New Blog Topic: Try a Helping of...............
One of the great lessons I've learned as I've gotten older, and through my experience as a dietitian, is to continually try new foods. I have many patients who spout off a long list of their food dislikes. Now, I'm no one to judge, because everyone has foods they dislike-whether it be from associating it with illness, funky texture or taste, or just not liking the flavor-all totally valid reasons. But....... Through being forced to eat certain foods I wasn't fond of on study abroads, when traveling, and just eating at someone else's house.....I've actually found that I really like many of those foods I absolutely hated as a kid. Although I still can't get myself to stomach down tofu or canned mandarin oranges-both foods I'd thrown up, I've learned to continue to try new foods.
The way a food is prepared dictates its flavors and texture, so if you don't particularly like, boiled beets lets say, try them roasted! So, here we go. The glorious beet. I LOVE THEM! They're beautiful, fragrant, and have a wonderful earthy flavor.
With that said, Melanie & I are adding another topic to our blog. A spotlight on foods!
One of the great lessons I've learned as I've gotten older, and through my experience as a dietitian, is to continually try new foods. I have many patients who spout off a long list of their food dislikes. Now, I'm no one to judge, because everyone has foods they dislike-whether it be from associating it with illness, funky texture or taste, or just not liking the flavor-all totally valid reasons. But....... Through being forced to eat certain foods I wasn't fond of on study abroads, when traveling, and just eating at someone else's house.....I've actually found that I really like many of those foods I absolutely hated as a kid. Although I still can't get myself to stomach down tofu or canned mandarin oranges-both foods I'd thrown up, I've learned to continue to try new foods.
The way a food is prepared dictates its flavors and texture, so if you don't particularly like, boiled beets lets say, try them roasted! So, here we go. The glorious beet. I LOVE THEM! They're beautiful, fragrant, and have a wonderful earthy flavor.
With that said, Melanie & I are adding another topic to our blog. A spotlight on foods!
Beets:
Nutrition:
These vegetables have about 35 calories per 2" diameter beet,
and are an excellent source of folate
What to look for at the Grocery Store:
Choose beets with firm, smooth skins with non-wilted leaves if still attached.
Smaller beets are more tender than large ones.
Storing Beets:
You can remove the leaves, just leave about an inch of the stems on.
Beets can be stored in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.
Wash and scrub before eating.
Nutrition:
These vegetables have about 35 calories per 2" diameter beet,
and are an excellent source of folate
What to look for at the Grocery Store:
Choose beets with firm, smooth skins with non-wilted leaves if still attached.
Smaller beets are more tender than large ones.
Storing Beets:
You can remove the leaves, just leave about an inch of the stems on.
Beets can be stored in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.
Wash and scrub before eating.
Beets can be eaten both raw and cooked. My favorite beet pairings: roasted beet salad w/ arugula (a peppery lettuce) and goat cheese (a mild, smooth & creamy cheese) with a citrus/olive oil vinaigrette. Truly scrumptious. Just beware that eating beets will turn your poop & pee fuschia. Don't be alarmed with that color change!
Want just one more reason to eat beets? A study by researchers at Saint Louis University shows that "eating cooked beets acutely improves running performance." Done & done. (refer to a blurb about the article here: Beets: Performance Food)
Beet nutrition, selection, storage info found at http://www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org/beets
Happy eating!
~Rebecca
Want just one more reason to eat beets? A study by researchers at Saint Louis University shows that "eating cooked beets acutely improves running performance." Done & done. (refer to a blurb about the article here: Beets: Performance Food)
Beet nutrition, selection, storage info found at http://www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org/beets
Happy eating!
~Rebecca