I haven't been 100% clean, let me tell you right now. Still have my fun-size York Peppermint Patty addiction (and, curses, I found a "cleaner" version - they sell them all over town, and they are my new martini.) But I think I'm about 80% compliant. What helps is that I live in a city where healthy eating is pretty damn easy.
Speaking of easy, today, I want to talk about a product that takes the mess out of one of my favorite nutritionally sound foods. Trader Joe's Baby Beets. They're in the veggie section, cooked/peeled, ready-to-eat and super low in calories, high in nutrition. (I sound like an infomercial, I know...)
Lest you think that they're only palatable when paired with a half-pound of chevre, here's how I consumed them over the past 24 hours:

Dinner - Looking pretty on a plate of fettuccine (I scraped the Alfredo sauce off in favor of a half tsp butter and a sprinkle of parm cheese). A bit more caloric, this dish. 450 calories, but super filling.
I think I deserve Happy Hour tonight.
So, here's a little sidebar info just for the hell of it:
- Low in
calories (provide only 45 kcal/100 g), and contain zero cholesterol and
small amount of fat. Its nutrition benefits come particularly from fiber,
vitamins, minerals, and unique plant derived anti-oxidants.
- The
root is rich source of phytochemical compound, glycine betaine. Betaine
has the property of lowering homocysteine levels within
the blood. Homocysteine, one of highly toxic metabolite,
promotes platelet clot as well as atherosclerotic-plaque formation, which,
otherwise, can be harmful to blood vessels. High levels of homocysteine in
the blood result in the development of coronary heart disease (CHD),
stroke and peripheral vascular diseases.
- Raw
beets are an excellent source of folates. It contains
about 109 µg/100 g of this vitamin (Provides 27% of RDA).
However, extensive cooking may significantly deplete its level in food.
Folates are necessary for DNA synthesis within the cells. When given
during peri-conception period folates can prevent neural tube defects in
the baby.
- Fresh
tubers contain small amounts of vitamin-C; however, its top greens are rather excellent sources
of this vitamin. 100 g of beet greens provide 30 mg or 50% of RDA. Vitamin
C is one of the powerful natural antioxidants, which helps the human body
scavenge deleterious free radicals one of the reasons for cancer
development.
- The
root is also rich source of B-complex vitamins such as niacin (B-3),
pantothenic acid (B-5), pyridoxine (B-6) and minerals such as iron,
manganese, copper, and magnesium.
- Further,
the root compose of moderate levels of potassium. 100 g fresh root hold
325 mg or 7% of daily requirements. Potassium lowers heart rate and
regulates metabolism inside the cells by countering detrimental effects of
sodium.
I made this beet-potato soup a few weeks ago and it was so yummy. But also kind of a pain in the ass, what with all the beet-roasting and beet-skinning and the pink fingers and whatnot. Next time, I'm going with the precooked beets! http://deliciouslyella.com/recipe/roasted-beet-and-potato-soup/
ReplyDeleteAlso, love that "Deliciously Ella" blog. You know I"m hooked on that name, right? Especially because Ella is the heroine of my latest manuscript!
DeleteThat soup looks amazing! And yeah, definitely would be easier with TJ ready-to-eat beets. It's on my list!
ReplyDelete