Adding in Spinach

I've been trying to incorporate more spinach into our family's diet over the last several months. It's one of those veggies that is full of really good stuff, and I want us to be eating it!

I've always loved spinach. I was one of those weird kids who actually liked it growing up. Buzz, however, is not a fan of the taste of it. So, I've been finding some sneaky, and not-so-sneaky, ways of getting it into his diet. Thankfully, he loves broccoli (another veggie that's full of good stuff) and eats it willingly.

Spinach is one of the vegetable that I like to buy organic. There are a few I always try to do that with because they absorb chemicals really easily. (If we could afford to eat all organic, I would.)

Now anyone who knows me, knows that I wouldn't call myself any kind of knowledgeable cook. I cook for my family. I cook what we like. I try new things here and there, but I'm nothing special in the kitchen. Even so, I thought I would share a few of the common meals I have been adding spinach into, and a recipe.

Spaghetti - I've added finely chopped spinach to this. It adds a pretty color contrast, and the taste is so subtle it goes undetected by Buzz and North.

Pizza - We are loving homemade pizzas, as I've shared here before. My pizza is loaded with spinach leaves, but for the boys' pizza, I chop it finely and add it just on top of a thin layer of sauce and garlic. Once it's topped with (turkey) pepperoni and cheese, they hardly notice it. (Although Buzz will try to pick it off now and then - I just say, Eat it! ;))

Eggs - This is something I love - Spinach in my scrambled eggs, or as an omelet. Buzz doesn't like it, but many times I will make plain scrambled eggs for him, and mine with spinach. He likes to have bites of my food, so I'll usually have him take a few bites of mine, which is better than nothing. I try to balance having him eat things he doesn't love, with sneaking things in. I want him to learn to eat what we have, because I think that's a good thing for kids to learn - to appreciate the fact they have food, even if it's not their favorite. But I also don't want to force him to eat a plate full of stuff that makes him want to say - Yuck! - if I don't have to.

Tacos - For Buzz's tacos, I chop his lettuce extremely fine. (He's always had major issues with textures, and this saves us all from a lot of stress.) So, I've been mixing in some equally finely chopped spinach. He doesn't notice it at all, and it makes his taco a lot more healthy.

Chili - This is another of the same type of thing. I love chili!! My mom made it so good when we were growing up... So my recipe is based off of hers.

(More on that lovely bouquet later.)

This is one of those meals that I add different things to from time to time, but when I made it a few days ago, it tasted extra good. I thought I would share it, although I also know Chili is a meal that each family has their own way of making.

I didn't really measure anything, but I think it would be pretty easy to know about how much you/your family eat, and add in the right amount of everything.

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Chili Recipe

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Prepare beans (if using dried beans)
Red beans
Black beans
Lentils
and begin cooking in water (beans covered).

Add medium clove garlic, pepper, chili powder, pinch of dried cayenne, sea salt, Ortega taco sauce, stewed tomatoes, chopped carrot greens (about half handful). Let cook together all day if you can, or until beans are soft.

Brown turkey burger. Cook with garlic, a small onion, pepper, chili powder, and a bunch of finely chopped spinach.

Add meat mixture to beans and let it cook together for a little while.

Serve with More taco sauce (if you like it spicy like I do), sour cream, and cheese.

Yum! It's good!