Learning about greens increases health knowledge. Eating greens is good for people Eating greens is good for small farmers. Eating greens is good for the planet.
2. Why Eat Greens?
3 cups of dark greens per week. Better yet, Greens everyday!
Vitamins: A,C, K, E, B.
Calcium, Iron, Potassium, Magnesium, Fiber, Folic Acid, and important
phyto-nutrients.
Phyto-nutrients: beta-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, (all are important for
preventing cell damage and protecting eyes)
Omega-3 fats (small amounts of good fat)
Vitamin K: regulates blood clotting, protects bones, reduces calcium in
arterial plaques, regulates inflammation, helps prevent diabetes.
Greens are whole foods with amounts of nutrients that work together
Sea Greens should be eaten for additional minerals. Soils are depleted
of minerals in conventional agricultural methods.
3. Kohlrabi Greens
German for cabbage. Stem/bulb attached.
Eat bulb raw or cooked, grate in a salad, or
use as a topping.
Leaves: cook before eating.
Cut leaves from bulb/remove stems.
Stir-fry leaves in olive oil w/garlic and salt.
A good side dish - or chop fine and add to
soups or sauces.
Also comes in purple!
4. Kohlrabi Recipe
ROASTED KOHLRABI: Oven to 450 degrees F.
1/2 pound fresh kohlrabi, ends trimmed, thick green
skin sliced off and diced
1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 tablespoon minced garlic, S&P
Toss diced kohlrabi w/olive oil and garlic, add salt and
pepper. Spread evenly on a rimmed baking sheet
Roast for 30 - 35 minutes. Stir every five minutes after
20 minutes. Sprinkle with a little vinegar if desired.
5. Bok Choy
Chinese cabbage, tender/mild
Baby Bok Choy may be cooked
whole
To cook large Bok Choy, cut
stems out. Cook them first as
they take longer to cook than
the leaves.
6. Bok Choy Recipe
1 tablespoon olive oil, 2 cloves garlic, minced,
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
8 cups chopped fresh Bok Choy
2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce, S&P to taste
Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and
ginger and cook 1 minute. Add bok choy and soy sauce, cook
3 to 5 minutes, until greens are wilted and stalks are crisp-
tender. Season, to taste, with salt and black pepper.
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/robin-miller
7. Spinach
Native to Persia
Most popular of all greens.
Usually available all year.
Eaten raw or slightly wilted
Light and mild tasting, not
as bitter as other greens.
Use in salads, pastries or
steamed side dish.
Nightshade plant.
8. Broccoli Rabe
Called turnip broccoli, Italian
broccoli or choy sum
Not a member of broccoli
family. It is in turnip family!
On the bitter side
Chinese and Italian cooking.
Chop fine for stir-fry, soup, or
potato salad.
9. Broccoli Rabe Recipe
2 lbs Broccoli Rabe
3 Large garlic cloves, thinly sliced lengthwise
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon sea salt
Lemon wedges for garnish
Cook in boiling salted water for 3 minutes, drain & set aside
Cook garlic in oil until golden, about 3-5 minutes
Combine Broccoli Rabe and garlic, season with S&P
10. Swiss Chard
Comes in variety of colors:
red, white, gold, rainbow.
Thick, dark leaves, colored
veins, large stalks.
Wash, spin dry
Remove stalks-chop finely and
cook a few minutes before
adding leaves
Or use stalks for soup stock
11. Collard Greens
Called bore kale, or tree cabbage
Originates in Mediterranean area
but used in many cuisines.
Famous in Southern United
States paired with ham, pork, or
bacon.
12. Mustard Greens
Curly and chartreuse in color.
Seeds from this plant make
mustard for hotdogs and
hamburgers. (American-style)
Cook alone or mix with other
greens.
13. Beet Greens
Beet greens are tender; not
bitter like other greens.
Eat raw in salads, or wilted
Garnish with the cooked beets
for a colorful side dish.
Greens reduce in size when
cooked, so use a large amount.
14. Kale (various kinds)
Often called cow cabbage
Two kinds of kale shown here:
dark and purple kale
The darker the color, the higher the
nutrition.
Eat raw or steamed.
15. Sorrel Greens
These greens are tart with an acidic
taste if raw. Perfect for green salads.
Sorrel common in vegan, vegetarian
markets, or farmers’ markets in early
summer.
Do not confuse with arugula or
Spinach. Sorrel leaves are tapered
and have longer stems.
16. Sea Vegetables are Greens
Kombu (dried) Wakame (boiled)
Kombu and Wakame are used in soups or vegetable dishes. They are
low in calories, low in fat, high in protein, and contain 10 to 20 times
the mineral content of land vegetables. Sea veggies are dried in packages
in health food stores and also in organic food markets.