Foodie Friday : YAPAS (Yet Another Post About Spinach)

Tapas is the cool food you get to eat if you go to a restaurant in Spain. YAPAS is yet another post about spinach, meant to encourage those who don't care much for this veggie to eat it anyway!

There was once a contestant in a beauty pageant, and she was asked: “If you have one last thing to do before you die, what would it be?”

Her response was: “She would eat everything!”

That is a sister after my own heart! :)

I love to eat! But no matter how many “first food experiences” I have, I just know that there is a lot of delicious and tasty food in the world that I'm missing out on. :)

For example:
♦ I was either in my late 20s or early 30s before I knew that you could eat spinach raw!

Shocking??!!  I know!!!

More true stories and facts about spinach.

~ Per celebrity TV chef, Rachael Ray, frozen spinach is the best bargain buy for green leafy vegetables!

~ My late mother only ever fed us spinach from the can.

~ Popeye the Sailor Man is the reason one of my brothers started eating spinach. My mom had tried everything to persuade him. The cartoon did the trick! :)

~ Recollection of my first food experience eating raw spinach?
When traveling on official government business, you get a “meal allowance,” and so you get the opportunity to eat out at restaurants. Can't remember the restaurant, but when I ordered my dinner, the salad was served first. That's a common practice. What was uncommon was that it was a spinach salad, and it was delicious! I'm like: 'Oh my! You can eat spinach raw!'

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Fresh vs. Frozen Spinach?

Fresh and frozen spinach are both nutritious, but they shine in different ways. The short answer: fresh wins on texture and certain vitamins; frozen wins on convenience, cost, and long‑term nutrient stability.

CONTRAST: Fresh spinach is best for crisp texture and maximum vitamin C, while frozen spinach is ideal for cooking, is cheaper, and is often just as nutritious.

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Eating spinach is encouraged because it’s one of the most nutrient‑dense, health‑protective foods you can add to your diet. It delivers vitamins A, C, K1, iron, folate, magnesium, potassium, and powerful antioxidants that support everything from your eyes to your blood pressure. 

(REF: Gunnars, Kris. “Spinach 101: Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits.” Healthline Media, 14 May 2019, https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods/spinach.)

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Four Easy Ways to Encourage Spinach Consumption

1. Add to smoothies — Mild flavor disappears easily.
2. Mix into pasta or soups — Wilts quickly and boosts nutrients.
3. Use in salads — Baby spinach is tender and sweet.
4. Blend into sauces — Great for picky eaters.

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I would like to recommend an online publication called "The Science of Eating". It is loaded with healthy eating tips and information, like this article:

I don't really need to be convinced to eat my green leafy vegetables. But it's great to know that the foods I love are good for me too. Nothing more disheartening than being told you need to eat a certain food because it has what you need, and it's a food that you can't stand eating!! Like carrots!  My mom had a rough time trying to get me to eat carrots.  Watching Bugs Bunny did not do the trick!  :) 

Thank goodness you can turn carrots into juice and mix it with other juices to mask the flavor. :)

Eat Your Greens! Drink Your Carrots!