"I love beets. Show me a salad bar and I will clean them out of their beets." - Chris Pratt
To add color and nutrition to meals ranging from salads to a "meat and potatoes" plate, you can't beat beets!
Five Fun Facts
- Beet juice has been used as a natural red dye since the 1500s.
- Beets were believed to be an aphrodisiac in ancient Roman times.
- Beet juice can be made into a wine similar to port.
- Beets come in a range of colors from yellow to red, red with white striped interiors, and all white!
- The entire plant is edible, from the leaves to the root.
Nutrition Info
Beets are a good source of:
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin B (folic acid)
- Vitamin C
- Iron
- Potassium
- Phosphorus
- Magnesium
- Calcium
- Carotenoids
- Dietary fiber
Benefits
Beets may be beneficial in the following ways:
- Fighting inflammation
- Lowering blood pressure
- Improving endurance
- Improving cognitive function
Cautions
Consuming beets may lead to a change in the color of your urine or stool, but if you are otherwise healthy, this is not a cause for concern. People who have kidney disease or are on a low-oxalate diet may need to limit beets in their diet -- especially the greens.
Suggested Recipes
Pickled Beet Grilled Cheese Sandwiches (vegetarian)
Chicken and Roasted Beet Salad
Beet Risotto (vegetarian and gluten-free)
Beet Soup (Borscht) (gluten-free, low calorie, low fat)
Beet and Blueberry Almond Oatmeal Cobbler (gluten-free, vegetarian)
For the Kids and Kids-at-Heart
Download the "Beet the Clock" activity sheet to have some fun!
______________________________________________________
Credits and thanks in addition to recipes and information linked above: Factretriever.com; Nutritionfacts.us; Self.com; Thespruceeats.com; Verywellfit.com.
Inclusion of a link does not imply WHF endorsement of all content at that link.