Add extra green vegetables and fruits to your diet to improve your health.

You may have heard a lot of buzz about going green for the environment, but can you go green for your health? Of course you can! Burleigh County Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Agent Shaundra Ziemann-Bolinski suggests adding more green vegetables and fruits to make a powerful impact on your health.

Green vegetables pack a powerful punch in terms of nutrition. They have a low amount of calories and are full of vitamins, minerals, fiber, water, and phytochemicals.

Here are some suggestions on ways to add green into your routine:
*Add green leafy vegetables, like spinach, romaine lettuce or green cabbage to the top of your sandwich.
*Add cucumbers, green onions, green peppers and kale to a variety of foods. This allows you to pack in the ingredients without packing on the calories. 
*Add some slices of avocado to a salad or wrap.
*Top your egg sandwich with some spinach or avocado slices.
*Stuff your omelet with green pepper and spinach.
*Add some spinach or kale to your breakfast smoothie
*Puree greens and add them into your sauces, casseroles, and soups.
*Try snacks like apples, grapes, limes, kiwi and honeydew melon.
*Add limes or lemon slices to your glass of ice water or tea.

For more ideas on going green for your health, check out research done by the Michigan State University Extension. You can find it at www.ag.ndsu.edu/burleighcountyextension.