Super quick and healthy snack – Spinach Balls

Thanks to Melanie Smith the SB Fitness nutrition consultant for this healthy snack recipe. To hear more of Melanie recipes follow our foodie Friday posts on the SB Fitness Facebook Page.  You can also book a consultation with Melanie.   Just get in touch.

Nutritional highlights of this healthy snack food – It may not have the ‘Popeye effect’ but Spinach is pretty darn good for you and here’s why; Spinach is one of those vegetables that is readily available in supermarkets all year round, it also freezes well, so if you are looking for quick and easy way to add some goodness to your meals then keep a bag in your freezer and pop it in pasta sauces. It is well known for its nutritional qualities and has always been regarded as a plant with remarkable abilities to restore energy, increase vitality and improve the quality of the blood. There are sound reasons why spinach would produce such results, primarily the fact that it is rich in iron. Iron plays a central role in the function of red blood cells which help in transporting oxygen around the body, in energy production and DNA synthesis.  Spinach is also an excellent source of vitamin K, vitamin A, vitamin C and folate as well as being a good source of manganese, magnesium, iron and vitamin B2. Vitamin K which is important for maintaining bone health and it is difficult to find vegetables richer in vitamin K than spinach. Others include kale, broccoli and green cabbage.  Surprisingly, it is actually better for you if you cook spinach before you eat it, the cooking process results in much higher blood levels of beta-carotene, an antioxidant thought to guard against heart disease and lung cancer.

Melanies’ Healthy Snack Recipe…

You will need…

6 cups of spinach (washed and finely chopped)

3 large eggs (beaten with a good pinch of sea-salt and pepper to taste)

½ cup grated cheddar cheese

1 cup of bread crumbs (toast the ends of loaves and put it into your food processor until you get bread-crumbs)

¼ cup coriander (if you don’t like coriander, experiment with other herbs for flavour)

Parmesan cheese for sprinkling.

1. Set oven to 180 degrees Celsius
2. Mix all ingredients (except parmesan) together and use your hands to make them into balls.
3. Put them on a baking tray with non-stick baking paper.
4. Sprinkle with grated parmesan cheese.
5. Bake in the oven for 15- 20 minutes.

I used these for something to munch on when it was a soup night.  The left overs are for school lunch snacks.  It is a good way to get someone to eat spinach without them realising they are eating spinach.  I am thinking about using lemon zest next time I cook these.