What Are Edible Weeds Anyway?

By Hillary Monroe, MS RD LDN

As my friends move out of the city and into the suburbs, the topic of weeding comes up more and more. After doing a little digging and asking around, I realized that some of these so-called weeds might not be just compost material after all. Some of us may be a bit squeamish about serving up our lawn’s finest to dinner guests but I think they deserve a second look. Eating weeds from your own back yard may have a few benefits worth keeping in mind.

Top Three Reasons to Eat Your Weeds

Edible weeds are budget-friendly – in fact, they’re free!
Any chance to increase leafy greens into your diet is a benefit. Plus, they’re nutrient dense!
If you’re interested in sustainability practices, then foraging in your own back yard is right up your alley!

What Weeds Can I Eat?

Dandelions: these are the ultimate back yard weed – easily identifiable by their barbed leaves and yellow flowers. Before you attempt to get rid of them, try them for dinner! Surprisingly, these leafy greens packed with vitamins A and C and beta-carotene, have found their way onto gourmet restaurant menus from New York to LA! Do it yourself by picking the greens, discarding the blossoms, washing well and serving with a drizzle of vinaigrette. Try comparing the nutritional info in your wonder weeds versus your average dinner side dish; calorie for calorie, wild greens are the winner for nutrient content! Check for yourself using http://www.everydayhealth.com/calorie-counter.aspx.

Sorrel: This tart, lemony green found all over North America, Europe and even mentioned in the movies, bears a slight resemblance to Swiss chard, and is commonly used as an accent green to brighten up salads. If you find yourself with a good amount, you might want to attempt something more daring like a sorrel smoothie or soup.

Wild Violets: Typically found growing in slightly sunny and moist woody areas, wild violets often make an appearance in back yards. The edible flowers can add color and intrigue to salads, no question, but may also impress your palette as a delicate tea or rich purple syrup. Make sure you’re picking flowers that have not been in contact with any pesticide and use as desired.

Discover What’s Growing in Your Yard

It’s always good to use some caution before taking a bite. If you’re not sure about what you’ve got growing in your yard, it’s best to consult with an expert or published plant identification guide before you fill up your dinner plate.

While dandelions, sorrel and wild violets are but a small taste of the bounty right under our feet, I hope some of these weedy greens end up in your salad bowl or tucked into a sandwich at one of your meals this summer. You may be surprised what else grows in your area! Get out there and tell us what you find!

A plant based pharmacy awaits right outside your own back door!

Wouldn’t you love to learn the skills and experience you need to feed your family for free, live a sustainable lifestyle and eat the healthiest foods on the planet?

We’re enrolling NOW for our next session of Wild Edibles with Sergei Boutenko! An easy-to-follow, 17-week online course completely laid out to guarantee you master the skills to access the food and medicine of the forest (or just about any back yard)!

Hillary Monroe, MS RD LDN, is a Registered Dietitian and writer for Everyday Health Calorie Counter.