These kitchen tricks will make preparing leafy greens SO much easier

If you're reading this, there's a strong chance you already know leafy greens are GOOD for you. But in case you or someone in your life (ahem) need a little reminder, kale, collards, turnips, and mustard greens are generally very low in calories. What they lack in calorific content, they make up for in terms of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. It's no wonder then that a diet rich in these nutrient-dense leafy greens helps to reduce the risk of obesity, heart disease, high-blood pressure, and mental decline, among other numerous health benefits. The healthy living journey starts with adding these life-saving ingredients to more of your meals, and attaining that goal is easier than you think with some smart meal prep tips.

Get Some Serious Salads

Salads are the easiest way to incorporate several servings of fruits and veggies into your diet. Be careful, however, as they are not necessarily synonymous with "health food." By avoiding anything fried, cooling it on the cheese, ditching the croutons, and dialing back the dressing, you have a better shot at ensuring that the salads you eat are, in fact, nutritious. Because eating salad once or twice a month isn't going to cut it, we've made it easy for you to get your weekly salad fix with our curated selection of salad recipes you can make from scratch in no time.

Learn more: Everything you need to find delicious salads for any occasion in one place!

Wrap it with Collards

Collards are the new wrap. Period. If you keep the collard stems on, they remain sturdy enough to work pretty much like a tortilla and hold your favorite sandwich or burrito fillings. They can also be stored in the refrigerator to make it easy to put together a quick lunch or dinner meal. Make it a combo by overlapping two to three leaves for a larger wrap, and get ready to crush your green-eating goals.

Try it: Protein Collard Wraps, 140 calories per serving, and only 30 minutes of prep time.

Blanch Like a Pro

Some nutrient-dense greens, including mustard greens, kale, and turnip greens, can have a slightly bitter flavor that doesn't appeal to every taste. We get it. But brace yourself for a true knowledge bomb: Most of that bitterness melts away when you wilt your greens in boiling water for a couple minutes, drain, and run cold tap water over them to cool quickly and fix their bright green color. You can then season or sauté your blanched greens, and enjoy them as a side or mix them straight into your dishes.

Try it: Sesame Ginger Collard Wrap, ready in less than 20 minutes!

Prepare to Be Inspired

A little bit of preparation goes a long way towards eating more wholesome, nutrient-dense foods. When you're prepping for the week ahead, get creative and consider replacing some traditional carbs with leafy greens you already have on-hand. In the unlikely scenario you won't use up all your greens before they expire, freeze them (fresh or blanched) in batches for a longer shelf life and some easy creations later in the week. Think quicker stir-fries, pastas, and soups that taste good. Really good.

Learn more: How to Use a 1 lb. Bag of Kale Before It Expires!

Smoothie Away

Smoothies are another great way to work more leafy greens into your diet, reduce food waste, AND get the little ones on board too. They are versatile enough to be enjoyed for breakfast, as a snack, or even as a dessert option. Plus, they come together super quickly, and we promise they will work some serious magic on both your brain and bod.

Just the tip: You can reduce the amount of liquids in any green smoothie recipe and pour your extra-thick creation into a bowl with sliced fruits, seeds, grains, and any other solid foods you like.