Spinach is a tasty leafy green that’s good for your muscles, heart, eyes, and brain. It’s famous for being the favorite food of Popeye the Sailor, a 1920s comic strip character with impressive muscles.
Fast Facts About Spinach
Green Goodness: Spinach plants have dark green leaves that vary in texture from smooth to crinkled. The crinkled varieties are called “savoy” spinach.
Eat Your Leaves: Spinach leaves are roughly oval in shape, with tapered, rounded tips. They grow in cute little bunches called “rosettes.” Both the leaves and their tender stems are good to eat.
An Earthy Treat: This leafy green has a mild, earthy, slightly sweet flavor. The smaller leaves tend to be tastier, but all of the sizes are rich in healthy iron and Vitamin C.
Fall Fun: Spinach season peaks in the fall, but it grows in California year-round. It makes a tasty, crisp treat in the winter when fresh fruits and veggies are less abundant than usual.
Meet a Spinach Farmer: Ocean Mist Farms
Ocean Mist Farms’ roots go back to 1924, when Daniel Pieri and his cousins, Amerigo and Angelo Del Chiaros, leased farmland in Castroville, California, to grow vegetables. Over the years, they joined forces with other local farming families to form Ocean Mist. Today, the farm grows spinach, artichokes, broccoli, asparagus, and more.
Where to Find Ocean Mist Farms
It’s Snack Time! Ways to Eat Spinach
Thanks to its mild flavor, you can sneak spinach into just about any snack for an extra health boost! Here are a few of our favorite ways to eat it.
Give These Tasty Snack Ideas a Try
Green Monster Smoothie: Add a handful of spinach to your favorite fruit smoothie. It will add nutrition (and a fun color) without changing the flavor.
Spinach Dip: Mix sauteed spinach, garlic, and onion with cream cheese, mozzarella, and spices. Dip in carrots, broccoli, or crackers for a tasty snack.
Spinach Grilled Cheese Bites: Add a layer of spinach to a grilled cheese sandwich along with a sprinkle of garlic salt. Cut the sandwich into quarters and enjoy it with sliced fresh fruit.
Spinach Skewers: Slice cheese and apples into cubes, then thread them onto skewers with a spinach leaf between each cube. Drizzle with honey and balsamic vinegar for a unique and delicious snack.
Contact Us
For more info on The FruitGuys Farm-to-School Program, contact Carol Stewart at [email protected]
For general info, School Bulletin suggestions, or questions about your Nutrition Education materials, contact The School Team at [email protected]
