a spinach salad with strawberries and goat cheese — fresh, bright, and satisfying.
If you’re not ready for a full spinach salad, try mixing it with romaine or leaf lettuce. This adds colour, texture, and nutrition while keeping the flavour balanced.
And if you make smoothies, spinach is one of the easiest vegetables to include. Its mild taste blends easily with fruit, so you get the nutritional benefits without a strong “green” flavour.
Six Simple Recipes to Try
To help you start experimenting with spinach, we’ve gathered six simple recipes that make it easy to add this nutritious green to your meals. Inside the recipe collection you’ll find:
Two smoothies
Two fresh salads
Two satisfying main dishes
Each one uses spinach in a different way, showing just how versatile this leafy green can be in everyday cooking.
If you’ve been looking for simple ways to add more vegetables to your diet, spinach is a wonderful place to start. A handful here and there can go a long way toward building meals that feel both nourishing and delicious.
Warmly,
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