Why You Should Think About Adding Greens Powder To Your Meals

Greens powder is a dietary supplement that helps you get many of the nutrients you'd get from vegetables and fruits you may be missing from your diet (per Healthline). Though the ingredients can vary per brand, they typically include leafy greens and other vegetables, seaweed, grasses, high-antioxidant fruits, nutritional extracts, probiotics, plant-based digestive enzymes, herbs, mushrooms, and natural sugar substitutes, plus provide extra fiber. 

Greens powder is full of potential, from giving you an energy boost to preventing chronic disease. A 2019 study in the International Journal for Vitamin Nutrition Research found that people who took six capsules of greens powder every day for eight weeks increased their levels of vitamin E and C, vitamin A in the forms of beta-carotene and retinol, and lycopene.

Registered dietician Abby Grimm told Everyday Health that greens powder shouldn't be an all-out substitute for a nutrient-dense diet that consists of a variety of fruits and vegetables because you can't replace the value you get from actual green foods. However, if you just don't like to eat vegetables, greens powder is better than nothing.

Typically, people toss a scoop or two of greens powder into their juices or smoothies. If that doesn't sound too appetizing, adding it to your food instead could be a good option. Take a look at the dishes below for delicious ideas on how to incorporate greens powder at every meal.

Dr. Seuss must have known about greens powder when he raved about green eggs and ham! Try some in scrambled eggs to start your day. Simply whisk together 2 eggs, a pinch of salt, and 1 tablespoon of the supplement. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil or butter in a pan on low heat. Pour your egg mixture into the pan and scramble lightly until fluffy.

Thinking about soup for lunch? Toss in some greens powder! Blend 2 tablespoons of greens powder with 4 cups of vegetable or chicken broth. If you want it to be creamy, replace 1 cup of broth with 1 cup of heavy whipping cream or plain dairy-free yogurt. Pour it into a pot and toss in whatever beans, lentils, proteins, and veggies you'd like. Let the soup cook on medium-low heat until the add-ins are fully cooked.

For dinner, roasted potatoes with greens powder sprinkled on top make for a great side dish. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Grab a pound of small red or gold potatoes and cut them in half. Put the potato halves in a bowl and add 1/4 cup of olive oil, 1 to 2 teaspoons of salt, 1 to 2 teaspoons of garlic powder, and 1 to 2 teaspoons of greens powder. Toss the potatoes and seasonings around, then line them on a cookie sheet and cook them for 45 minutes to 1 hour, flipping halfway through.