Eat Green!

Vegetables are an important food to include in your diet every day, not just on St. Patrick’s Day. To celebrate this green holiday, here are some of the top green veggies and ways to add them to your daily diet.1. Brilliant Broccoli: this green wonder provides vitamin C and potassium- 2 heart-healthy nutrients. Vitamin C is also good for healthy skin and cancer prevention . Eat it raw and absorb over 30% more of its cancer-fighting nutrients.2. Strong Snap Peas: unlike their name, sugar snap peas are low in sugar, but a great source of vitamins A and C. They’re also a good source of iron, a nutrient needed for a strong immune system. Eat them raw, steamed or stir fried.3. Super Spinach: spinach can be eaten raw in salads or cooked and eaten solo. It’s also great in soups, casseroles or sauces. These powerful leaves are high in vitamins A& K - two nutrients that keep your bones healthy and strong.4. Power Peppers: peppers are loaded with vitamin C, which can help heal wounds and keep your immune system strong. Red, yellow & orange peppers are higher in vitamin C than green. Dip them in hummus or low fat dip, or add them to eggs, spaghetti sauce or casseroles.5. Awesome Asparagus: asparagus is an awesome vegetable because it’s high in folic acid, vitamins A, C and E, all of which are heart-friendly. Try it roasted, grilled or even fresh with dip.6. Killer kale. There’s a reason kale is known as a “power food”. For a mere 25 calories/cup, you get a hefty dose of beta-carotene, potassium, vitamin K, fiber, folic acid and phytochemicals. This veggie is great in soup with white beans or baked into chips.7. Cool cucumbers: these seedy favorites are great in a salad or by themselves. They’re high in water to quench your thirst.8. Rockin’ romaine. Unlike iceberg lettuce, romaine packs vitamin K, vitamin C, beta-carotene and folic acid. Add a few leaves to your sandwich as well as your salads.