Asparagus

I love asparagus. Whether it is grilled, steamed, blanched…in a salad, in a soup, or just by itself…for me, asparagus is always enjoyable. Now that it is in season, I can eat it to my hearts content, which is great because asparagus has quite a few health benefits:

– Great source of vitamins A, B, C and K
– Chock-full of folic acid (take note ladies of child bearing age): 4 boiled spears contain 89 micrograms (mayo clinic).
– Low in calories and high in nutrients: “One cup of asparagus has 27 calories, 5 grams of carbs, 3 grams of protein and 3 grams fiber (eatright.org).”

In nutrition terms, it would be categorized as a “non-starchy” vegetable, which essentially means it is a free food or a food that does not have to be noted if you are monitoring your calories. It is rich in nutrients, but has few calories. Moral of the story: feel free to go back for second and third servings!!