What do you think of Spinach? Do you get visions of Popeye squeezing open a can and pouring that wet mush into your mouth? I honestly use to until I started incorporated fresh spinach into my meals and very easily too. Spinach is in season in the Spring from March through May and again in September through October. Depending on the climate in your area it may be in season throughout the Summer as well. Today’s Food Fact Friday: Spinach Benefits Buying Storage Recipes .

Spinach has been around for centuries. A lot of meals prepared with spinach are pinned the name “Florentine”, because of it its early use in Florence in the 1500s. It was a favorite food of Catherine de’Medici and she even took her own cooks with her to prepare it when she married King Henry II.

Spinach is one of the most nutrient-dense foods in the world which definitely puts it on a Top 10 Superfoods list to have in your daily nutrition. It has a whopping 1111 percent of the daily value of Viitamin K, and 377 percent of Vitamin A. It is also rich in Vitamin B6, C, E,  potassium, folate, manganese, iron, magnesium, riboflavin, calcium, copper and fiber. It also has a good amount of thiamine, zinc, and omega-3 fatty acids. The amount of antioxidants is off the charts! Studies have found an improvement in inflammation and reduction of oxidation in the blood from spinach.

I hear it is pretty easy to grown your own spinach, but I do not have a green thumb so I purchase it myself. When choosing spinach look for deep green leaves that are crisp and firm. When you cook spinach it will shrink so keep that in mind if you are adding it to food.

When it comes to storage do not wash them ahead of time. When you get them home pat dry cover with paper towels and store loosely in the fridge for up to a week. You can keep in a zip lock bag or a container with a lid like these that I use from Amazon.

Rubbermaid Produce Saver Food Storage Container

Be sure to wash before eating or cooking. I personally soak all my fruits and vegetables in 3 parts vinegar and 1 part water for 10-15 minutes and then rinse and dry thoroughly.

Whether you want to try raw or cooked spinach I have over 20 different recipes on my site for you to check out. There are salads, side dishes, and even sneaky ways of adding them into different things without any different taste which I talk more about in my blog:  How to Eat More Vegetables Sneaky Ways.

Here is the page of Spinach Recipes

Spinach Recipes