How to Get Your Kids to Eat Dark Leafy Greens by Esther Ellis, MS, RDN (www.eatright.org)

There's a reason you hear so much about eating dark leafy greens. Vegetables such as kale, chard, collard greens, arugula and spinach are bursting with nourishing health benefits. However, many kids turn up their noses and are reluctant to eat them.

The Nutritional Benefits of Greens
The USDA's MyPlate specifically recommends adults and children over 9 years old eat one and a half to two cups of dark green vegetables per week. Nutrient-dense dark leafy greens are jam-packed with healthy plant-based compounds, plus lots of vitamins and minerals with just 10 to 25 calories per half-cup serving. The family of dark green leafy vegetables deliver many nutrients, such as vitamin A, vitamin C, antioxidants, fiber, folate, vitamin K, magnesium, calcium, iron and potassium.  

These nutrients perform a variety of functions in the body, including promoting good vision, supporting immune function, acting as antioxidants that may help prevent certain cancers, and regulating blood pressure, blood sugar and blood cholesterol.

Read More