Dark Green Leafy Vegetables

Dark green leafy vegetables are good sources of many vitamins (such as vitamins A, C, and K and folate) and minerals (such as iron and calcium). They’re also great sources of fiber. Research studies suggest that the nutrients found in dark green leafy vegetables may prevent certain types of cancers and promote heart health. It’s recommended that teens aim to eat at least 2 to 3 servings (1/2 cup cooked or 1 cup raw per serving) each week.

Your body needs some dietary fat to absorb several of the vitamins found in dark green leafy vegetables. Many preparation methods and recipes for dark leafy greens already contain some type of fat such as oil, butter, or cheese, in which case you don’t need to add any more to absorb those important nutrients. However, if you are eating them raw, you should add a bit of olive oil or salad dressing to your dark green leafy vegetables or eat them with a meal that includes fat such as nuts, avocado, oil, milk, or cheese. This helps to make sure your body absorbs all of the vitamins you eat.

What are some examples of dark green leafy vegetables and the tastiest way to eat them?

Arugula has a peppery taste and is rich in vitamins A, C, folate, and calcium. Arugula can be eaten raw in salads or on pizza and sandwiches. It can also be added to stir-fry, soups, and pasta sauces.

Broccoli has both soft florets and crunchy stalks and is rich in vitamins A, C, and K, folate, and fiber. Broccoli can be eaten raw, steamed, sautéed, or added to a casserole or soup.

Collard Greens have a mild flavor and are rich in vitamins A, C, and K, folate, fiber, and calcium. The best way to prepare them is to boil them briefly and then add to a soup or stir-fry. You can also eat collard greens as a side dish. Just add your favorite seasoning and enjoy!

Dandelion Greens have a bitter, tangy flavor and are rich in vitamins A, C, iron, magnesium, and calcium. They are best when steamed or eaten raw in a salad.

Kale has a slightly bitter, cabbage-like flavor and is rich in vitamins A, C and K. Kale is tasty when added to soups, stir-fries, and sauces.  Rubbing kale leaves (or “massaging) with your fingers and a little oil before you eat can help make them softer and reduce the bitterness.

Mustard Greens have a peppery or spicy flavor and are rich in vitamins A, C, and K, and calcium. They are delicious when eaten raw in salads or in stir-fries and soups.

Romaine Lettuce is a nutrient-rich lettuce that is high in vitamins A, C, and K, and folate. It can be eaten raw in salads, sandwiches or wraps.

Spinach has a mild sweet flavor and is rich in vitamins A and K, folate, and iron. Spinach tastes great eaten raw in salads, steamed, or sautéed. Try adding spinach to an omelet! Spinach is also one of the best greens to add to smoothies because the flavor is so mild that it will not change the taste of your smoothie.

Swiss Chard tastes similar to spinach and is rich in vitamins A, C, and K, potassium, and iron. It’s best stir-fried, added to sauces, or eaten raw in salads.

 

Quick and Easy Recipe Ideas:

Dark green vegetables are very tasty and easy to add to your daily meals. Look for them at your local grocery store and try some of these recipes!

• Make a salad: Leafy greens such as romaine lettuce, spinach and arugula taste great when mixed in a salad with different kinds of veggies, such as tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, and lettuce. Add some protein such as beans or cheese and a whole grain roll or pita bread for a complete meal!
• Wrap it up: Make a wrap with tuna, chicken, or turkey and add romaine lettuce, spinach, arugula, and other veggies for some extra flavor.
• Add to a soup: Try mixing leafy greens such as collard greens, kale or mustard greens into your favorite soup.
• Stir-fry: Add chopped leafy greens or broccoli to your stir-fry. Chicken or tofu stir-fried in olive or canola oil with your favorite colorful vegetables is delicious!
• Add to an omelet: Try adding in steamed broccoli and/or spinach to an omelet for a vitamin and iron rich meal.
• Add to smoothies: Mixing vegetables into your smoothies will make it a nutritional powerhouse. Try spinach for some added nutrients!
• Sauté it: Most dark leafy greens are quite tasty sautéed in a pan with some garlic, olive oil and your favorite herb or spice.
• Steam it: Try steaming collard greens, kale, or spinach. Add water to a pot and place a steamer with the vegetables into it. Next, bring the water to a simmer, cover with a lid, and wait a few minutes until your vegetables are slightly soft. You can also steam vegetables in the microwave with no special tools, just put a small amount of water in the bottom of the bowl, fill it with vegetables, and cover!

Folate

Folate is the natural type of vitamin B-9 that’s found in foods such as green leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, beans, peas, and nuts. Your body needs this to make new cells every day. Most importantly, if you were to get pregnant, getting enough folate (or folic acid, the supplement version) lessens your chance of having a baby with a neural tube defect. Neural tube defects (NTDs) are a type of birth defect that involves the brain and spinal cord and can cause serious lifelong problems for a baby.

Folate requirements for teens:

Ages 9-13 years: 300mcg/day
Ages 14-18 years: 400mcg/day

 

Folate Content for Dark Leafy Greens
1/2 Cup Serving (raw)	Folate in mcg
Arugula	10
Broccoli	28
Collard Greens	23
Dandelion Greens	7
Kale	7
Mustard Greens	3
Romaine Lettuce	32
Spinach	29
Swiss Chard	3

For more information about folate and folic acid, see our folic acid guide!

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Our health guides are developed through a systematic, rigorous process to ensure accuracy, reliability, and trustworthiness. Written and reviewed by experienced healthcare clinicians from Boston Children's Hospital, a Harvard Medical School teaching hospital and consistently ranked as a top hospital by Newsweek and U.S. News & World Report, these guides combine clinical expertise, specialized knowledge, and evidence-based medicine. We also incorporate research and best practices from authoritative sources such as the CDC, NIH, PubMed, top medical journals, and UpToDate.com. Clinical specialists and subject matter experts review and edit each guide, reinforcing our commitment to high-quality, factual, scientifically accurate health information for young people.