Here’s to hoping for picnic-friendly weather over this long weekend! If you get a chance, pack your basket with treats made from fresh fruits and seasonal vegetables.

> The flute-like veggie that heralds the arrival of spring

> The so-called “magical fruits” that aren’t fruits at all

> The juicy melon purported to have Viagra-like benefits

> The floating, sprouting, weaving and waving veggies that can add umami to your picnic palate

> The fruit some call “the alligator pear”

> The fruit that’s had an image makeover

> +5 other heart-friendly foods you may never have tried, as recommended by the experts at the Heart & Stroke Foundation

US First Lady Michelle Obama has garnered lots of positive press for her initiative to build a White House garden and farmer’s market. But poor old beets didn’t make it into the garden because, apparently the Prez hates the red rooty bulbs. I can just hear him now … “Let me be clear: No beet will be eaten by this administration.”

Too bad. President Obama, like anyone else, could really benefit from the nutritious bounty of beets.

Why beets are hard to beat (can’t resist that easy pun!):

- Beets are cheap and low in calories - but full of natural sweetness that can add a lot of flavour to other foods.

- Beets boast B-vitamins, like B9 - better known as folate or folic acid (when in supplement form). Folate-filled foods are especially beneficial to women who are pregnant or hoping to become pregnant soon, because the vitamin is important for healthy cell growth.

- Betacyanin, the pigment that gives beets their rich red colour, is a potentially powerful antioxidant.

- Beets burst with fibre to aid digestion and blood sugar regulation.

Also, beets can be eaten from top to bottom - roots, stalks, leaves and all!

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Adding carrots to any meal is a good health move. Like pumpkin, sweet potatoes, and other yellow and orange vegetables, carrots provide hefty helpings of beta-carotene, a carotenoid and antioxidant that converts to vitamin A when digested. Vitamin A supports vision and immune function.

But wait! Don’t cut those carrots! [Read more →]

We hear so much about the health benefits of antioxidants. And many of us actively try to squeeze as many of the cancer-fighting, cell-supportive nutrients into our diets as possible.

Fruits and vegetables are the out-and-out champs when it comes to antioxidant content, but what happens when we cook them? Does microwaving zap the advantages? Does boiling burst the benefit bubble or boost it? And are there particular fruits and veg that make the pan-to-plate journey with their antioxidant power intact? [Read more →]

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! If you’re looking to add a little green to your day, why not add it to your plate? Aside from green eggs and ham, it’s hard to go wrong with green foods and drinks.

Know the facts: What’s so great about greens?
Try something new: Get to know asparagus
Get the “good” fat: Avocados
Toss these in: 9 spring salad greens to try
Add some spice: 9 healthy herbs from the garden
Sip on this: Green tea

March is Nutrition Month, a great time to reevaluate your eating habits. Are you eating the recommended 7-10 servings of fruits and vegetables a day?

Try adding a few of these delicious, nutritious mystery fruits and vegetables to your meal plan:

The fruit some call “the alligator pear”
The flute-like veggie that heralds the coming of spring
The 3-in-1 wonder vegetable
The fleeting, fickle fruit once considered sacred
The fruit that’s recently undergone an image makeover