Daily Dish for Wednesday Oct. 12

[Shalbrihil]

Kitchen Confidential: Go for the Green!

This Kitchen Confidential is from The South Beach Diet™ Newsletter.

Dark, leafy greens are a South Beach dieter's friend; they're full of antioxidants and other important vitamins, including A, C, and calcium. Plus, many varieties exist, including escarole, spinach, and chicory so there's bound to be a few you like. Try these tips on choosing and using greens.

Freshness Counts: Shop for the crispest, brightest greens you can find; before storing, remove any damaged or discolored leaves and dry the remaining leaves with a paper towel to prevent decay.

Storage Tactics: Wrap greens in a paper towel and stash them in a plastic bag before refrigerating to lock in natural moisture. Be sure to press excess air out of the bag before sealing. Most greens should keep for about a week, though they lose nutrients as they age.

Steam It Up: Use your microwave or your stovetop to steam greens; they'll cook quickly without losing their texture or nutrients. A crisp-tender texture is ideal.

Simply Delicious: For a uniquely healthful salad, warm a South Beach Diet™ friendly dressing and drizzle it over greens just before serving. Sturdy greens such as spinach or young chard work best.

Branch Out: Expand your options with tasty choices such as kale, collard or dandelion greens, watercress, broccoli, and arugula. We promise that many are available at your local supermarket. If not, ask your grocer to stock them.