Brocccccccoli! Our Food of the Month!
If the vegetable species’ were families vying for the Iron
Throne of Healthiest Vegetable House, First of Its Name, then Brassica oleracea
would rule the kingdom. This group, referred to colloquially as brassica (it’s
genus) counts some major super-food muscle under its banners – everyone from
brussel sprouts, to cabbage, to kale and even cauliflower are members. But the
stand-out leader is, of course, broccoli! Cultivated
since the 6th century, broccoli was a highly valued crop in Italy
and was introduced to the US by Italian immigrants. [1]
What makes seemingly humble broccoli our food of the month?
The answer is in its nutritional value – a vitamin-packed plant in which every
part of the vegetable contains more nutrients than the last, so there is little
to no waste!
Hold up, you’re thinking. What about the stalks? Those are
trash, right? NOPE!
The stalks of broccoli also freeze beautifully so they’re
perfect to have on hand for quick additions to your family’s favorite meals!
Add some broccoli to your pasta to make Broccoli and Cheddar
Mac n’ Cheese and boost your family’s
vitamin C consumption to 150% of their RDA – a lifesaver during cold and
flu season!
Toss a cup of broccoli into a baked sweet potato loaded with
garlic and a little Parmesan for 200% of
your vitamin K requirements and nearly
half your daily folate!
And eating just 2 cups
of broccoli twice a week is enough
to measurably reduce your risk of
certain cancers, so a big bowl of broccoli stir-fry or your favorite summer
bbq broccoli slaw can protect your entire family.
The best part of the our Food of the Month is that it is low
in calories and high in fiber, which means you can feel great about letting your
kids eat as much as they want, and they’ll stay full for hours!
1. Nonnecke, Ib (November 1989). Vegetable
Production. Springer-Verlag New York, LLC. p. 394. ISBN 978-0-442-26721-6.
No comments:
Post a Comment