Monday, April 11, 2011

Superfoods Part III

Today I bring you 3 new Superfoods for the week as a follow up to Week 1 and Week 2. Eat these foods as a snack or build a meal around them, either way you can't go wrong.

1.  Black Beans – Last week I talked about Garbanzo Beans, this week Black. They're high in fiber and offer other optimum nutrition components, such as calcium, iron and folic acid.

How to Prepare: Incorporate into any meal! Have a breakfast burrito, prepare black bean soup, chili, or just toss into a salad and much more!

2. Tomatoes – Studies have shown that tomatoes can lower cholesterol, as well as reduce blood pressure and maintain healthy cellular growth (meaning it can help you have healthier hair, nails and skin). Tomatoes also contain the antioxidant lycopene, which may help prevent certain cancers.

Fresh at Farmer's Market
How to Prepare: I like to keep a strainer with cherry or grape tomatoes handy to snack on, I also love to try out tomato based sauces filled with veggies as well as turkey meat sauce with diced tomatoes. Make a sauce, add to a salad, or just snack on the go tomatoes are extremely versatile and can add flavor to any meal.

3. Blood Oranges –There are two main health benefits when consuming these oranges: Vitamin C and Folic Acid, and get this one of these oranges packs just eighty calories! Blood Oranges are also a good source of Anthocyanins which have anti-inflammatory properties, Calcium, and Vitamin A.

How to Prepare: Eat them alone or add to a salad, these oranges are packed with tons of flavor! One of my favorite Salad recipes that uses a Blood Orange:

   Endive, Fennell, Blood Orange, Grilled Chicken,
Sunflower Seeds, Avocado,
 Homemade Dressing
(Balsamic Vinegar, EVOO, 1 egg yolk)

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