It’s baby spinach season! We have started growing our delicious baby spinach at Willowbrook Foods, bringing you the freshest, most tender leaves straight from our local farm to your table.

Throughout this blog we will walk you through the different health benefits of baby spinach, as well as different ways to incorporate it into your diet.

Health Benefits

Baby Spinach has a range of health benefits. It’s a good source of vitamins A, C and K as well as being a good source of iron and fibre. These vitamins contribute to healthy bones, vision and immune function. 

Specific health benefits include: 

• Eye Health: Incorporating baby spinach into your diet can be a flavourful and nutritious way to support eye health. It can help to protect the eyes from being damaged from sunlight and it is also rich in the carotenoids zeaxanthin and lutein which can help to prevent macular degeneration and cataracts.
• Blood pressure: It can help to lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease, due to it being rich in nitrates. 
• Bone Health: It contains good amounts of Vitamin K, which contributes to bone health. 
• Skin and Hair health: It contains good amounts of Vitamin A which can help to promote the health of skin and hair. Vitamin A helps to regulate oil production in skin pores and hair follicles, keeping both skin and hair moisturised. This regulation can help prevent acne. Additionally, vitamin A is essential for the growth and maintenance of all bodily tissues, including skin and hair.
• Iron Absorption: Baby spinach is a great source of iron, which is crucial for transporting oxygen throughout the body. Including iron-rich foods like spinach in your diet can help prevent iron-deficiency anemia and support overall energy levels.

How to Incorporate Baby Spinach into Your Diet

Tropical Green Smoothie

Ingredients:

• 1 ripe banana
• 1 cup fresh baby spinach
• 1/2 cup frozen mango chunks
• 1/2 cup frozen pineapple chunks
• 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut water or almond milk
• 1 tablespoon chia seeds (optional)

Instructions:

1. Place all ingredients into a blender.
2. Blend until smooth and creamy.
3. Taste and adjust sweetness by adding a splash of honey or maple syrup if desired.
4. Pour into glasses and serve.

For more spinach smoothie recipes, visit BBC Good Food.

Spinach, Mozzarella, Tomato and Chickpea Salad

Ingredients: 

• 6 oz fresh mozzarella balls, drained and quartered
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 cup canned chickpeas, rinsed and drained
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 teaspoons white balsamic vinegar (or your preferred vinegar)
• Salt and pepper
• 12 oz fresh baby spinach

Instructions: 

1. In a medium bowl, combine the mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, and chickpeas.
2. Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
3. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Divide the baby spinach between two plates.
5. Top with the mozzarella, tomato, and chickpea mixture.
6. Toss gently and serve immediately.

Incorporating baby spinach into your diet is a simple yet impactful way to boost your nutrient intake and support overall health. Whether you’re blending it into smoothies, tossing it into salads, or adding it to your favourite dishes, the versatility of spinach makes it easy to enjoy its benefits.