HEEELLLLLOOOO Broccoli!

So I figured I would start my second entry, which is the first to really "get down to it," with a bang. BROCCOLI - Oh, how I have hated thee.

The challenge for this past week has been embracing this funny little vegetable. It looks cute enough. It's got the flare and pizazz that other vegetables (e.g. celery) lack. I mean, how could something that looks like a beautiful flower really be that bad?? (Seriously, scroll up and look again at the picture and see how beautiful those little florets are!) And frankly, out of the multitudes of vegetables out there, it is the one vegetable I vaguely remember being able to choke down when I was forced to as a kid. But see, back in the day, when I did manage to choke it down, it was covered in the awesomeness of shredded cheddar cheese - A LOT OF IT. That's how mom used to always make it, and frankly, that is how a lot of our vegetables managed to make it on to our plates - smothered in some insanely unhealthy substance (think cheese, butter, ranch dressing, etc.) that probably negated or at least diminished any nutritional value of the vegetable. Sorry mom, but you KNOW it's true!

So Broccoli, we meet again. This past Sunday, I ventured to the grocery store and bought three heads of broccoli. Why so many?? Because I don't mess around. When I say I am going to embrace broccoli, I mean that I am going to continue to eat a bit at a time until I can moderately enjoy it. Now I'm not saying that this is how it is going to be with everything I eat. I mean, it would be kinda weird if I actually LOVED every single thing I put into my mouth, and frankly, given my aforementioned handicaps, I highly doubt that would actually happen. But I figure that given my dismal track record with vegetables, I've got to REALLY try to learn to love the things I can stand, and I can stand Broccoli.

My first attempt is to try to eat it raw. Now I'm not sure how you enjoy eating broccoli. A lot of people seem to like it steamed or warm, but I figure if I can learn to like it raw, liking it cooked won't be so difficult. Plus, eating it raw is so much easier for me, since I'm all about eating food that is as convenient to prepare as humanly as possible. It doesn't get much more convenient than chopping it into sections and putting it in a bag. Not to mention, there are certain additional/different nutrients in the raw form that you don't get if you cook it (see below).

So on Monday I tried my first cup of broccoli. It was okay, if you like having to chew something about a million times to get it to go down. That was my first reaction. But then I paused, and said, okay, you got one piece down and just a few more to go . . . try again. So off I went, and before I knew it, the whole bag was gone. Now, I could sit here and say how I've come to love broccoli - that it tastes SO good. But I would be lying. But I have to tell you, I am a fan. And here's why. The taste was okay. As for the two hours that followed? All I can say is DAMN. I noticed my leg was tapping; I busted out an entire order (I write orders for a judge for a living) in that two hours. WOAH - Broccoli is a healthy, green, NON-caffeinated energy shot! Since Monday, I have had a cup of broccoli every day. And I have to admit, after eating broccoli for the last five days, it is actually starting to taste pretty darn good too.

SCORE: ME: 1, FOOD: 0

Some fun facts about broccoli

1. Broccoli is very important to eye health because it contains Vitamin A equivalents - Lutein and Zeaxanthin. Lutein is a type of antioxidant that has been linked to reducing the risk of age-related macular degeneration. These nutrients have also been shown to help prevent cataract.
2. Broccoli is also very rich in fiber - One little cup contains more than 2 grams of fiber, which is about 10 percent of the amount you need a day to . . . uh . . . keep things moving. And that one cup of broccoli is only 31 calories - for those who care about such numbers. Talk about a lot of bang for your buck.
3. Broccoli is a natural appetite suppressor. This is because fiber slows down the rate that your body absorbs sugar. Sugar = energy, so the more sugar you have in your system, the longer you can go without wanting more. This probably explains my prolonged energy surge.
   
4. If you eat it raw, broccoli can be a good source of Vitamin C. Cooking or storing the broccoli for too long destroys the Vitamin C.
5. Got high blood pressure? Broccoli -->potassium-->lower blood pressure.
6. Oh, and cancer?? Eat your heart out. Broccoli kicks the collective ass of carcinogenic compounds and studies have shown reduce the risk of many forms of cancer.

Sources:

1. http://www.micronutra.com/journal/ibs/broccoli-the-vegetable-with-fiber
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broccoli
3. http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts/vegetables-and-vegetable-products/2356/2
4. 101 Healthiest Foods: A Quick and Easy Guide to the Fruits, Vegetables, Carbs and Proteins by Dr. Joanna McMillan Price and Judy Davie (2008).