Hi! It’s Me!
Hey there! It’s your fave plant-based advocate LA from Black Girls Eat writing this post while riding the ferry to work. Yes. I said ferry. I live in the Bronx which is actually surrounded by lots of water. A few years ago, the city launched a ferry that takes you from the Bronx to Manhattan in 15 minutes. It’s such a beautiful ride. The views are amazing and in summer, I sit on top and pretend like I’m on a mini-cruise. Did I mention that they sell snacks and wine?
Anyhoo….this morning got me thinking about greens. A few years ago, when I took courses in plant-based nutrition, there was a huge emphasis on ensuring that you ate plenty of greens. I don’t just mean a large salad at lunch. They were talking at least six times a day. I couldn’t believe it. I could not imagine adding one cup of greens to my life several times a day.
What Google Says
So of course, I love searching for the facts. Google is always with me and never lets me down. Here’s what the internet says about Dark Green Leafy Vegetables.
Dark green leafy vegetables are an excellent source of fiber, folate, and carotenoids. These vegetables also contain vitamins C and K and the minerals iron and calcium. In addition, dark green leafy vegetables act as antioxidants in the body. Eating a diet rich in leafy greens can offer numerous health benefits including reduced risk of obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure and mental decline.
Welp! I’m sold. Some of you may love every green under the sun. But for the rest of us….that may not night be the case. The trick is finding the one or two that you love. I am a big fan of collard greens and spinach. Those are my go to greens but I’m not mad at Kale, Swiss Chard and Arugula. Feeling like a challenge? Visit the store this weekend and pick up a dark leafy green that you have never cooked with before. And don’t forget to let me know!
From there, you can start to figure out how to incorporate them often and daily. So here’s a little cheat sheet for you.
Sautée your greens and add them to any meal
Chop your greens and add them to your favorite salsa
Wrap your greens around other veggies for a quick snack
Mix your greens into your favorite smoothie
Stuff lots of greens into a sandwich, hero or panini
Stir greens into your favorite soup
The Recipe: Bowtie Pasta with Spinach and Mushroom
Of course I could have made this recipe with just pasta and mushrooms. But then, I would have missed the opportunity to sneak some greens into the mix. That’s what I’m saying! Once you get started, you might find yourself sneaking greens into everything! Check out this easy recipe for Bowtie Pasta with Spinach and Mushrooms from the Black Girls Eat Website.
The Random: Hanging Out with Janet Jackson
One cold night in NYC, I found myself having breakfast at 4am with Janet Jackson. One of my dearest friends is a talented performer who scooped me up earlier that night to check out the Janet Jackson show at Madison Square Garden. The performance of course, was epic. After the show, we went to Jan’s hotel. Yeah…that’s what they call her, Jan. I was star struck. Here’s how the introduction went:
My friend: Jan this is LA
Jan: Hi (in a whisper)
Me: Hi, I’m LA (in a voice that was wayyyy tooo loud)
Jan: Um…I heard (with a giggle)
She knew I was losing it but she was kind about it. We all went to a club and danced all night. We hit a diner around 4am. Everyone at the table was a dancer and she was very interested in the fact that I was a 7th grade teacher. We talked about my students and she was sincerely impressed by anecdotes of middle schoolers doing middle school things.
As the sun started coming up, everyone ordered salads and egg white omelets. At the time, that was way too health conscientious for me! So I ordered French Toast and French Fries. And guess what!?! So did Jan!!! I couldn’t believe it. We got down with all the ketchup and syrup too. She was absolutely cool AF and every time I hear her music or see her on tv, I just smile and think about the cool girl I spent one very cool night with.
Thanks so much for reading. If you have time this weekend, check out me out making a Vegan Coconut Rum Cake on Epicurious. I had a lot of fun being in a studio on a kitchen set. It gave me visions of my own show. Check out the recipe for the cake HERE. It’s perfect for the holiday season.