There's no arguing the nutritional value of spinach, but even without all of its health benefits, we'd still go gaga for this vegetable. According to history, so did certain royalty.

Spinach was the favorite vegetable of Catherine de Medici. When she left her home of Florence, Italy, to marry the king of France in the 16th century, she brought along her own chefs who could prepare spinach the way she liked. Since then, dishes prepared on a bed of spinach are referred to as "a la Florentine."

Here are 10 ways to incorporate more spinach into your diet:

1. Add layers of steamed spinach to your next lasagna.
2. Swap out your mixed greens with baby spinach for salads.  
3. Add to scrambled eggs for breakfast.
4. Add chopped fresh spinach to pasta salads.
5. Blend a cup of fresh spinach into your favorite pesto sauce. Add extra olive oil if needed to maintain consistency.
6. Use spinach leaves instead of lettuce leaves for roll ups.
7. Blend spinach with pasta sauces, pizza sauces and thick tomato-based soups such as chili.     
8. Hide it in smoothies by camouflaging its color with fresh berries.   
9. Add it to soups. Lentil, bean, chicken, vegetable or beef soup can all be improved with a few handfuls of spinach.
10. Mix in chopped baby spinach with burgers, meatballs, or meatloaf.