Sometimes You Should Eat Weird Things

Purple carrots on my salad.  Photo by Angela Tague

By my friends' standards, I'm an adventuresome eater.

I don't think twice about putting quinoa, tempeh and flax seeds in my grocery cart.

But for me, those are normal weekly groceries.

So, I get really excited when *I* find something truly unique at the grocery store. A few weeks ago my favorite supermarket expanded their organic offerings.

While browsing the fruits and vegetables, I came across a bag of carrots. I know. That's not really exciting. What caught me off guard were the colors!

Purple. Yellow. Lavender.

I instantly knew I had to try them. Would they taste the same as the old garden variety orange carrots I've eaten forever? Or, would they be different?

I made a nice big salad for lunch and topped it with the sliced vegetables. Although they were crunchy and sweet, I couldn't tell any difference in flavor. But, they sure are pretty, especially the two-tone purple variety.

When you're embarking on a healthier lifestyle, sometimes you just have to jump in and try weird foods with funny names or uncommon colors. You never know what delicious item you'll add to your weekly grocery list next!

What's the most uncommon thing you like to eat? Tell me in the comments below about the food that makes your friends and family give you strange looks.

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela Tague
Whole Foods Living

Uncommon Food Pairings

Photo: SXC

Some things just go together: peanut butter and jelly; chocolate and caramel; peas and carrots.

But, what about those weird little mixtures that we somehow stumble upon and learn to adore?

You know, the uncommon food pairings that make your friends and family look away each time you indulge.

I don't think my palate craves too many uncommon food pairings. But, I have received a few odd glances when I:

• Melt cheddar cheese on apple pie
• Add grape jelly and ketchup to homemade baked beans
• Put chopped, fresh tomatoes on scrambled eggs
• Mix peanut butter into vanilla ice cream

Do these sound weird to you? What uncommon food pairings do you enjoy?

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela Tague
Whole Foods Living

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Organic Carrots, Cheap!

Eating healthy doesn't have to be expensive! Last night (Feb. 17) I stumbled on a great deal for organic carrots. Hy-Vee on Hamilton Blvd. in Sioux City has Bunny-Luv Organic Carrots on sale for $.99 for the 1 lb. bag. The sign did not indicate an end date for this low price. These are full-size carrots (see picture). Head to the last row of produce, near the bakery, and stock up!

Organic Bunny-Luv carrots.
Photo by Angela Tague

Juicing Carrots: A Burst of Vitamin A



One cup of raw carrots (pre-juicing) gives you over six times
the recommended daily percentage of vitamin A.
Photo by Kander, Wikimedia Commons

What's a girl to do when carrots go on sale for 50 cents a bag? Juice 'em! To the naysayer, the thought of making juice from a vegetable may sound, well, icky. But crunchy carrots turn into a sweet, refreshing juice in a matter of seconds with an electric juicer.

And they give your body a vitamin packed pick-me-up.

Health Benefits of Carrots

One cup of raw carrots (pre-juicing) gives you over six times the recommended daily percentage of vitamin A. Carrots are also high in vitamin K, vitamin C, potassium and fiber. The antioxidants in carrots promote eye health, ward off cardiovascular disease and help prevent some cancers.

Mix it Up

My favorite way to drink carrot juice is with a splash of fresh juiced lemon or mixed with apple juice. I have tried mixing carrot juice with the juice of other vegetables -- including cucumbers, kale and celery -- but the result was too bland.

The World's Healthiest Foods website recommends mixing fresh juiced carrots with soy milk and bananas for a breakfast shake. Since I like soy milk, and this concoction sounds like it might have a sweet taste, I'll have to give it a try.

What are your favorite juicing mixes?

Resources and Suggested Further Reading:The World's Healthiest Foods, The George Mateljan Foundation: Carrots
SoyQuick: The Benefits of Juicing Fresh Carrots

Until next time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela
Whole Foods Living

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