Add These Rockstar Veggies to Your Diet | Xyngular

Summer is here, and that means longer days and fun summer nights. It also means that it is farmer’s market season. This gives you a chance to try new flavorful veggies direct from your local farmer. In many cases, farmers can give you recipe recommendations for how to prepare vegetables you may not have tried before. There are tons of great veggie options out there. Give some of these rockstar veggies a try this summer.

Many people think of beets as an old fashioned vegetable, but they are packed with nutrients. In fact, while the beet root is the most commonly consumed part of the plant, the greens are also packed with nutrients. Beet roots are a good source of folate and Vitamin C, while beet greens are a prime source of Vitamin K.

Swiss chard is another frequently overlooked power veggie. The rainbow chard variety is particularly colorful, and likely to entice children to eat it due to its rainbow hues. Due to its high oxalic acid content it is best served lightly steamed. Swiss chard is packed with nutrients, such as kaempferol, which has heart protecting properties.

Asparagus may be a more mainstream vegetable, but it is far from popular. It is another rockstar veggie packed with folate, which is particularly important for expecting mothers. Asparagus can be steamed, roasted, or grilled, making it incredibly versatile.

Your mother may have been on to something when she told you to eat your peas as a child. These much maligned childhood veggies are packed with fiber, which helps regulate your digestive system. If you don’t care for peas in their common shelled form, try sugar snap peas. The pods add a bit of extra crunch, and the sweetness is a nice complement to many dishes.

Another veggie typically shunned during childhood, broccoli is packed with nutrients. With a little creativity, broccoli’s tree like shape can be used to create an appetizing presentation. It is packed with Vitamin C and Vitamin K, making it an antioxidant superstar.

Bell peppers are another nutrient dense choice. While green is the most common color, red, yellow, and orange varieties have more nutritional value. They are packed with more than twice the daily recommended value of Vitamin C. They are incredibly versatile. Peppers can be stuffed, roasted, grilled, sauteed, or even served raw.

Summer is the perfect time to try new, locally grown vegetables. Beets, swiss chard, asparagus, peas, broccoli, and bell peppers are all fantastic options to add into your weekly menu. Your local farmer may also have new recommendations for you to try. They can also likely recommend new ways to prepare familiar veggies.

Stop by your local farmer’s market, and learn about different types of veggies. The nutrient boost from these rockstar veggies will play a positive role in your overall health. Try new veggies, you may be surprised about what you may love.