Today we celebrate a healthy and nutritious green that is commonly used for salad or smoothies, the Spinach. This day is observed annually on March 26th.
When we talk about spinach, what comes to my mind is my favorite cartoon character, Popeye the Sailorman, who is a fictional character who becomes strong and mighty when he eats spinach, a vegetable loaded with nutrients not only for Popeye but everyone.
Spinach is a green leafy flowering plant native to central and western Asia. Its leaves are a common edible vegetable consumed either fresh, or after storage using preservation techniques by canning, freezing, or dehydration. Raw spinach is 91% water, 4% carbohydrate, 3% protein, and contains negligible fat. A 100 g (3.5 oz) serving provides only 23 calories, spinach has a high nutritional value, especially when fresh, frozen, steamed, or quickly boiled. It is a rich source of vitamins A, C, E, K, and other nutrients like magnesium, manganese, iron and folate, potassium, calcium, and dietary fiber. Spinach is also a good source of B vitamins, riboflavin, and vitamin B6. In 2016, the world production of spinach was 26.7 million tons, with China alone accounting for 92% of the total.
Nowadays, spinach is incorporated in almost every food and drink recipes. You can find a variety of green drinks in the market which contains spinach. You can find pasta or wraps which are made of spinach. You can buy smoothies or make it your own and the main ingredients are spinach which gives that bright green color of the nutritious drink. You can find fresh or pre-packed frozen spinach for use on different kinds of recipes. Even pizza restaurants incorporate spinach to some of their pizza menus. You can use spinach to a variety of food recipes, and if you’re on a diet and love salad, you can make yourself a spinach salad. Spinach is just a versatile and nutrient-dense leafy green that everybody loves around the world.
So, today, celebrate this day by using spinach for your favorite dish or smoothie. Share on social media your favorite recipe with spinach using #SpinachDay.
