Which Color of Onion is Healthiest?

Photo Credit: morgueFile

I've always read that colorful food is more nutrient dense than its pale white counterparts.

So when it comes to white, yellow and red onions, does it really matter which lands in your grocery cart?

Let's turn to The National Onion Association for a little lesson.

Approximately 87 percent of onions grown in the United States are yellow. Just 8 percent are red and 5 percent are white.

The spicy vegetable is grown year-round in 20 states from coast to coast, with Washington producing the most. In a year, the United States grows 6.2 billion pounds of onions!

OK, so back to the nutrition of onions. I reached out to the Onionista at The National Onion Association and here's what she had to say:

Source: Twitter

So, they're all good for you! Pick your favorite color and enjoy!

Photo Credit: morgueFile

Onions are a healthy whole food that are easy to add to any meal.

• Breakfast: Add onions to omelets, fritatas, homemade sausage, vegetable hash and quiche.
• Lunch: Top a sandwich, pizza, salad or bowl of chili with fresh onions.
• Dinner: Try grilling or roasting onion halves and stuffing them as a side dish. Or, serve pearl onions in a cream sauce.

Onions are high in vitamin C, manganese, foliate and fiber. If you're trying to reduce fat and salt, but want extra flavor in your meal, try onions!

I put together a public Pinterest board called "I Love onions!" to give you a little inspiration. It's a collection of recipes, tips for growing onions and even how to use them to make a cough syrup!

So, how do you like to eat or use onions? Tell me in the comments below!

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela Tague
Whole Foods Living

What's the Weirdest Food You've Grilled?

The propane tank is full. The charcoal briquettes are stacked. Grilling season has begun!

Fire it up! It's grilling season!

I love cooking a meal outside just as much as the next gal. But this summer I'm vowing to break out of my usual routine of grilled portobello mushrooms, corn on the cob, tomatoes and foil packet potatoes. I need to try grilling new things!

Recently I ventured into grilling zucchini, onion slices and pineapple rings. Ok, I know those aren't weird foods, but they're new-to-my-grill foods!

To prepare the zucchini, I sliced it to approximately 1/4-inch thick, seasoned it with salt and pepper, then gave it a brush of olive oil so it wouldn't stick to the grill grate. After four or five minutes on each side it was tender and delicious.

My onion slices didn't turn out quite as well. Next time I'll make them thicker, maybe 1/2-inch, so they don't fall apart as easily. I'll also brush them with olive oil to help them stay moist. But nonetheless, the grill char marks made them tasty too.

For dessert I tossed a few canned pineapple rings onto the grill. Since they were extremely juicy, I just put them on as-is. After they got a good sear I gobbled them down. They were a little dried out but had a unique smokey flavor. I think they would have been better served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. There's always next time!

So, what weird, wonderful foods have you been grilling this summer? Make me hungry in the comments below!

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela Tague
Whole Foods Living


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Growing Whole Foods: It's Garden Season!

Acorn squash plants in my garden. Photo by Angela Tague

What better way is there to eat healthy than to grow your own food?

I've fussed with a garden of some sort ever since I was a kid, and this spring is no exception.

Over the long Memorial Day weekend I added a few more goodies to my small garden and can't wait for the growing season to really get underway.

Do you plant a garden? What do you like to grow?

This year I opted for a few varieties of tomatoes, yellow-green bell peppers, cucumbers, acorn squash, cantaloupe and onions. I might still do a container garden of herbs and scope out a place for strawberries.

In addition to munching on fresh fruits and veggies throughout the summer, I simply love getting outside and playing in the dirt. There really is nothing better than soaking in the sun and fresh air after a long day behind a computer screen!

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela Tague
Whole Foods Living

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