I wonder, when you were little, what stories your mom used to tell you to get you to eat your vegetables? What tricks did she have up her sleeve? Kids need a lot of convincing. I know I sure did when it came to most vegetables–especially broccoli! The only thing that worked for me was “playing dinosaur” with my mom. She and I would pretend to be huge, gigantic dinosaurs, and the broccoli stalks were trees that we were grazing on–devouring is more like it! Mom would tell me, “trees might not taste very good, but a dinosaur needs to eat them the stay big and healthy!”
Unfortunately for mom, sooner or later I would become bored with being a dinosaur, remember that vegetables were good for me, and downright refuse to eat the rest of my broccoli. That’s when my mom would put her foot down, and make the universal threat heard around the world, “You will sit at this table until you finish your vegetables.” I have to admit, my mom knew what she was talking about. Apparently all vegetables, and even broccoli, are good for you! Who could have known?!
Of course, I’m just kidding–we all know vegetables are good for you. But what’s so great about broccoli? Following are some of nutrients contained in broccoli and benefits you can receive from eating it:
- Broccoli is a huge source of vitamins C, A, and K
- Broccoli also contains a good amount of potassium, protein, and calcium
- It is a great source of dietary fiber
- It contains anticarcinogen compounds, which help boost your immune system
- Broccoli also contains anti-cancer compounds, shown to reduce the aggressive nature of prostate cancer and other cancers
- It is also linked to the reduction of heart disease, which is one of our nation’s leading causes of death
But, even after knowing all these good things about broccoli, I will admit, I still have to make myself eat it sometimes. So now I have to trick myself. Mom isn’t here to do it for me. I trick myself by preparing my broccoli in a way that makes it more tasty, whether fresh or cooked. Some of my favorites are:
- Fresh broccoli dipped in ranch dressing
- Broccoli florets mixed in with your salad
- Steamed broccoli with melted cheese
- Cream of broccoli and cheese soup
- Stir-fried broccoli, mixed with other veggies, and enjoyed with sweet stir-fry sauce
Broccoli casserole, prepared just like green bean casserole, substituting broccoli in place of green beans- Broccoli and cheese quiche
- Broccoli florets on my pizza, along with other fresh veggies
Just like many other vegetables, broccoli can loose many of its nutrients when cooked, so be sure to eat your broccoli fresh as often as you do cooked. Honestly, you just can’t go wrong with broccoli. It can be prepared so many different ways, it offers so many nutritional benefits, it’s not terribly difficult to grow, and if you have children, “playing dinosaur” can be kind of fun! Until next time, take care and happy gardening!