Love It Or Hate It, Spinach Is Great!
We are in good company in our quest for health! Michelle Obama is on the same journey!
The New York Times tells us in its report Michelle Obama’s Agenda Includes Healthful Eating, that Michelle and her family have ditched processed foods and are actively supporting healthy eating and one of her favourite meals is creamless creamed spinach prepared by White House chefs. This is great news as it gives healthy eating a greater profile but it got me thinking about spinach.
I am not too keen on spinach, probably due to too many soggy spinach served with meals when I was a child. However, it is one of the most nutritious foods available as it is full of iron, vitamins and minerals. If you are interested in finding out exactly what goodness is in it, the WHFoods website gives a detailed analysis of the nutrients in spinach and the positive value it has for health.
I wish I liked spinach more because of its health value and also because of its reported benefits to eyesight. A while ago I watched an interesting programme on TV about research in the UK which showed that when elderly people ate a half a bag of spinach a day they found a significant improvement in their eyesight. You can find out more about this study on the BBC website. Be sure to also watch the Can spinach save your eyesight? video too.
While I do not like spinach, I love eggs so when I came across a recipe for spinach and cheese frittatas I gave it a try. A frittata is rather like a cross between an omelette and a quiche without the pastry and this recipe provides me with the goodness from the spinach and satisfies my love for eggs. I now keep frozen spinach in the freezer especially for this recipe.
Spinach and Cheese Frittatas
Ingredients
- 150 g (5 oz) spinach leaves or the same quantity of frozen spinach
- 1 garlic clove, crushed
- 2 eggs
- 2 egg whites
- 60 ml (1/4 cup) skimmed milk
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
- freshly ground black pepper
Method
- Preheat oven to moderately hot 200C (400F/Gas 6).
- Place the washed spinach leaves and garlic in a saucepan, cover and steam for 2-3 minutes or until the spinach has wilted.
- Drain the spinach in a colander and squeeze out the excess water and then roughly chop the leaves.
- Place the eggs, egg whites, skimmed milk and Parmesan cheese in a bowl and whisk to combine. Stir in the spinach and season with freshly ground black pepper.
- Spoon the mixture into a muffin tin, filling each of the holes about three quarters full. You should be able to fill about six holes with the mixture.
- Bake for about 15 minutes until the Frittatas are golden brown and set. Serve immediately.
Serves 6
Are you a spinach lover like Michelle Obama or do you, like me, only eat it because of its health benefits?
Photo from stock.xchng
June 14, 2009 4:32 pm 
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terry armstrong, June 15, 2009 @ 6:01 pm
Your website is looking really good! Lots of very useful information! Keep up the good work.
Maureen, June 16, 2009 @ 1:37 am
You are on the right track talking about healthy food for me.
Spinach I love it. We have another vegetable similar to spinach and often called spinach which is called silverbeet. It tastes practically the same as spinach and I’ve used it instead-of spinach.
Baby English spinach is delicious raw in salads.
cheers
Maureen
Sliloh, June 18, 2009 @ 12:40 am
I remember eating a lot of spinach when I was pregnant with my youngest. I was anemic and just couldn’t tolerate the iron pills. I don’t especially like spinach either and I’m glad I can eat it with a little more moderation now
Anita
Jan, June 18, 2009 @ 4:20 pm
It seems like people either love spinach or hate it. I will have to find more recipes which use spinach as it is so full of goodness.