Greens

chickypoo72

Throwing a handful of fresh spinach to your smoothie or protein shake will add a chuckload of vitamins without changing the flavor or adding calories. And it's great for your complexion.

Jayco141

I love Spinach, but not in my protein shake!

janejellyroll

Spinach is very low calorie, but it isn't calorie-free.

kristikitter

chickypoo72 wrote: »

Throwing a handful of fresh spinach to your smoothie or protein shake will add a chuckload of vitamins without changing the flavor or adding calories. And it's great for your complexion.

What kind of magic spinach...

Cat3141

A handful of spinach is really not much spinach. Assuming it's an ounce of spinach (I'd guess it's less) will add about 6 calories, half your daily recommended vitamin A, and about 160% of your daily vitamin K, 10-15% vitamin C, folate, and manganese, and nominal amounts of anything else. And your body's ability to absorb nutrients from raw spinach, especially consumed without a fat source is going to be reduced. Adding enough spinach to make a major difference, say 1-2 cups packed, will most certainly change the taste of your smoothie, not to mention possibly turning it a really gross brown color depending on what else is in there.

Source of nutritional info is: http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/vegetables-and-vegetable-products/2626/2

janejellyroll

Cat3141 wrote: »

A handful of spinach is really not much spinach. Assuming it's an ounce of spinach (I'd guess it's less) will add about 6 calories, half your daily recommended vitamin A, and about 160% of your daily vitamin K, 10-15% vitamin C, folate, and manganese, and nominal amounts of anything else. And your body's ability to absorb nutrients from raw spinach, especially consumed without a fat source is going to be reduced. Adding enough spinach to make a major difference, say 1-2 cups packed, will most certainly change the taste of your smoothie, not to mention possibly turning it a really gross brown color depending on what else is in there.

Source of nutritional info is: http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/vegetables-and-vegetable-products/2626/2

It really isn't much spinach, but I thought it was worth pointing out because we still do sometimes see posts about "free" foods, foods without calories, or people asking if they should track vegetables. A handful of spinach won't add many calories, but it will add *some*.

cathipa

Cat3141 wrote: »

A handful of spinach is really not much spinach. Assuming it's an ounce of spinach (I'd guess it's less) will add about 6 calories, half your daily recommended vitamin A, and about 160% of your daily vitamin K, 10-15% vitamin C, folate, and manganese, and nominal amounts of anything else. And your body's ability to absorb nutrients from raw spinach, especially consumed without a fat source is going to be reduced. Adding enough spinach to make a major difference, say 1-2 cups packed, will most certainly change the taste of your smoothie, not to mention possibly turning it a really gross brown color depending on what else is in there.

Source of nutritional info is: http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/vegetables-and-vegetable-products/2626/2

I put about 3 oz in my chocolate mint protein smoothie and it actually turns green. Doesn't affect the taste either.
OP there are calories in spinach, however minimal. Nothing magical about it either, but good for getting in more vitamins.