Healthy Recipes

Calabacitas

3/18/2021

Fun Facts:

Squash is considered a fruit botanically, because it has seeds on the inside of the part we eat.
There are over 100 different varieties of squash, from sweet (pumpkin) to not so sweet (crooked neck)
Squash (Zucchini) has no flavor, therefore you can add it to anything and it will absorb whatever the predominant flavor is.
Although zucchini and Mexican squash look similar and can be used interchangeably, one is from Italy and the other is from Mesoamerica. With both having a known ancestor dating back over 7000 years.

Nutrition:

Squash (zucchini) adds fiber, water and bulk to foods with very little calories.
Contains folate, vitamin A, and potassium.
Other types of squash, particularly the orange and red flesh varieties, like butternut or pumpkin, are chock full of beta carotene.
For calabacitas, when stewing tomatoes and garlic and onions together, nutrition is amplified. There is a mysterious chemical reaction that takes place that makes vitamins and minerals more bio-available.

3/18/2021

Vegetables and fruits are an important part of a healthy diet, and variety is as important as quantity. This salad is an excellent way to get a variety of fruits and vegetables.
No single fruit or vegetable provides all of the nutrients you need to be healthy. Eat plenty every day. At least half of everything you eat should be fruits and vegetables.
In a wide range of studies, the higher the average daily intake of fruits and vegetables, the lower the chances of developing cardiovascular disease.
There are so many benefits to eating a variety of fruits and vegetables it would take a book. Some are lower blood pressure, reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke, preventing some types of cancer, and lowering risk of eye and digestive problems.
Increased consumption of tomato-based products (especially cooked tomato products) and other lycopene-containing foods may reduce the occurrence of prostate cancer.
Cucumbers as part of a well balanced diet, are full of fiber, add water and bulk to whatever you add them to, and are rich in Vitamin K, Vitamin C and Potassium.
Avocado is a health food. It contains more potassium than a banana, have plant compounds proven to prevent some cancers, contains healthy fats known to help you absorb nutrients better than other foods.