Obviously, vegetables are one of the most important food groups in the pyramid. You probably dislike a lot of them, and you literally just can't be bothered with them... right? Especially the green vegetables... talk about YUCK! But are they really as gross and unnecessary as we think? Read on to learn about some gnarly greens and why you should try them out.

1. Basil

While not necessarily a vegetable, basil is actually an herb that you should definitely add to your diet. It's a strong antibacterial, an anti-inflammatory AND it only contains 22 calories! You can throw it in your salad, put it on pizza, and you can even make tea with it if that tickles your fancy!

2. Spinach

Remember when you used to HATE spinach as a kid? I did, too, but now I can’t get enough of it. Especially creamed spinach. It’s top notch. Spinach itself is just generally hella versatile; and not only that, but it's extremely high in vitamins K, A, C (what I will call the Holy Trinity from here on out), potassium, calcium, iron, and more. Now, do you see why Popeye always eats this stuff?

3. Collard greens

A Thanksgiving/holiday/soul food staple, collard greens are some of the best greens you’ll ever taste – as long as they’re cooked right. They’re also packed with the Holy Trinity, so you technically already know the secret as to why most Southerners live for ages.

4. Callaloo

Callaloo hails from the Caribbean, chiefly Jamaica, and is a lot like spinach in a lot of ways without it actually being a direct variation of spinach. It's a side dish. It's a dish by itself. Most of all, it's even a filling in Jamaican patties! So if you want to try something different, or take a break from beef, keep callaloo patties in mind.

5. Broccoli

This tree-shaped vegetable is not only one of the best green vegetables on the freaking planet, but it also has very little calories. Sautee it, steam it, eat it with some rice, or make some soup... I'm just sayin', Y'all have options with this thing.

6. Arugula

One of my new favorite greens that I only tried for the first time a few weeks ago! Arugula is a pretty cool superfood. It's got a spicy tinge to it but still tastes amazing all the same. Salads, pizzas (hello, Blaze Pizza), sandwiches; you name it, arugula probably goes well with it! Don't forget its cancer-killing properties, too.

7. Kale

If you know me well... you knew this was coming. Kale is pretty much THE superfood for a reason. Like collard greens, kale is known to have, put simply, a crap ton of the Holy Trinity. Vitamin K is especially important because it supports heart health and blood clotting. Plus, if you don't like kale by itself, you can put it in smoothies, sautee it, make kale chips... the possibilities are magnificently endless!