Eat Your Veggies!

Vegetables are usually relegated to playing a supporting character to meat-heavy main dishes. But since today is National Eat Your Vegetables Day, let’s give them the star attention they deserve.

Vegetables are packed with important vitamins and minerals, and incorporating them into every meal is one of the easiest ways to maintain good health. If you’re worried about your picky eaters – or if you’re the picky eater! – there are plenty of ways to prepare them. Even if you hated boring steamed veggies as a kid (sorry, mom!), chances are you’ll love grilled, roasted or stir-fried veggies.

But when it comes to flavor, how you prepare your veggies is less important than how fresh they are. The fresher the veggie, the better it will taste. That’s why it pays to look at what’s in-season. Here’s what to watch for right now in Wisconsin:

• Arugula – A tender green with a slightly spicy kick. Try using it in salads, pasta dishes or as a pizza topping.
• Beets – Beet root, stems and leaves are all edible. Try roasting beets for a sweet side dish or salad topping. You can also juice them or add them to your morning smoothie.
• Broccoli – Perfect for when you need a little crunch, broccoli is delicious raw, sautéed, stir fried or even roasted or grilled.
• Cabbage – Serving coleslaw at your weekend picnic? Grab a fresh head of cabbage and make your own!
• Kale – This hearty green is great in salads or stirred into soups or stews.
• Peas – In a nod to their Middle Eastern roots, try dressing your peas with a little harissa and mint.
• Potatoes – Use your in-season potatoes to make everyone’s summer favorite – campfire potatoeson the grill.
• Radishes – Although you can eat them right out of the garden (after washing!), they are also a great addition to salads or tacos.
• Spinach – Popeye had it right – spinach really is a super vegetable. Serve it raw in salads or add it to pastas, soup, omelets, smoothies – pretty much anything!
• Turnips – Eat them raw or roast them for a delicious side dish.

Have we made you hungry yet? Here’s where you can find the freshest, in-season veggies in the Milwaukee area:

Brookfield Farmers Market

Brookfield Central High School, 16900 Gebhardt Rd.

Brookfieldfarmersmarket.com

Saturdays 7:30 a.m. to noon (rain or shine)

Fondy Farmers Market

2200 W. Fond du Lac Ave.

Fondymarket.org

Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon

Greenfield Farmers Market

Konkel Park, 5151 W. Layton Ave.

Greenfieldwifarmersmarket.com

Sundays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Oak Creek Farmers Market

Main Street, Drexel Town Square

visitoakcreek.com/farmers-market

Saturdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Tosa Farmers Market

7720 Harwood Ave., Wauwatosa

tosafarmersmarket.com

Saturdays 8 a.m. to noon

West Allis Farmers Market

6501 W. National Ave., (414) 302-8600

westalliswi.gov

Tuesday and Thursday noon to 6 p.m.; Saturdays 1 to 6 p.m.

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