By Bernheim
What’s red and green and the perfect dish this time of year? No, it’s not Aunt Martha’s Jell-o mold. It’s BEETS! Isaac’s Café received a donation of beets which we will be putting to good use all this week. Whether you like them pickled, roasted, or the classic Harvard beets, you’ll find them on everything from our Meatless Monday Forest Salad, soups, and our seasonal sides.
We aren’t just making beets because they are delicious (yes, some folks find them very tasty), but they are also loaded with essential vitamins that have benefits beyond our taste buds. Below are some of the more significant benefits:
- Beets are a low calorie, vitamin dense food which provide a healthy dose of fiber.
- Beets have been shown to significantly lower blood pressure due to the high concentration of nitrates, which are converted into nitric oxide, a molecule that dilates blood vessels, causing blood pressure to drop.
- They contain pigments called betalains, which possess anti-inflammatory properties.
- Studies have shown that beets improve cognitive function and possibly help reduce the risk of dementia.
The bottom line is that beets are delicious and easy to include in your diet. What better way to get some holiday red and green in your diet on this Meatless Monday than with our Forest Salad topped with Harvard beets, walnuts, your choice of house made dressing, and a self-serve drink for just $6.95. The rest of the week will also feature beets in some traditional and not-so traditional ways. You can’t BEET it!