Today's Tip: The last 4 of the 10 Top Foods to Eat

Spinach

Spinach is a good source of iron, riboflavin, vitamins A and C, magnesium and calcium. In addition, the plant compounds in spinach may help enhance your immune system, and keep your hair and skin healthy.  Include some spinach on your sandwiches - even Subway is offering it as a sandwich topping.  And anytime you are sauteing vegetables, throw a couple handfuls of spinach into the pan.  It cooks super fast!

Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are rich in beta carotene, which, according to Mayo Clinic, may help slow down your aging process and reduce your risk of developing cancer. Sweet potatoes are good sources of potassium, folate, fiber and vitamins B-6, C and E.

SPICY SWEET POTATOES - this is a really great recipe!!
3 large sweet potatoes
1 T olive oil
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

Peel sweet potatoes and cut into 1-2" cubes. Place in a large Ziploc bag with olive oil and toss to coat. Add remaining ingredients and toss again to distribute spices evenly.

Transfer to a greased 13x9 baking dish (I use a mister to spray the pan with olive oil). Bake, uncovered, at 400 for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes.

Yield: 8 servings, 3/4 cup each
149 cal., 4g fat, 0g cholesterol, 164mg sodium, 28g carbs, 3g fiber, 2g protein

Vegetable Juice
Vegetable juice has a majority of the same vitamins, minerals and other nutrients you get from vegetables, which makes it an easy way to include vegetables in your meals.

Best option for vegetable juice...get a juicer and make your own out of cucumbers, red/green leafy lettuce, spinach, cabbage, tomatoes...add some parsley or cilantro if you like those flavors. If you don't care for the taste of vegetable juice, you can throw in a few seedless grapes and/or apples to make it more palatable.

If you just don't want to make your own, look for all-natural V-8 juice at the store. You want to purchase all-vegetable juice with a low sodium/salt content.

Wheat
Wheat germ is contained in wheat grains and is highly concentrated with nutrients, including thiamin, niacin, folate, magnesium, potassium, zinc, riboflavin, iron and more. It is the heart of the wheat berry, and is a great source of fiber, which helps facilitate digestion and the movement of food through your colon. Throw a tablespoon of wheat germ in your cereal, smoothies, baked goods or pancakes; you can also mix a little into your yogurt. Use it instead of bread crumbs in meatballs or meatloaf.