Last year marked 30 years for myself being meat-free, completely vegan for 19, and when one hears that someone is Vegetarian or Vegan it is a natural assumption that we eat loads of salads and get tons of greens into our daily lives. Some days yes, some days no.
Vegans enjoy comfort foods as much as the next person; who doesn’t want pasta, or potatoes or bread more than anything else? Getting a healthy amount of vegetables and greens can be difficult for everyone.
Once upon a time the phrase “eat your greens” was commonly said, but in today’s fast paced world more people have learned that drinking your greens is a more effective way of keeping that balance in their diets.
All greens are not created equally though. My green go-to smoothie is filled with a full head of romaine lettuce, full bunch of fresh spinach, 4 celery, 1 apple, 1 banana and lemon juice; because when else would I consume that in a day? And while these are technically green foods, they are not “Greens” that we know today.
Little Life Box’s April Vegan Box included a 216g Photo Greens Powder from Genestra Brands which is on a whole other level of greenery.
Packed with Spirulina, this blue-green alga (cyanobacteria) is a very good source of antioxidants, B vitamins, iron, copper, and manganese. Also at the top of the list is Chlorella which is a single-celled green alga that is a rich source of chlorophyll, as well as vitamins A, C, B12, iron, magnesium, and zinc. Chlorella is great for detoxification as it has the ability to bind to heavy metals and unwanted chemicals in the body.
It’s not always easy knowing what to choose for yourself when you want to improve your health but research is essential to making healthier choices for yourself and your family. We are all very different and the thought we give to what we put into our bodies should be at the top of the list in choices we make daily.
Springtime is a time when people reflect on the long winter that has just passed and all the warming comfort food that got them through those cold days and long dark night. Just like your home, your car, your yard, your body enjoys a great Spring cleaning and shifting into the new season sees a lot of detoxes and cleanses. Adding greens to your daily regimen to support that is never a bad idea.
In the meantime, while you are drinking your greens, we have a nice recipe to share that is a wonderful transition from those winter comfort foods to fresh spring/summer goodness. It has all the comfort that you could possibly need but it also has only fresh ingredients.
Enjoy!
Black Bean Chili
- 1 tbsp (15 mL) olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 carrot, chopped
- 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced
- 1 sweet green pepper, chopped
- 3 large Ontario Greenhouse Tomatoes, chopped
- 2-19 oz cans (540 mL) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 tbsp (15 mL) chili powder
- 1 tsp (5 mL) ground cumin
- 1 tsp (5 mL) crumbled dried rosemary
- 1 tsp (5 mL) salt
- 1 cup (250 mL) grated Ontario Greenhouse Cucumber - garnish
Cool days call for hot, brimming bowlfuls of this zesty chili/soup that's almost a meal in itself. It's so quick and easy to prepare, that you can whip it up after work or during a Saturday of chores.
In large saucepan, heat oil over medium heat; cook garlic onion, carrot, jalapeno pepper and green pepper, stirring often, for about 5 minutes or until softened. Stir in tomatoes, beans, chili powder, cumin and rosemary; bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered for 20 minutes. Season with salt to your own taste.
Preparation time: 10 min
Cooking time: 25 min
Makes: 4 servings