Beets

Beets are an excellent source of fiber and potassium, two nutrients important for heart health. As a naturally sweet vegetable, beets can easily be incorporated into most smoothie recipes for an extra boost of nutrition. Vegetables like beets are rich in nutrients that can help prevent cardiovascular disease. You can incorporate more vegetables into your diet by keeping washed and cut veggies in your refrigerator for quick snacks.

Did You Know?

• Eating cooked beets may boost running performance according to a study published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics in 2012.
• The ancient Romans were one of the first civilizations to cultivate beets to use their roots as food.
• The pigments that give beets their rich colors are called betalains.
• Beet juice can be used to test the acidity of a liquid. It turns pink when added to an acidic solution and yellow when added to a basic solution.
• Beets are cool-season plants that grow best at temperatures between 60 degrees F and 65 degrees F.

Shopping, Preparing and Storing

• Purchase beets that are hard, smooth-skinned and deep in color. Avoid beets that have cuts or bruises or that are soft. Wet areas are indicators of spoilage.
• Choose medium-sized or smaller beets for a sweeter-tasting vegetable.
• When handling beets, wearing gloves may be a good idea, because beet juice can stain the skin. If your hands do become stained, simply rub lemon juice on them to remove the stain.
• To prevent wilting, beet greens should be trimmed off ½ inch above the root and can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
• Cooked beets will retain their flavor and texture when frozen; however, raw beets do not freeze well since they tend to become soft upon thawing.

Cooking Tips

• Beets are an excellent low-calorie substitute for starchy vegetable-heavy dishes such as mashed potatoes. 
• Beets can be eaten raw, baked, steamed or pickled. They can be served as a condiment, roasted with potatoes and even added to smoothies!
• Raw beet roots have a crunchy texture that turns soft and buttery when they are cooked.

Beet Nutrition

Serving size: 1 beet

Calories: 35; Total Fat: 0 g; Saturated Fat: 0 g; Total Carbohydrates: 8 g; Protein: 1 g; Sodium: 64 mg

Download a flyer to print about Florida beets [ 1.6 MB ] .