Three Little Super Foods to Eat in April

Three Little Super Foods to Eat in AprilSo how has April been for you so far? It’s crazy that we’re now in the fourth month of the year already! Summer is surely around the corner, and that thought really makes us smile here at Little Soap HQ! But first, April. And what we should be putting in out shopping baskets this month. With the extra hours of daylight this is a wonderful month of promise, and there is so much good quality organic produce out there to choose from. Here are our top three little super foods to eat in April. Enjoy!

Spinach

There’s a reason why Popeye used to eat so much of this stuff. You do remember Popeye, don’t you? He’d do anything for him lady love, Olive, to save her from the evil Brutus. One can of spinach and his muscles w
ould pop out and he’d gain the strength of ten men! Now, obviously that’s not going to happen if you eat the stuff in real life, but there are some pretty powerful health benefits that deserve to be mentioned none the less!

Spinach is at peak season right now, and will be until June at least, so make sure you’re adding this to your meal plan right now. The reason why spinach is so beneficial? It’s crammed full of iron, which plays a vital part in the healthy functioning of red blood cells. These red blood cells move oxygen around the body and help with energy production and DNA synthesis too. In addition to the iron, spinach is rich in vitamin K, vitamin A and vitamin C, as well as folic acid, manganese, magnesium and vitamin B2. It’s worth noting that all the vitamin K helps to maintain bone health and spinach is the only vegetable that contains such high levels, leaving kale, broccoli and green cabbage trailing.

How to eat it

It’s worth remembering that less is more when it comes to spinach! Because it has such a high water content, it reduces down when cooked so go for nice big handfuls every time! Spinach can be paired with nutmeg or garlic for an amazing taste, or it can be used to compliment chicken, fish, beef or veggie dishes too. Steam it, sautée it or stir fry it. It really is versatile! We love a nice big handful added to whatever juice we’re making that day, or it can be used in your breakfast smoothie too. And, of course, baby spinach leaves are just amazing in a salad. There are SO many ways to eat it, there really can be no excuse for not doing so!

Spring onions

The humble spring onion might not be a vegetable you think much about. You may grab a bunch for a story fry or chop one for a salad, but I wonder if you really know how amazing this little green is? Spring onions have long since been used in many different dishes around the world, and also in Chinese medicine since ancient times. The reason being is that they contain high levels of essential vitamins and nutrients. They’re rich in vitamin C, vitamin B2 and thiamine. They also have good levels of vitamin A and K too. Not only that, but spring onions are also good sources of copper, phosphorous, chromium, manganese and fibre, which makes them pretty powerful overall!

Spring onions have the ability to maintain good heart health, reduce blood pressure, and even fight colds thanks to anti-bacterial properties. Pretty much a super food if you ask us!Three Little Super Foods to Eat in April

How to eat them

Chop them and add them to salads, stir fries, guacamole, soups… they’re really versatile. Although I’m not sure I should recommend eating them how my grandad used to: dipped in salt and eaten whole! This recipe is lovely though:

Healthy pizza

Yes, there is such a thing! If you prefer to avoid bread, swap the base for a cauliflower base instead (recipe here). For this recipe you need:

  • One pizza base
  • One small ball of mozzarella, thinly sliced
  • Small handful of kale, ripped into small pieces
  • Six stems of asparagus, chopped
  • Two spring onions
  • One garlic clove
  • Two tablespoons tomato puree mixed with one tablespoon water, half a tablespoon parmesan
  • A pinch of sea salt

To make it, simply preheat your oven to 220 C and place your pizza base on a baking tray. Spread the sauce over the base, and top with the other ingredients. Con for around 10-15 minutes, until hot and bubbling. Then enjoy!

Sorrel

Not many people are aware of sorrel and it’s often a new one when it appears in the supermarket around this time of year. But it’s definitely worth a try! Sorrel is actually a perennial herb that is used all around the world for many different uses. It’s widely thought that sorrel has the ability to maintain good ease health, strengthen the immune system and help to build strong bones. This is along side it’s power to increase circulation, boost energy levels, lower blood pressure, maintain good heart health and improve kidney health. Wow! Some say it also helps to prevent cancer and protect against diabetes too, so it’s one ingredient we really recommend you add to your shopping list this month!

How to eat it

Sorrel is a strong tasting food so it’s best added to soups, sauces and salad dressing to give dishes an extra zing. It works really well with olive oil, walnuts and parmesan. Give it a try!

 

 

 

Wholesale