How to eat more greens (and enjoy it!)

One in 20 Brits have not eaten a green vegetable in almost one month, according to our recent poll, despite them providing a number of important health benefits. In this article we give you some top tips for sneaking organic greens into some delicious recipes.

How to eat more greens (and enjoy it!)

Swiss chard

Our research into the health and diet of the nation has revealed a staggering 68% have not put anything green on their plate for over a week, while nearly one in twenty (4%) admit to not eating a single green vegetable in nearly a month or longer.*

While Brits might not be getting enough fresh veg, they are concerned about the provenance of their food, with 67% saying they would prefer to eat organic foods and 76% saying they often think about where there food comes from.

According to health experts, green vegetables provide a number of important health benefits, including protecting bones from osteoporosis and helping to prevent inflammatory diseases and because of their high content of antioxidants, green leafy veg are hailed as one of the best cancer-preventing foods available.

So it's time to get eating more fresh organic veg! We bet we can get more vegetables into your diet without you even noticing. Just try these four easy steps...

#1 Let them eat cake! 

A great way to get your family eating more vegetables is by making 'hidden veg' cakes. Carrot cake is a familiar concept to most but what about courgette cake? We love this easy bake which makes an unusual idea for afternoon tea.

#2 Smoothie it up

Smoothies are a great way to sneak all manner of healthy veggies into our meals.  Perfect for breakfast, this recipe will get you well on the way to your five-a-day!

#3 Surprise spinach

Love it or hate it, spinach is packed with health benefits. Young leaves can be eaten raw in salads, while older leaves are usually cooked - and in no time at all, as they have one of the shortest cooking times of any vegetable. You'll barely even notice a few handfuls of the stuff slipped into soups, stews or risotto. The leaves will be wilted and ready to eat usually within a couple of minutes.

#4 Get flipping mad about greens

Vibrant in natural colour, savoury pancakes are a great way to increase your intake of green veggies. These light and fluffy pancakes make for a nutritious and delicious brunch or breakfast. Any leftover (and we'd be surprised if there were!) can be enjoyed the next day.

*Based on research commissioned by Organic UK and independently conducted among a nationally representative sample of 1,000.

Jemma Moran

Jemma Moran

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