Please, Pass the Broccoli
Your Thanksgiving meal may be different this year, but that doesn't mean you have an excuse to skip your veggies. We found a recipe for Roasted Broccoli here and let me be honest, it's delicious. The zesty lemon mixed with earthy broccoli is *chef kisses* exquisite.
In case you are still on the fence, let me tell you all the benefits that are packed into 3 of the ingredients in this simple, fresh dish:
It's easy, peasy lemon squeezy. Lemons are high in Vitamin C, which stimulates white blood cell production while protecting cells that generate antiviral substances. Lemons also have flavonoids that may block cancer cells from multiplying. Lemons really know how to pack a punch because they do more than fight for physical health, they are also a mood boosting fruit! Lemons (thanks to Vitamin C) are mood boosting because they aid in reducing tension and stress. Also, this overachieving fruit is a natural energizer with its citrus-y smell and bright color.
Tipsy kitchen tip: maximize the benefits by making yourself a lemon drop martini
If you haven't invited any vampires to feast with you, load up on the garlic. For centuries garlic has been hailed as a superfood due to its antibacterial properties. The Greeks and Romans used garlic for its healing properties and in World War II, during a shortage of penicillin, Russian physicians used garlic in its place. Garlic was famously nicknamed “Russian penicillin” and was used to treat soldier's wounds. There has been a lot of research on garlic and how it can reduce LDL (the "bad" cholesterol), boost immunity and even fight plaque build up in arteries. However, not every study has ended conclusively. So, the jury is still out on the benefits of garlic. But one fact to come out of these studies, it doesn't hurt to keep eating it.
Tipsy kitchen tip: make this dish as an excuse to buy a garlic vampire crusher (it's cute and totally necessary) on amazon.
The main event, the reason we are all gathered here, broccoli. The vitamin C content in one cup of raw broccoli is equal to one orange. Not too shabby, huh? Speaking of vitamins, broccoli is one of the yummiest ways to get your daily dose of Vitamin A. According to the National Institute of Health, Vitamin A is important for normal vision, the immune system, and reproduction. Vitamin A also helps the heart, lungs, kidneys, and other organs work properly. Broccoli also acts as a purifier, or a detox, by deactivating and pushing out chemicals in the body that might be harmful.
Tipsy kitchen tip: pull out the hummus and snack on raw broccoli while you cook, to get its full benefits.
Here's the recipe again, so you can add it to your Thanksgiving day meal plan. Comment below with your favorite vegetable recipe!