Photo: Saskei, Flickr

As summer winds down, so does one of my favorite things about the sunny season -- freshly-grown veggies. Sweet, juicy and succulent, you'd be hard pressed to find produce as tasty as this in December, particularly in the part of the world where I live. So let's appreciate them while we can, OK?

The Washington Post recently did just that by celebrating a summertime favorite, fresh corn on the cob. Corn has a bit of a bad reputation, but as it happens, it has some essential nutrients like vitamin B5, vitamin C and folate. An ear of corn is about 100 calories (though obviously that number goes up when you pile on the butter) and -- having both soluble and insoluble fiber-- it acts as a sort of "snow plow" on your digestive system by helping to clean out some of the bad stuff in there. And here's another corn tip: Cooking it increases the antioxidant value, so make sure you eat yours hot.

Of course, corn isn't the only summer veggie that should be making an appearance on your plate this season.

Workout need a boost? Beetroot juice can enhance your performance.

Photo: kthread, Flickr

You might be accustomed to cutting off and trashing the greens that come on top of your beets, but you really should be eating them, because FitSugar says beet greens are incredibly nutritious. One cup contains no fat and just 39 calories, plus you'll get 220 percent of your daily allowance of vitamin A and 60 percent of your vitamin C.

FitSugar says these greens cook and taste a lot like Swiss chard, and they recommend you blanch them in water for few minutes, drain and then prepare with a little olive oil, salt and garlic.

Chances are your kitchen is filled with fruits and veggies that come from trees, bushes and gardens -- but don't forget about those that grow under the surface. Root vegetables -- like beets, radishes, turnips and carrots -- are just as delicious, equally nutritious and less expensive, which is always welcome during these tough times. Over at Calorie Lab, registered dietitian Karen Collins is raving about roots -- here are some things you should know about them:

• They're high in nutrients. For example, beets and parsnips have high levels of folate, and Jicama and celeriac have vitamin C.
• They're cheap and readily available, even in winter.
• They're easy to cook -- you can steam them in the microwave or bake them.
  
• They taste good on their own -- just add a bit of olive oil and some spices and you've got a great side dish.

For more dirt on roots, head over to Calorie Lab and let us know how you like to prepare yours.

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I stopped at the farmer's market this morning and several booths had beets for sale. I debated about buying some to make a borscht. (Which I love, but I was quite certain it would be a complete miss with my son.) According to Planet Green, I should have just tried juicing beets.

Researchers have found that drinking 500ml of beet root juice daily can have a positive impact on blood pressure. Not only is beet root high in antioxidants, it also contains dietary nitrates which benefit blood pressure. Researchers found that the blood pressure of study subjects dropped just one hour after drinking beet root juice, with the most benefit showing three to four hours after drinking the juice.

Want another idea on what to do with beets? Debra has some ideas for cooking beets with the greens.

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Yep, we're crazy about belonging to a CSA Farm. Fresh, local veggies every week fit our healthy lifestyle, and we look forward to choosing fun recipes to use each week's harvest.

Lately, we've been getting red and golden beets, complete with rich, green beet greens still attached. Want to know our favorite easy recipes to use every part of the beet?

Beet Greens with Tamari
Simply saute your coarsely chopped beet greens and a clove or two of minced garlic in your favorite cooking oil, over medium heat until they turn bright green (about two minutes). Then, sprinkle tamari (or soy sauce or Bragg's) in the pan, about two teaspoons or so. Cook through, remove from heat, and serve.

We all know that antioxidants are good for us, and chances are we know which foods are higher in antioxidants (Hint: Veggies are higher in antioxidants than cheeseburgers, if you didn't know already), but do you know what the antioxidant levels are in certain foods? No? Well, here's a short list of the levels in some common veggies, according to this post:

• Beets, Raw -- 2774
• Spinach, raw -- 2640
• Broccoli, raw -- 1590
• Cabbage, raw -- 1359
• Carrots, raw -- 1215
• Red Onions, raw -- 1174
• Red Peppers, raw -- 901
• Cauliflower, raw -- 647
• Green Peppers, raw -- 558
• Tomato, raw -- 337
• Snap Bean, raw -- 290

Wow, beets. Who knew? If you could put together a salad with all of these items for dinner tonight, you'd be whoopin' some free radical butts. What do you think?

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Each week, we'll be offering original recipes and unique ways to use those Super Foods that pack nutritional power. After all, you are what you eat -- make it count!

My latest addiction -- a good one! -- is lacto-fermented veggies. A member of my food coop got me to split some with her, and the rest is history.

I have actually been wanting to make my own for a while, but I was always daunted by the process, wondering if I would get it right or just end up with a pile of rotted vegetables . . . ewwww . . .

I have been devouring the Deep Roots Organic Carrots and also the beets daily. There is something about the delightfully sour taste that leaves we wanting more. And since they are so good for my digestive system, and they are raw veggies, how can I deny my addiction?

Why should you eat lacto-fermented veggies?

Left to his own devices, the only vegetable my guy would eat would be tomatoes (and then, only as salsa), not because he doesn't like them, but because of the shopping, cutting, and cooking that's involved. If you're a man who's interested in nutrition, then you might enjoy this article from Men's Health that lists the 10 best foods that men aren't eating. All but the savviest cooks seems to be leaving these off their shopping lists, but these 10 foods pack a powerful nutritional punch. What's even better is that, though there are a few exotics on the list, many of these foods can be found in season at your local farmer's markets right now. They include:

1. Beets
2. Cabbage
3. Guava
4. Swiss chard
5. Cinnamon (and not on a bun!)
6. Purslane
7. Pomegranate juice
8. Goji berries
9. Dried plums
10. Pumpkin seeds

I'll admit that beets haven't crossed our plates in years, but this article may have just inspired me to grab a few the next time I'm out.

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We know the best power foods are whole foods, like fruits and vegetables jam-packed with nutrition and legumes full of protein and fiber. But it is not always easy to eat whole foods all of the time. Sometimes we crave more convenience, even though the processed foods are usually not as good for us.

So, whether good or bad, WebMD has put together a list of 25 relatively new natural, yet packaged, products that could be good for us to have in our pantries.

The list is broken into categories, which I have listed, along with a couple of products that really caught my eye.

• High-Fiber Bread, Pasta & Cereal
• Kashi Vive Probiotic Digestive Wellness Cereal -- Full of fiber, ginger and beneficial bacteria, it sounds promising. But I checked out the ingredients and it doesn't pass my test. Wheat is the first ingredient, there is too much sugar and it contains soy protein. Oh well. Next . . .
• Fat Fighting Snacks
• New Calcium Boosters
• Fruits and Veggies Made Easy
• Oh boy, do I love Melissa's Peeled Baby Red Beets. I buy these all of the time and put them into salads. Easy!
• Healthy Dinners in Minutes
• Good for You Beverages

If you are time-crunched and can't eat a whole food, or if you are looking for a convenience food to fit your healthy lifestyle, this list is a good place to start.

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