Galantys Game Plan

Swiss chard is a very versatile, mild tasting, leafy green vegetable that is loaded with vitamins A and C. For those of us who are aspiring gardeners, it is quite easy to grow (even I managed not to kill it) and it lasts throughout the summer and into the fall depending on where you live. The soft, shiny green leaves are great in sautés, soups, salads, juices or smoothies and the stems can be used in soups or put through your juicer or in your compost pile (or in our case, fed to the guinea pig). There is a red variety of chard that can be used interchangeably with the green. It just leaves a red tint behind so you might want to avoid it in juices and smoothies, but the flavor is about the same.

Occasionally, I substitute swiss chard for spinach in some of my green smoothies just to mix it up a bit. You won’t taste the Read the rest of this entry →

Eating kale raw preserves the live enzymes in the vegetable as well as all of the vitamins and minerals, but there are times when you may be craving the warmth of a cooked dish (or you just don’t feel like chewing as much). These are both excellent choices for this versatile vegetable. Read the rest of this entry →

If you want to improve your health, the first place to start is to increase your intake of green vegetables.  They are without a doubt the primary food group lacking in most people’s diets (okay I know that technically green vegetables are not classified as a food group of their own, but they really should be…they are that important).  When I say this to people, invariably they tell me they eat lots of green vegetables already, but I suspect this is not really the case.  Eating a salad with dinner and a side of broccoli, although a good start, is not nearly enough.

Why are green vegetables so vital to our health?  They nourish and strengthen our blood and immune system.  They prevent cancer, boost your energy level, and they are loaded with fiber, Read the rest of this entry →