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Why eat green fruits and veggies is next up on our Eat the Rainbow series. If you made this far, you’re awesome! Now I know my son isn’t a fan of “any of that green healthy” stuff, but I assure you, green fruits and vegges can be (and are) super tasty!
In this post, we will learn why it is important to eat green foods, what healthy nuggets they provide us, and some yummy recipes to help us eat them. It’s a lot easier to eat things that are good for us if they taste good.
What do Green Fruits and Veggies help with?
Since green fruits and veggies seem to get a bad rap solely based on their color (ok, maybe not solely based on their color, but you get the idea) I figured I better explain why eating them is a good idea! So what is so special about green fruits and vegetables? When we choose to eat green fruits and veggies, these fruits and veggies help keep our bones and teeth strong, can aid tissue healing, helps to detoxify the body, can lower your chances of getting cancer, and helps to keep our eyes healthy.
What do Green Fruits and Veggies contain?
When we eat green fruits and veggies, they provide us a plethora of vitamins and antioxidants. Some of these are folate, carotenoids, potassium, along with Vitamin K and B.
So yes, we will be talking about kale, and other dark leafy greens that get a bad wrap but are so good for you! Here’s the thing, you don’t have to eat them all, but they are good for you so if you can find some thing equivalent, I highly recommend it.
What are some Green Fruits and Veggies?
Green fruits and veggies are fairly easy to find at any grocery store or farmers market. Some may be more available when they are in season versus others, but you can still normally find quite the variety. Some examples are:
- peppers
- broccoli
- broccolini
- brussel sprouts
- peas
- dark leafy greens (kale, spinach, etc.)
- zucchini
- avocados
- apples
- honeydew melon
- cucumber
- green grapes
- artichokes
- kiwi
For a lot of people, green apples, broccoli, and avocados are probably the most widely used (besides basic lettuces). Although I love all of these, there are so many more options and it is good to eat a variety of the green fruits and veggies.
One of my personal favorites are roasted broccoli and Brussel sprouts. I also love Brussel sprouts that are shaved on a mandolin, sautéed in oil and garlic and then finished with fresh squeezed lemon. Are you drooling yet???
Tip: If dark leafy greens are your nemesis, then try putting them in a smoothie with your favorite fruits to offset the taste/texture.
Eat Green Fruits and Veggies Recipes
Now if you are going to eat green fruits and veggies, it might be helpful to have some yummy recipes to make it a bit easier if these fruits and veggies aren’t your favorite.
Easy Breakfast Option
I love breakfast food and even though I normally eat the same thing every morning (yes, I’m a bit boring) I do like to change it up every now and then. If you are looking for a hearty breakfast, then look no further, check out this Baja Breakfast Bowl. Not only does this dish have spinach, but it also has guacamole, one of my favorites. Now, if you have an aversion to cooked greens, then I suggest substituting the spinach for broccoli or zucchini.
Easy Lunch Option
I don’t know about you, but sometimes I like to “snack” for lunch. For me that means a dip or two, with some veggies, healthy chips or bread. I will be sharing two dips that go well together, in my opinion. First dip up is a Cheesy Kale Hot Dip, I know, I know – it has kale but seriously, you have to try this yummy dip. I mean if you are going to eat kale, why not eat it with some hot creamy cheese, lol.
The other dip I wanted to mention is guacamole. Why you might ask, well it’s guac!!! But in all seriousness, guacamole is good for you and is a healthy fat so I don’t feel bad about scarfing it down!
Easy Dinner Option
For dinner, these Sloppy Joe Zucchini Boats can be a big hit, especially if you have kids. Get them to have buy in because they are eating “boats”. This recipe is quite versatile as well, use ground meet or lentils depending on your preference.
Bonus – Easy Dessert Recipe
Now I had to reach a little to find a dessert and I have to admit, it might be for everyone but I did find it so without further ado, Everything Bagel Spinach Avocado Lime Tarts. There are a lot of “green” flavors going on here so it has the potential to be awesome!!!
Eat Green Fruits and Veggies – Wrap Up
I hope you have found the importance of eating green fruits and veggies and how they can help keep our bones and teeth strong and detoxify the body, just to name a few.
I only mentioned a few recipes, but Epicure seriously has tons of yummy recipes that will make eating the rainbow so much easier! If you need help navigating the site and finding what you want, I’m here for you! Just fill out my Contact Form and I will get you all settled.
Want to check out some of the other Eat the Rainbow series? Check out Why Eat Red Fruits and Veggies and Why Eat Orange Fruits and Veggies.
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