NATIONAL SPINACH DAY

March 25, 2026March 3, 2026Jensperspectiveblog 2 Comments

On March 26th each year, National Spinach Day reminds us of the health benefits packed into this leafy green vegetable. Not only are there so many delicious ways that you can enjoy spinach, but it is also incredibly good for you!

An annual plant, spinach grows natively in central and southwestern Asia. Thought to have originated in ancient Persia, Arab traders carried spinach into India and then later introduced into ancient China. There it was known as “Persian vegetable.” The earliest available record of the spinach plant was found in Chinese, saying that the spinach plant was introduced into China via Nepal.

Spinach Recipes (Superfoods Cookbook)#NationalSpinachDay — Spinach Recipes (Superfoods Cookbook)

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During her reign as queen of France, Catherine de Medici enjoyed spinach so much, it was served at every meal. To this day, dishes made with spinach are known as “Florentine” reflecting Catherine’s birth in Florence.

Spinach is:

eaten raw or cooked and is available fresh, frozen or canned.
one of the best sources of iron.
an excellent source of calcium, folic acid, fiber, protein, calcium and vitamins A, C and K.
loaded with cancer-fighting antioxidants
believed to help improve cardiovascular and gastrointestinal health.

Types of spinach:

Savoy: dark green color with curly leaves; usually sold in fresh bunches.
Flat or Smooth Leaf: broad, smooth leaves; mostly grown for canned and frozen spinach as well as soups, baby food and processed foods.
Semi-savoy: a hybrid variety with crinkly leaves: is sold fresh and processed.

Following China, the United States produces the world’s second-largest crop of spinach.
California, Arizona, and New Jersey are the top spinach-producing states in the United States.

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalSpinachDay

Many of us enjoy spinach that celebrating is easy! Shake up your vegetable routine and mix up your greens. Experiment with some spinach.

Fresh spinach salad
Spinach pizza
Spinach dip
Cream spinach
Spinach lasagna
Add spinach to scrambled eggs

You can also plant some spinach in your spring garden. Not only will you reap the benefits of a lush green salad, but spinach doesn’t require much space.

Spinach grows in pots on a sunny balcony or in a small garden space.
Use fertile soil.
Plant in cool weather.
Keep moisture levels consistent.
Harvest and enjoy!
You can plant again in the fall. Double the bounty!

Share your favorite ways to add spinach to your meals. Use #NationalSpinachDay to post on social media.

Del Monte Canned Fresh Cut Leaf Spinach, 13.5 Ounce (Pack of 12)#NationalSpinachDay — Del Monte Canned Fresh Cut Leaf Spinach, 13.5 Ounce (Pack of 12)

Augason Farms Dehydrated Spinach Flakes 8 oz No. 10 Can#NationalSpinachDay — Del Monte Canned Fresh Cut Leaf Spinach, 13.5 Ounce (Pack of 12)

NATIONAL CELERY MONTH

February 28, 2026February 23, 2026Jensperspectiveblog 6 Comments

Get chopping in March with National Celery Month! This vegetable adds crunch to salads while adding lots of flavor to casseroles and soups.

Celery is a fibrous vegetable that grows into a leafy stalk. While many enjoy it fresh, celery also goes well into a cooked meal. Per serving, the crunchy vegetable has 16 calories. It’s a good source of fiber, potassium, and vitamins A and C. Add it to snacks to benefit from its anti-inflammatory qualities.

However, celery is not a superfood. They are the perfect complement to a healthy diet. While it is not glorified as a superfood, celery does class up the plate. Seasoned right, celery can stand out with a flavor all its own.

Meanwhile, back in your kitchen, your celery sticks scream for something else. Add some peanut butter or avocado. Mix chopped celery into a pasta dish or stir-fry. Stir chopped celery into onions and potatoes for a delicious soup.

While all these items are cooking, chop up a few extra sticks and store them in an airtight container, and place them in the refrigerator. They will keep crisp for at least two days. The celery will lose quality after that, but you can still enjoy them or use them in soups or other recipes.

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HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalCeleryMonth

Celebrate National Celery Month by incorporating celery into your meals every day. Try these ideas to keep you inspired all month long:

Plant celery in your garden this year.
Try a new recipe featuring celery.
Make ants on a log.
Add celery to just about any soup recipe.
Add celery to your favorite salad.
Create delicious dips for dunking your celery.
Make a celery relish.

Try a new recipe and use #NationalCeleryMonth to share on social media.

Celery Cookbook (Superfoods Cookbook)#NationalCeleryMonth — Celery Cookbook (Superfoods Cookbook)

Easy Celery Cookbook: 50 Delicious Celery Recipes#NationalCeleryMonth — Celery Cookbook (Superfoods Cookbook)

NATIONAL STRAWBERRY DAY

February 26, 2026January 10, 2026Jensperspectiveblog Leave a comment

We continue with February’s heart-shaped and red theme by observing National Strawberry Day on February 27th. These juicy, sweet berries can brighten up any dish and are delicious all on their own.

There are a few different stories behind the origin of the name. The more widely accepted version is that the berries would drop off the leaves and become “strewn” about the plant. Overtime “strewn-berries” became “strawberries”. There was a time (and some gardeners still do this today) when strawberry beds were mulched with straw, insulating the plants over the winter, keeping weeds at bay during the growing season and making them easier to harvest. Another sweet story tells of English children stringing the berries on grass straws and selling the “straw berries” in their neighborhoods.

Not only are they delicious, but they are also fragrant. One of the more aromatic fruits, they belong to the rose family.

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Strawberries are grown in nearly every corner of the Earth (if the Earth had corners) except for her most frozen southern and northern reaches. Along with all these possible locations, there are over 600 varieties of strawberries as well.

An excellent source of Vitamin C, strawberries are also a good source of folic acid, potassium and fiber. At 55 calories and zero fat in 1 cup, these sweet things hit the spot when a snack time is calling!

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HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalStrawberryDay

While the best season for strawberries is from late April to August, now might be a good time to scout out strawberry festivals and pick-your-own farms or plan to plant your own strawberry patch. Imagine sitting in your very own patch eating sun-warmed, sweet berries you picked or even grew yourself under clear blue skies.

Berry Picking Tips:

Pick fully ripe berries. Strawberries don’t continue to ripen if picked too early like bananas or pears.
Don’t overfill your container. Berries are tender and can bruise easily.
Don’t wash the fruit until you are ready to eat. Strawberries are susceptible to mold and washing will speed up spoilage.
The best time to pick strawberries is on cool, cloudy days, but if they will be eaten right away, any time is perfect!
If you pick more than you can eat before they spoil, strawberries freeze very well. Pluck off the green caps and toss into a freezer bag. Use for smoothies, ice cream or cake toppings.

You may want to have a fresh bowl of strawberries now, or maybe give one of the following recipes a try:

Strawberry Pretzel Salad
Strawberry Spinach Salad
Easy Strawberry Banana Smoothies
Easy Fresh Strawberry Pie
Strawberries and Cream Bread Pudding

Use #NationalStrawberryDay to post on social media.