Do You Like Green Eggs & (Hummus)?

I recently had the pleasure of reading a few books before bed with a very sweet 4 year old. As per her request, I was reading the well known Dr. Seuss book “Green Eggs and Ham”. As I flipped through each page using different voices for each character, and building the drama as the one cat persisted on multiple ways to eat green dairy and meat; I watched the little ones face staring into the book. It was as if she were thinking “I’d never eat this &$%@# even if the cat in the hat presented it to me himself on a silver platter from Dean and Deluca”. When I was finished I closed the book, turned to her and smiled, and delivered my “thee.end”. She slid the book out of my hands and replied “now, I’ll read it to you”. Keeping in mind that most girls at 4 years old are not capable of reading a Dr. Seuss book yet, I entertained the idea for her and handed it over. It was obvious that not only had she memorized the story, but that her other tactic was to study the illustration first before reading. It was so cute and funny I felt my face getting red, because I didn’t want to laugh out loud and make her feel embarrassed. “Do you like them….in the box? I do not like them in the box!”she acted out. I actually applauded when she was finished.


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I was reading Real Simple magazine when I came across a recipe for “green monster dip”. As an aside, I love this magazine. It seems everything I read in it always reminds me how uncomplicated things need to be. That’s why I like it. The recipe reminded me of my reading partner, and it reminded me of how any green food or beverage has always had to fight hard to be accepted. This green “monster” dip was for children. Written up as a fun way to incorporate more greens into a child’s diet, it is assumed that anything with “monster” in the title may win the hearts and taste buds of little boys and girls everywhere much easier than broccoli or basil.
Perhaps everyone needs to start thinking about green eggs and ham a little differently. We don’t really know the whole story. What if the eggs weren’t spoiled? What if the narrator just added spinach to them in the pan? Maybe the ham was glazed with pesto sauce. My friends, we live in a world now where we have learned for sure that green food equates to GOOD.

The “green monster dip” in reality, is green hummus. Hummus, an already healthy snack made mostly of chickpeas can be made even more nutritious with the addition of spinach, and the taste is still fantastic. Using whole ingredients including chick peas, fresh lemon juice, olive oil, and tahini; this recipe is easy and quick. When I was invited to my friend Lilias apartment for a night of chatter and sangria, I made the green hummus and brought it over with a couple of large carrot sticks.

Recipe: 4 cups tightly packed spinach, 1 can of chickpeas rinsed, 2 tablespoons each of fresh lemon juice, water, olive oil, and tahini. ½ tsp of salt, and 1 garlic clove.

Process all ingredients except the spinach first, and then add spinach one cup at a time until it reaches a puree. Enjoy with sliced fresh carrots, or other vegetables you see fit. Some of us may not have little monsters at home, but this recipe does the trick for monsters of all sizes.

(Remember, homemade hummus will spoil much quicker than your store bought hummus, but we know the real stuff is worth the shorter shelf life. It can last up to a week with lemon juice, but will taste its best in its first few days of life).