Mindy Kobrin

FOOD ALL-STARS: 12 ANTIOXIDANT RICH FOODS TO ADD TO YOUR KITCHEN NOW
Posted in Kitchen Tips, Recipes, Seasonal, Spring, Trending on June 2016

Posted in Kitchen Tips, Recipes, Seasonal, Spring, Trending

Food-All-Stars

You’re going to want to bookmark this!

Look into your fridge… Do you have any berries? How about leafy greens like spinach or kale? Got color – like bell peppers and tomatoes?

Now, look into your pantry….Any dried beans – black or red? How about pecans or walnuts?

If you said yes to any of the above. Congrats! You just passed the Don’t Worry, Eat Happy test!

If you said no, it’s time you learned about antioxidant-rich foods so that the next time you’re at the farmers market or local grocer, you’ll make mindful purchases. Antioxidants are micro-nutrients that can prevent or slow cell damage. They can be found in a variety of different foods, particularly fruits and vegetables.

Here’s my top list of antioxidant-rich foods to add to your healthy lifestyle diet now:

  1. Artichoke hearts. Best in the Spring. Recipe: Artichoke Cheese Strata
  2. Blackberries. Get ready….blackberry season is coming up soon with the Summer around the corner. Great for smoothies, atop Greek yogurt–or just grab a handful for a quick snack.
  3. Blueberries. These nutrient-packed berries are best in the Spring and Summer, but if you’re like me, you’ll need to have them nearby year-round as they’re so delicious. I like fresh, wild blueberries on top of piping hot oatmeal. Delish!
  4. Brewed coffee. Since I can’t live without coffee in the morning, I’m extra grateful that it’s also good for my health.
  5. Corn. Hello Summer! There is nothing better than farmer’s market corn during barbecue season. Recipe: Farmers Market Sweet Corn and Herbs.
  6. Kale. You may be tired of hearing all the kale fuss hype, but I highly encourage you to make kale a regular component of your diet because it’s packed with Vitamins A and C.  Recipe: Roasted Pumpkin and Kale Spaghetti. Recipes: Krispy Kale Chips and Lean Green Machine Smoothie.
  7. Peaches. Peaches are a must on any Summer menu because frankly there are few things better than biting into a ripe, juicy peach. I encourage you to try grilling them. Recipe: Grilled Peaches, Almonds, Arugula and Blue Cheese Salad. 
  8. Plums. This stone fruit is loaded with phytochemical antioxidants. They’ll be in season really soon!
  9. Strawberries. Sweet and juicy, strawberries are also bursting with Vitamin C, manganese and fiber. You definitely want to buy strawberries local because they don’t ripen further when picked so the shorter the distance traveled the better. Also, when buying strawberries, you’ll want them firm, red, fragrant and loosely packaged. Recipe: Citrus berry bowls.
  10. Spinach. Spinach is a must in my kitchen. Fresh, frozen, whatever. It’s a must because there isn’t a meal when I don’t think that spinach could make it better: A quick breakfast smoothie; a power-packed lunch salad; or for dinner atop a rustic flat-bread pizza.
  11. Tomatoes. Cooked tomatoes are packed with lycopene, a powerful antioxidant. Lycopene has been linked with prostate cancer prevention in several studies.
  12. Dark chocolate. Dark chocolate has vast health benefits not seen in other varieties. Studies show it may improve blood flower and lower blood pressure. Recipe: Exotic Dark Chocolate Bark.

More tips on stocking a healthier fridge can be found here.

EAT WELL. FEEL WELL. ENTERTAIN WELL.
LOVE your life!
CELEBRATE your culinary creativity!
PLAY with a renewed vitality!