What is Watercress?

Is this watercress in full bloom? Photo: SXC

My mother likes trying new produce as much as I do. One night we had a 30-minute phone conversation about watercress. She read about it in Martha Stewart's Living magazine and has wanted to try it ever since.

In her small, rural Iowa town you can't find such fancy leafy greens.

I've never had watercress either, but have seen it at the local Hispanic grocery store a few times. I'm curious to learn how to eat it.

With a little research I've found watercress is grown in water, or semi-aquatically. It also boasts several nutritional benefits, according to Nutrition Data:

• 1 cup of raw, chopped watercress only has 4 calories
• Watercress is fat-free and cholesterol-free
• A 1-cup serving provides your daily vitamin K needs
• Watercress is also rich in vitamins A, C and E

Have you tried watercress? How do you eat it? What does it taste like?

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela Tague
Whole Foods Living

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