Zucchini In Your Diet

Most people can tell you that zucchini is a vegetable that looks like a cucumber and that is about all they know about it. It is a very under appreciated vegetable. This summer squash picks up the flavors of foods it is cooked with and has a somwhat mild nutty flavor that really adds to your salad. In the culinary world, zucchini has a pretty wide range of uses.

You can shred it using a food processor and then add it to baked goods like breads and cookies. Shredded zucchini also goes well in hamburgers and meatloafs and adds to the nutritional value. Cut up into slices it works great with salads and stir-frys. You can also chop it into chunks and grill it with other vegitables. With all of these uses it is a shame that the zucchini isn’t more of a common staple in the kitchen. I recommend checking out The Classic Zucchini Cookbook to provide you with some excellent ideas for more uses of zucchini.

As far as zucchinis nutritional value goes, they are pretty healthy. They contain a high amount of manganese, which plays a roll in our nervious system and is vital for bone health. Zucchini is also high in vitamin C, which helps your immune system, and magnesium which improves your heart heath and is also important for bone growth.

Similar to the other summer squashes zucchini is also high in antioxidants. Which are important for our health as they help to fight premature aging and can help to fight and prevent cancer. It is very important to eat a variety of foods high in antioxidants.

If you would like to try zucchini a great way to begin enjoying it is simply steaming it and adding a bit of butter to it afterwards. This is a wonderful way to learn more about the flavor of a vegetable before you start using it in a recipe.