You're Missing Out on These Nutritional Treasures
By Sara Butler
Many people don’t get the recommended amount of vitamins and nutrients they need per day to stay healthy. You may be literally throwing away some of the healthiest parts of your whole foods for no reason! Stems and skins of fruits and vegetables get thrown away, but they are a nutritional treasure trove. Don’t miss out! Here are some ways you can waste less and get the nutrition you need.
Beets
Most people eat the colorful root of this plant, but if the greens are bypassed then the calcium, Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and iron they contain are getting tossed out, too. Beet greens happen to have more iron per serving than spinach and they’re easy to cook: Sauté the greens with a little extra virgin olive oil and garlic and you’ve got one tasty side dish.
Cauliflower and Broccoli Stems (Leaves Too!)
Cruciferous vegetables deserve love and not just their tasty florets! Every part of these vegetables is full of antioxidants such as beta-carotene as well as folate. So eat each tasty morsel and know that you’re reducing waste and staying healthy!
Carrot Tops
You have our permission to give Carrot Top the comedian a pass, but don’t you dare pass up the tops of the carrots in your kitchen! These fronds have six times the amount of Vitamin A that the root you eat does. You can make an awesome pesto out of them by adding some nuts, cheese, and olive oil or use them in a salad. Whatever you do, just eat them!
Watermelon Rinds
Yes, you can eat the rinds of watermelons. In fact, it’s encouraged since they’re full of an amino acid that helps to dilate and relax the arteries, making them a great natural way to lower blood pressure. It’s best to go certified organic when you can to avoid pesticides or other chemicals.
How do you eat them? Well, you can pickle them for a tasty treat with a little zing – it will probably impress your friends at your next dinner party!
Outer Layers of Onions
Don’t cry over thrown away onion peels; just know they’re a great source of antioxidants that can help to lower blood pressure, so they should be used where you can fit them in! Save onion peels in the fridge and use them to make a nice, robust veggie stock for your soups and stews this winter.
Don't throw out these vegetables, instead integrate them into your diet to increase your health!
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Aurora, Colo.
