Yum…veggies!

Since June is “National Fresh Fruit and Veggies Month“, I’ve decided to spotlight my favorite summer vegetable….zucchini! Although zucchini is treated (and known as) a vegetable, it’s botanically considered a fruit. Zucchini (also known as “summer squash”) can be green, yellow, or light green and it’s shaped similiar to a cucumber. You can also eat the bright yellow zucchini blossoms. It’s easy to cultivate and produces large amounts of fruit.  They are really low in calories and contain folate, potatssium and vitamin A. Who knew healthy could be so yummy!?!

There are so many different ways to prepare zucchini. My mom cans zucchini pickles and relish every year and makes a few batches of zucchini bread (it’s similiar to banana bread and the zucchini helps keep it moist) as well. It’s great cut in half, soaked in vinagrette and grilled or with the middle scooped out, stuffed with bread crumbs and cheese, and baked. My favorite way to eat it is cut it into small “coins” (slices about 1/4 inch thick) and to saute it with garlic, onions, basil and a splash of balsamic vinegar. Try looking online for some great recipes or asking friends how they like to prepare it.

I’ve always been the weird kid who wanted seconds of asparagus, spinach, and brussel sprouts simply because I grew up with my parents eating and growing them. So this month, why not head over to your local grocery store or farmer’s market and try a new fruit or vegetable? Maybe your husband or your kids will find the veggie they can’t get enough of and will be begging you for seconds, too!