Fruits and VegetablesFruits and vegetables are super healthy. They help to prevent cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and many chronic diseases. They even prevent wrinkles! Fresh produce contains soluble fiber which keeps your arteries clear, and insoluble fiber that keeps your digestion running smoothly. They also contain vitamins, especially vitamins C and A, flavonoids, minerals, phytonutrients and antioxidants. We hear the phrase "fruits and vegetables", but the phrase should really be "vegetables and fruits". We need more vegetables than fruits. Fruits are high in fructose, a simple sugar, and too much fructose stresses the glandular system and causes fatigue. It's healthier to eat fruit in smaller amounts. Mother Nature is an artist and she likes jewel tones! The fruits and vegetables with deep colors have the most nutrients. Green red, yellow, orange are healthy colors. Deep green romaine lettuce and spinach are more nutritious than iceberg lettuce. Orange sweet potatoes are healthier than white potatoes. And we all need to eat dark leafy greens. Each color represents different nutrients. Lycopene is in red produce, chlorophyll and magnesium are in green veggies, and yellow and orange vegetables have beta carotene and flavonoids. 
Colorful fruits and vegetables:RED: tomatoes, apples, radish, strawberries, watermelon, hot peppers, bell peppersORANGE: oranges, sweet potato, winter squash, apricots, carrots, bell pepper, melons YELLOW: bananas, lemons, summer squash, yellow bell peppers PURPLE: plums, raisins, grapes, figs, prunes, purple cabbage, purple onions WHITE: cauliflower, onions, daikon radish, horseradish, garlic, rutabaga, turnips, potato GREEN: broccoli, arugula, kale, collards, basil, lettuce, asparagus, spinach, celery, leeks, peas, green beans, limes, parsley, avocado BROWN/TAN: mushrooms, ginger root, burdock root You can also find dried fruits in the bulk section or in packages. Look for dried apples, apricots, currants, dates, figs, prunes, and raisins. The darker fruits like apricots, dates, figs, prunes and raisins contain iron. the deep color signals iron in the food. The latest superfood is the gobi berry, which looks like small red raisins. These berries are good for eyesight and are rich in antioxidants. I eat them with pumpkin seeds for a snack. They travel well, too. Lately I have learned how nutritious wild foods are. Nettles are a superfood that build the blood, and dandelion greens, purslane, lambsquarters, burdock are super nutritous. I am growing them this spring in my garden. These herbs that are mild and can be eaten as a vegetable.
Here's some vegetable recipes:spinach salad with avocado spinach salad with nori spinach saute with raisins
Local fruits and vegies are the best. They are just harvested and have ripened on the vine. They just feel more alive! The farmers markets are full of color and life. Look for heirlooms, too. The vegetables in the grocery store are from hybrid seeds. Hybrid plants have been bred for uniformity and ability to transport easily, not for taste or nutrition. A real heirloom tomato has more flavor. They are becoming more popular. I saw heirloom tomatoes in all their colorful glory at Central Market, a grocery in Austin. I think consumers are starting to ask for them. I often ask the produce manager to carry more organics and local produce. If enough people ask for it they will carry organics. I am trying a new food experiment, using fruits and vegetables for facials. I just created an avocado facial, basically smearing avocado on my face! It made my skin feel really soft. Next I'll try a honey facial!
Spinach recipes, cooked and raw Strawberries, luscious and sweet Winter squash recipes for cooler weather Cultured vegetables are easy to make Fall vegie recipes with cauliflower, squash, apples, and walnuts Roasted vegies are easy to make Salsa recipes are fun and spicy! Easy guacamole recipes for snacks and parties Kale recipes are super healthy cooking vegies, 10 different ways |
