Craving
warm foods, but want to stay healthy this winter? Here is a list of 5 in-season vegetables you can eat heated, without sacrificing
nutritional value.
1. Kale
NUTRIENTS: Excellent source of
Vitamin A, C, & B6. Kale also provides a healthy dose of dietary fiber,
copper, calcium, and potassium.
LOOK FOR: Crisp, tender leaves that
are bright in color.
EAT: Cooked. Suprisingly, Kale
should not be consumed
raw.
Cruciferous vegetables are
better eaten when cooked. Eating raw
may suppress the thyroid due to their fibrous nature.
Instead, sauté onions,
garlic, and chopped kale in a bit of olive oil. Add to salads for an extra nutritious
kick!
2. Cauliflower
NUTRIENTS: Excellent source of Vitamin
C, folate, fiber, and Omega 3-fatty acids.
LOOK FOR: White in color. Tightly
packed heads with no brown spots.
EAT: Again, better to eat
cooked. Personally, I’m a sucker for raw cauliflower and hummus, but try to eat
in moderation.
Pureed
cauliflower is
a great alternative to mashed potatoes. Here is a super simple recipe I got from Whole Foods.
3. Brussel Sprouts
NUTRIENTS: These bad boys are jam
packed with vitamins A, C, E, K, B6,
potassium, thiamin, omega 3-fatty acids, protein,
magnesium, riboflavin, iron, copper, and calcium.
LOOK FOR: Light green in color.
Uniform sized buds makes for more even cooking.
EAT: Cooked.
Steam, roast, or sautée with olive oil, sea salt, and cayenne pepper (my personal
fave).
Disclaimer: These guys will
clear you out if you know what I mean…
4. Avocadoes
NUTRIENTS: Good source of Vitamins
A, C, & E, as well as potassium, iron, and fiber.
LOOK FOR: Avocadoes should be
uniform in color, and should be slightly tender
to the touch.
EAT: Raw.
The possibilities are endless.. add to salads, omelets, smoothies, or eat alone
with sea salt for a quick mid-day snack.
5. Broccoli
NUTRIENTS: Excellent source of
vitamins A, C, K, E, & B6, as well as, potassium, magnesium, folate, and fiber.
LOOK FOR: Firm stems with dark
green-purple heads. Buds should be closed with no yellow flowers.
EAT: Cooked.
Steam until tender and add to dishes, or eat along with your favorite dips.
Labels: Health