Spinach Pesto Pasta

This spinach pesto makes for a quick, easy, and healthy meal. It is perfect for people on the go and those without a ton of cooking experience, as the pesto is made within 5 minutes, and there is no cooking required! It is great for meal prep, as it can be stored in the fridge for up to a week, and it is freezer-friendly! You can easily substitute the pine nuts for walnuts and/or almonds, or even pumpkin seeds – there will not be a change in the delicious flavor! If you have fresh or dried basil, feel free to add some to the pesto as well for a wonderful burst of flavor (1 tbsp fresh, ½ tsp dried).  Spinach is full of vitamins and minerals, including calcium, manganese, and vitamin K, all of which are important for building and maintaining strong and healthy bones. Spinach is a great plant-based source of iron, a mineral needed for transporting oxygen to organs in our body. Additionally, spinach is important for eye, cardiovascular, and fetal health – so many great reasons to eat spinach! By using whole wheat pasta, or pasta made from chickpeas and legumes, you can add more whole grains and fiber to your diet, which is also important for cardiovascular health. Nuts, whether they are almonds, walnuts, or pine nuts, can help to lower blood cholesterol levels, which can reduce your risk for cardiovascular disease, and nuts like walnuts contain essential omega-3 fatty acids that are required in our body.