Eat your Veggies! Beet Greens!

3 years ago, I wouldn't have looked at a beet much less eaten it or it's leaves! 
My memories of beets go back to my mom eating pickled beets from a jar and putting them on her salad...YUCK!
A few years ago, I ordered a salad and didn't realize it had roasted beets on it. I was feeling a little adventurous that day, so I took a chance and just ate the salad as is. Oh my gah, it was delicious! That began my friendship with beets. 
Since then I've had beets roasted, thinly sliced and baked in a chip form and included them in my smoothies. 
Beets alone are fabulous. Here are a few of their benefits:

• Lower blood pressure. Drinking beet juice can actually lower your blood pressure by 5 points in a matter of hours!
• Increase stamina & energy. Drinking beet juice before a workout can enhance your tolerance to high intensity exercise
• Powerful antioxidant
• Boost immunity. Beets are high in Vitamin C, fiber, potassium, and other vitamins and minerals
• Aphrodisiac. Who knew? Bom chicka bom bom! 

Prior to a last year, I only purchased the beets themselves. Last year I was roaming around in the farmer's market and saw a bunch of rainbow beets with their leaves. They looked so amazing I couldn't pass them up. 
I cut the tops off and threw them away the first time...tragic. 
The second time I bought them, I looked up what I could use the leaves for and was surprised that I could cook and eat them (duh)! They were mild and delicious

Since then, I purchase beets almost more for the leaves than the beets themselves. Considered the healthiest part of the beets, here are some benefits of cooking up the leaves:

• High in protein. 1 cup packs 4g!
• High in fiber. Again 4g per 1 cup
• High in potassium, Vitamin B6, manganese, magnesium, Vitamin A, Vitamin C & calcium
• High in Vitamin K which helps with blood clotting, helps fight osteoporosis and has promising studies with fighting Alzheimer's
• Higher in iron than spinach!

Okay, so I've convinced you that these are a healthy addition to your nutrition, but how to do you cook them?
Well, you can roughly chop and saute them in a little olive oil (1/2 TBSP), with onion, garlic, red wine vinegar (or apple cider or balsamic), a little salt and pepper for an easy peasy fix, or you can add them to your salads or green smoothies. 
In my picture above I sauteed them with onion and garlic and added them to eggs and a baked potato for a yummy and filling breakfast post workout!

Beet greens aren't bitter like other greens and can be seasoned nicely. Give them a try!