Dark leafy greens when you are sick of salad

Last year I went on a salad boycott. I went several months (yes, including summer months) not really making or eating salads. Eventually I came back to them and love them again. Maybe there was something in me that thought “I should be eating salads” so I rebelled against the judgement? Maybe I just got sick of the kinds I was eating? Maybe I just didn’t want to spend that much time chewing? Maybe it all started by just not buying salad greens? I’m not entirely sure. I just know every time it popped up as option I shot it down.

Here are 5 ways to get dark leafy greens in that aren’t salad. Because sometimes …ya just don’t feel it.  (And oh my gosh THEY ALL START WITH “S”)

Smoothies. (My favorite for awhile has been one small zucchini chopped, 3 clementines, and two big handfuls of power greens from Costco. This is not a “meal” smoothie, just a way to get in a few more veggies and greens smoothie. Add-on to a meal, not the whole meal)

Scrambles (Omelets, tofu scrambles, salsa, spinach, onions, mmm. mmm. mmm. My mouth is watering. I also love chopping up kale and other greens very very tiny, sautéing them, and throwing them in with rice and veggies. They almost feel garnish-y and a little less noticeable)

Sandwiches and wraps (obvious, but I forget this all the time. Stuffing a sandwich, wrap, seaweed wraps, or rice wrap paper with veggies and greens feels easy)

Soups. (Actually this one feels easiest! Again, tiny and chopped leaves sautéed and sprinkled in soup? NBD. Last week I had a can of Amy’s veggie soup, handful of tofu and greens thrown in and it was deeelish. Greens were basically swallowed whole, and that’s a win to me. ✨)

When I did end up caming back to salads these 2 thoughts helped me:

⭐️ For now, I’m going to make the dark leafy greens an add-on, not the main character. This salad is going to have sooo many other yummy things that I love. I mean, it’s more like a “bowl” … with a handful of greens thrown in.

⭐️ I don’t ever *have to* eat salads when don’t want to. ( So interesting that giving my self unlimited permission to not eat them, made me feel okay with maybe trying them again.)

Dark Leafy greens feel like one of those things that *most* experts agree is really quite good for us. Anecdotally, I always feel better after consuming greens. Like clearer mentally, and a titch more energy. It may be the placebo effect, but who cares, I’ll take it.

I love little reminders of how good dark leafies are for me, here’s one just in case you want a little nudge:

https://nutritionfacts.org/video/do-lutein-supplements-help-with-brain-function/

And if you can’t get dark leafy greens in this week, hey. Nobody’s going to jail over it. Take what’s useful and LEAF the rest. 😁

🥬💚
Katie

PS Last week, I sent out an invitation to send me your wins, without realizing hitting “reply” to this email would be a deadend. Sorry about that. Until I figure out how to set up this new website email, feel free to reach me at my regular email Katieomiller@gmail.com …a few of you found your way around my mistake — thanks for that! I’m always up for celebrating wins. 🎉 …or hearing how you prefer eating dark leafies!