To make everyday healthy easy, it is helpful to be able to look at an ingredient and have several ideas come to mind for how to use. Right now, as part of my exploration to incorporate Spring liver loving foods into my everyday, I am experimenting with Swiss Chard. I have included Chard on my Produce Shopping List for Everyday Spring Westcoast Cuisine (I try to use the same shopping lists to make everyday healthy more convenient), despite the fact that as much as I like greens, I have never really liked Swiss Chard.
 
I think it tastes like soap. I much more of a kale type woman. When I saw Swiss Chard on sale at Whole Foods for $0.99/bunch, I was inspired to learn to LOVE this veggie. So I asked for your advice on my Facebook page to get ideas.

I was delighted to receive all your suggestions! Thank you. Wow, I am very inspired! A lovely woman, Fateh, suggested green smoothies, which I LOVE because they quick and easy. I looked through my fridge for affordable whole food ingredients I always have on hand that pair well together ~ and immediately apples and ginger came to mind. Not to mention, apples and ginger are both good for your liver. To read about the all the benefits of being good to your detox organ this Spring, check out my blog article Spring into Wellness with GLOW..

So I added my everyday ingredients into my blender with some filtered water, and flax seeds ~ another ingredient that can be affordable. If you live in Vancouver the best deal is at Drive Oganics on Commercial drive they are only $1.79/lb for organic.

As well, I added a dash of dulse flakes (you can replace with sea salt). This is an important step to bring out all the flavours. You could also try adding some hemp seeds (these cost more than flax) and adding a tsp or two of flax oil to get more omega-3s.

....Voila! In less than 5 minutes, the perfect breakfast  ~ alkalizing, full of cholorophyll, omega-3s, antioxidants to neutralize free radicals ~ with ingredients to cleanser your liver.

Right before I drank my green smoothie, I remembered that Cinnamon LOVES Ginger and Apples. Cinnamon is a spice I always have on hand because it is so versatile. (psst. I have included this on my Everyday Pantry Shopping List) So I decided to add a dash, but I accidentally poured out a lot :-).
 
The best part, was...it was delish! And I loved the cinnamon flavour. My smoothie did not taste like soap. I am now inspired to explore how a Swiss Chard Smoothie would taste if I replaced the apple with frozen blueberries or strawberries that I still have leftover from last years harvest....or perhaps with a bit of fresh mint I included on my Spring Westcoast Cuisine Produce Shopping List (as I know apples and berries LOVE fresh mint:-). There are never ending options for spontaneous healthy deliciousness once you learn the art of whole food flavour combining.

May you be inspired to enjoy healthy spring greens delicious-ly! And thank you again to Fateh for the inspiration. I look forward to continuing to share my exploration of Everyday Spring Cuisine.
 
As always, I love to hear from you. Feel free to share your recipes, tips and comments.

Bon Appetit,