From Bonnie’s Garden: Feed Your SOL, One Ingredient at a Time

February 7, 2009

Totally sexy: Brussels Sprouts

What’s the sexiest seasonal vegetable around? Hands down, it’s Brussels sprouts.

I kid you not.

Think about it: cruciferous vegetables, which include broccoli and cauliflower, have the amazing ability to lower the estrogen count in your body. Since estrogen is a fat-storing hormone, a little bit less estrogen leads to a flatter tummy.

So yes, Brussels sprouts can make you feel great and look sexy.

My family swore they didn’t like Brussels sprouts, but that’s only because most people cook them within an inch of their lives. They’ve got a great texture when they’re sliced and served a little al dente: throw in some great simple flavors like garlic and lemon and my family can’t get enough of these bite-sized veggies.

And Brussels sprouts are a great source of vitamins C and A, which support clear healthy skin and a strong immune system. Plus its fiber content is sure to keep you regular (which also helps you with any tummy issues.)

Also Brussels sprouts are packed with phytonutrients that trigger the liver to produce enzymes that detoxify cancer-causing chemicals. In fact, they work more effectively in cancer prevention than popular antioxidants such as green tea and blueberries.

So yes, Brussels sprouts are healthy as well as sexy. How do you find and buy Brussels sprouts that are all that they were meant to be? For that you need to know about SOL.

SOL stands for “seasonal, organic, and local.” First of all, what does “organic” actually mean? Organic is the way in which your food is farmed. Organic should mean that your food is pesticide, fungicide, and herbicide free – all of which are toxins that are dangerous to human beings. While washing your produce with vegetables consider using such washes as grapefruit seed extract, which can reduce the amount of pesticides present, it cannot eliminate them entirely, but it’s a valuable defense against whatever pesticides are present.

Pesticides are densely present in the water content of your vegetables. Even the slight presence of pesticides in your food kills the good bacteria in your colon. Without good bacteria the body cannot extract the vitamins that are in your food. Organic produce is nutrient dense and clean. After all, if you’re going to eat your vegetables, you might as well do it right!

Featured Seasonal Ingredient: Brussels sprouts; how to pick them, and how to cook them.

Seasonal: December, January, and February

Pick Brussels sprouts that are firm, they’re the freshest, and uniform in size so they cook evenly. Brussels sprouts are very healthy but they don’t have to taste that way. Check out the yummy recipes below.

Roasted Brussels sprouts
(Serves Two)

1 ½ cup Brussels sprouts
1 tsp. olive oil
¼ tsp. salt
Pinch of pepper

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

2. In a bowl lightly coat Brussels sprouts with olive oil and toss with salt and pepper.

3. Cover a sheet pan with parchment paper. Spread the Brussels sprouts evenly on the sheet pan. Cook for 10 minutes or until tender. Serve.

Brussels Sprout Hash
(Serves Two)

1-tablespoon olive oil
1/8 tsp. clove-ground
½ tsp. jalapeño-finely diced
1 medium clove garlic-minced
1 ½ cup Brussels sprouts-diced in two inch slices, lengthwise
¼ tsp. salt
Pinch of pepper
½ lemon, juiced

Heat in a medium sauté pan over medium heat. When the pan is hot, add your olive oil. As soon as the olive oil heats up, add the clove, jalapeño, and garlic. The oil will season very quickly so add the Brussels sprouts after 30 seconds. Add the salt, pepper and lemon juice. Sauté for 3-4 minutes or until the Brussels sprouts are a nice golden brown. Serve.

• Add cooked sweet potatoes to the Brussels sprouts hash and serve for breakfast as a side dish to a plate of bacon and eggs.

• Toss together the roasted Brussels sprouts with cooked white beans and pecorino cheese and you have a lovely creamy alternative to mashed potatoes in the classic meat and potatoes dinner.

Grab your Brussels sprouts while they are still in season. I hope to see you soon in the garden of nature’s special treats.

Enjoy!

—Bonnie Gray

Bonnie is the wife of author John Gray, and a source of inspiration for many of his books. Most days, when not busy with one or more of the Grays’ three grandchildren, Bonnie can be found working the garden at their home in Northern California.

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MVL Valentine’s Day Countdown Tip #24:

Ban the TV

February 14th is a day for gazing into your loved one’s eyes, and focusing on them with your heart and soul. But you can’t do that, if either of you are staring at the boob tube.

Solution: Turn it off for the whole day. No sports games. No soap operas. No Friends or Seinfeld repeats. Instead, do something together that excites you, provokes you, inspires you, and makes you want to talk to each other for hours on end.

Is that a movie? Perhaps.

A play? Maybe.

Lovemaking? For sure!

Posted in Diet & Fitness, Wellness