Fun Facts

First Spinach Advertisement

Birds Eye was the first company to advertise “frozen spinach” in the edition of the 1949 Life Magazine. The advertisement depicted a pretty woman, wearing pearls, reading a book and having a cup of coffee. She had time to do this because the Birds Eye spinach was cleaned, cut and ready for heating.

Popeye the Sailor Man

One of my favorite characters, Popeye first debuted on January 17, 1929 in a comic strip called Thimble Theatre.

Why Spinach and Popeye?

Popeye’s creator, E.C. Segar, was a vegetarian. E.C. Segar wanted to make sure everyone knew the benefits of eating veggies. The one sure way he helped promote the love of vegetables was to make his popular character love spinach.

Favorite Vegetable

Bon Appetit Magazine conducted their annual poll in March 2005. 56% responded that spinach is their favorite vegetable.

Origins

The origins of spinach (genus Spinacia) date back to 647 A.D. Spinach is a member of the goose-foot (Chenopodiaceae) family. This description is given to plants whose leaves are shaped as a “goose foot” Derived from the Greek, Chen, (hen, goose), and podi, (foot).

Spinach first originated in southwestern Asia . Eventually it was introduced to neighboring China . From China , it started making its way to Iran known as Persia . In due course, the seeds of this vegetable made it to Spain and the rest of Europe probably around the 12th century. European monasteries were cultivating spinach because they believed it had medicinal properties. It is believed the European pioneers brought this vegetable with them as they migrated to the New World . It rapidly gained popularity during the 1920’s when nutritionist found spinach to be rich in numerous vitamins and minerals.

Types of Spinach

Did you know there are four types of spinach?

Savoy – this fresh spinach you can find in your market.

Flat leaf/smooth leaf – this type is also available in your market, however it is also used for commercial processing.

Semi-Savoy – this type of spinach is a little bit curly and is also used for commercial processing as well as being available in your market.

Baby – Usually sold bagged and pre-washed.

Who eats spinach?

According to New York Newsday (April 2005), teenagers consume the least amount of spinach. Women consume 2.53 pounds per capita annually compared with 2.21 pounds per capita for men annually.

Nutrients

Spinach may not give us the superhuman strength enjoyed by our good ole favorite cartoon character Popeye. We can’t conveniently carry a tin can with us and pop it open, consume it instantaneously and reap the health benefits of this leafy green vegetable. We can, however, have a sense of satisfaction that one cup (steamed) of this simple food is only 41calories. In addition, one cup of spinach contains: 4grams of fiber, 4 grams of protein - 377% Vitamin A - 29% Vitamin C - 36% Iron – over 1000% of Vitamin K!! In addition to these vitamins, spinach also contains large amounts of Beta Carotene and Lutein. (Lutien helps protect against eye disease and Beta Carotene is an important antioxidant that helps reduce the amount of free radicals in the body).

www.nutritiondata.com

Spinach provides a powerhouse of nutrients, and may possibly be one of the world’s healthiest foods.

See www.whfoods.com for more details!

All products produced by Jac’s Handy Meals are natural and Kosher certified.