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By Heide Kennedy, Arizona Farm Bureau Communications Intern

I absolutely LOVE vegetables. I’ll eat them raw, roasted, sautéed, grilled, and pretty much any way that they can be prepared. However, there is one vegetable that I’d rather not eat. That vegetable would be beets. While their color is gorgeous, to me they taste like dirt. But, as we all know, not all foods that are incredibly good for you actually taste appealing.

According to registered dietician Sarah Thomsen-Ferreria, “Beets are unique for their cardiovascular and heart health benefits. Due to a combination of compounds found in beets, they are able to enhance blood flow, improve the health of arteries, support lower homocysteine levels, and reduce LDL cholesterol.” Thanks to betalains, which are the compounds that give beets their gorgeous color, beets are an amazing source of anti-inflammatory antioxidants. Additionally, they are a great source of fiber, nitrates, and potassium, all while being low in calories!

If you’re like me, you’d love to reap the health benefits of eating beets, but you just can’t get over the dirty taste that they often have. Well, read on for some tips on how to prepare them deliciously!

• Add into salads and mix with other toppings
• Blend some into dips like hummus
• Add into a smoothie to mask the flavor
• Roast them

So, let’s not give up on beets entirely. Try out some of the preparation tips above and see if you can find a way to make these beautifully red veggies enjoyable to eat! Not only will you be adding variety to your diet, but you’ll also be getting a load of health benefits!

Looking for some recipes that use beets? Check out these from Fill Your Plate!