In last week’s Foods of the Month blog post, we discussed all the ways to eat spinach (a May Foods of the Month) as a snack. Spinach, which is full of antioxidants and iron, is a great addition to any dinner dish as well! Here are some of our favorite ways to eat quick, healthy spinach dinners:
Pizza with Spinach – Use whole grain pizza crust for your pizza, top with low-fat cheese, then add your favorite veggies, including spinach. Use several handfuls of fresh spinach leaves to top your pizza, then bake in the oven at 425 degrees for 10-15 minutes, until the cheese starts to bubble. This is a quick and easy weeknight meal for your whole family!
Ziti with Spinach – Add frozen spinach to tomato sauce to enhance your regular pasta dishes. Thaw the spinach, then cook with a little bit of oil and garlic on the stove. Add one jar of your favorite tomato sauce, and continue to simmer on low for about 30 minutes to blend the flavors. Use this semi-homemade sauce in your favorite ziti recipe (with whole wheat pasta and low-fat cheese of course!). This dish is especially good for those picky eaters since the spinach is blended into the sauce.
Spinach Salad – Fresh spinach leaves are full of so many vitamins that keep our bodies healthy. Next time you make a dinner salad, use spinach leaves instead of regular lettuce. We like making our dinner spinach salads with grilled chicken breast, goat cheese, some nuts and dried berries. Top with a low-fat vinaigrette for a filling and healthy meal.
Whole Grain Pasta Salad with Spinach – This dish is full of flavor and perfect for barbeques or pot luck suppers. Add a mixture of cut up spinach (use about 2 cups), basil, red pepper, onion, pine nuts, feta cheese, and sun-dried tomatoes to whole grain pasta (that has cooled off after cooking). Mix together with a 1/4 cup olive oil and a splash of balsamic vinegar. Stir together and let it sit for 30 minutes for the flavors to blend. This tasty pasta recipe makes the perfect side dish or light lunch!