Try This! New Fruits & Veggies to Enjoy
By Healthy Living Consultant Shari Steinbach MS, RDN
Did you know that most shoppers actually buy the same five or six produce items each week? If you crave something new, Buehler’s produce department offers some of the best variety around. If you aren’t exploring our options and trying new products, you may be missing out on some delicious items that can add excitement, and a wide of health benefits to your meals and snacks.
Below is a guide to a few items you may not have tried to help you venture outside of your produce comfort zone. The next time you shop Buehler’s, add one or more of these items to your list and explore other products you may want to try. To make things more fun, challenge your family to try one new produce item each time you grocery shop this month. Who knows, you may find some new favorites! And remember, eating a wide range of fruits and veggies increases the variety of vitamins and minerals you give your body to promote overall health and wellbeing.
Parsnips – Parsnips are a root vegetable packed with fiber and vitamin C. If you’re a fan of carrots this is a great product to try! They are creamy yellow-beige in color and are usually cooked but can also be eaten raw. Parsnips can be used in the same ways as carrots, but they are actually sweeter. They can be baked, sauteed, steamed, mashed or roasted and are delicious in soups and stews.
Mango – Mangos are one of the most popular fruits in the world. They are the succulent, aromatic fruits of an evergreen tree. In addition to sumptuous tropical flavor, mangos deliver nutritional value – 3/4 cup of mango provides 50% of your daily vitamin C, 8% of your daily Vitamin A and 8% of your daily vitamin B6 along with 7% of your daily fiber. Use mangos in smoothies, fruit salads, salsa, black bean dishes. Check out more recipes here and learn how to cut a mango here.
Jackfruit – This tropical tree fruit is the largest tree-borne fruit in the world, weighing up to 40 lbs. or more. A 3-1/2 oz. serving has about 95 calories and 2 grams of protein along with a variety of vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals that have health benefits. Unripe jackfruit has a neutral flavor that pairs will with savory dishes and its stringy texture makes a good vegan substitute for pulled pork or chicken. Ripe jackfruit has a sweet, tropical flavor that works well as a snack or added to sweet dishes. If you’re looking for a convenient way to try Jackfruit, Buehler’s sells The Jackfruit Company recipe-ready, seasoned products.
Eggplant – A slightly sweet, tender fruit covered with a shiny skin that ranges in color from dark purple, which is the most familiar, to red, yellow, green, or white. Eggplants are members of the nightshade family that include the potato and tomato, which makes them technically a fruit but they are generally thought of and prepared as a vegetable. Eggplant is low in calories and fat but high in fiber. It is a source of potassium, iron and protein. Eggplant is excellent when stuffed with a variety of ingredients or cooked using one of several methods, such as sautéing, frying, broiling, baking, grilling, or slowly cooking in meat, rice, or cheese dishes and stews. When prepared on their own they are sometimes breaded or battered before cooking and can also be substituted for pasta in lasagna dishes.
Asian Pears – They are true pears, but look more like apples and they are ready to eat as soon as you buy them. Asian pears are firm but will continue to ripen, so if you’re not going to get to them quickly, keep them in the refrigerator—but let them come back up to room temperature before eating to enjoy their full flavor. Asian pears are great used in recipes or simply eaten out of hand. Their crispness works well in slaws and salads – dice and add them to chicken salad; slice thinly and toss them with mixed lettuces, nuts, and vinaigrette; or julienne and add them to a slaw. They pair wonderfully with pungent cheeses like blue or Gouda, and can be sautéed and served with pork.