Stay Healthy With Winter's Best
Jan-17-2013

Winter is in full swing, temperatures have dropped and the trees are bare; but that certainly does not mean that our plates should be void of fresh, nutritious fruits and vegetables. The winter season boasts some of the most hearty and delicious produce all year round - so think again if you thought only summer boasted the freshest fruits and vegetables around.

Choosing freshly harvested seasonal produce not only supports a healthy diet, but may also lessen some of the adverse global effects caused by packaging and shipping produce long distances. Taking a closer look at what foods are in season, our meals will be fresher, more nutritious, flavorful, cost less, and on top of that, when the season comes for your favorite fruit or vegetable you will truly enjoy and savor it at its best!

Eating "seasonally" will allow you to diversify your diet; you may discover some fruits and vegetables that you love and didn't even know existed! As well as offering some great flavors, many winter vegetables are true nutritional stars - and at the time when colds and flus are being passed around - there is no better time than to eat a diet rich in nutritious fresh fruits and vegetables.

Some vitamin C-rich winter fruits and vegetables include, blood oranges, bok choy, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, celery root (celeriac), kale, passion fruit, persimmons, rutabagas, sweet potatoes, turnips, and winter squash. Just a reminder, vitamin C-rich foods help protect cells from free radical damage, help with vitamin E regeneration, improve iron absorption and some believe vitamin C may shorten the duration or help prevent colds.

Many winter fruits and vegetables also serve up an excellent 'dose' of vitamin A, which functions to preserve and improve eyesight as well as help fight viral infections. Some of the best include: bok choy, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, collard greens, kale, passion fruit, rutabagas, sweet potatoes, and winter squash.

Try roasting root vegetables like, parsnips, sweet potatoes, beets, turnips, celeriac, and rutabaga with a sprinkle of salt, pepper and a drizzle of olive oil. Forty-five minutes later you will have a hearty, delicious, and outstandingly nutritious side dish or even main course for any winter meal.

Snack on apples, blood oranges, Clementine, grapefruits, passion fruits, pears, persimmons, and red currants to taste the flavors and gain the nutritional benefits of winters best fruits.

Make your shopping list based on the list above, or ask the produce manager in your local supermarket to direct you to the freshest seasonal picks!

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Posted by Ken at 12:00 AM - Link to this entry  |  Share this entry  |  Print