There isn’t a lot of mystery as to why spinach is such a favorite food for people who are trying to boost nutrition in their diets. However, many people have gone beyond their overall health and have discovered that this green leafy veggie is also great while they’re trying to lose weight.

When you really take a closer look at why spinach is a fantastic health food for dieters, it makes a lot of sense. After all, this food is super-packed with nutrients, but contains barely any calories.

One cup of spinach will give you only 1 gram of carbs and a next-to-nothing 7 calories, but will provide you with a massive serving of antioxidants, iron, calcium magnesium, folate and fiber. This makes it a tremendously nutritious, low-cal, filling food that you could easily eat every day without negatively impacting your weight loss.

In fact, you could eat a huge salad made with these leaves without breaking your calorie budget. Whether you’re counting calories or carbs, or whether you’re just trying to eat more healthfully, it’s very easy to see why spinach fits into your strategy.

Consider using the following great combinations to enjoy spinach in more ways than your traditional salad:

· Add strawberries – Slice up some strawberries and sprinkle them on top as a salad or toss them both into a blender with some almond milk or even just water and suddenly you’ll have a fantastic addition to your breakfast. A bit of protein powder makes this a gorgeous post-workout smoothie.

· Add eggs – Beat some eggs and load them with spinach and red onion and you suddenly have a delicious, filling frittata or omelet on your hands, particularly if you sprinkle it with a bit of feta cheese.

· Add nuts – Sautee a bit of spinach with some pine nuts, walnut halves or almond slices. This is a beautiful side dish to replace your traditional pasta, rice or potatoes. For even more flavor, add a touch of minced fresh garlic, as well.

· Add veggies – Blend spinach with low-fat cream cheese and artichoke. Suddenly you have an instant favorite veggie dip that is perfect for healthy snack time. If you want to make it extra zingy, sprinkle in a few chili flakes, too.

Spinach has such an adaptable texture and flavor that you’re certain to come up with dozens of ways to use it on a daily basis without ever getting tired of it.