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By Heide Kennedy, Arizona Farm Bureau Communications Intern

Summertime always calls for a barbeque at some point or another! Both the barbequed meat and all the side dishes that go with it are always amazing! Every couple of months, my family loves to take a day and get a fire going and smoke a ton of meat to keep stocked in the fridge and freezer. And my mom always makes a big batch of coleslaw to go with it!

Coleslaw is the perfect summer barbeque side dish because it is cold, crisp, delicious, and pairs so well with smoked meat. Not only that, but cabbage is also incredibly nutritious!

According to clinical nutritionist Leticia Sores, cabbage is a great source of fiber, folic acid, potassium, vitamins A and C, and antioxidants. To top it all off, it is very low in calories! Thanks to its diverse nutrient content, cabbage can help to lower blood pressure, reduce inflammation, promote satiety, promote your immune system, promote vision health, and improve digestion.

So, next time that you’re barbequing this summer, make sure to include a big bowl of coleslaw on your menu!

Also, don’t worry, I wasn’t going to leave you hanging in regard to my mom’s coleslaw recipe! Check it out below!

Mustard Coleslaw

Ingredients:

• 1 Head of cabbage chopped into square pieces
• 3 large carrots grated
• ½ Cup of mayonnaise
• ½ Cup of mustard
• ¼ Cup of vinegar
• 1 tsp. Celery seeds
• Salt and pepper to taste

Combine the grated carrot and chopped cabbage in a large bowl. Mix the last five ingredients together and pour over the cabbage and carrots and toss well.

*The flavor is much better after it has sat in the fridge for a couple of hours.

*Also, my mom never really measures ingredients, so feel free to adjust according to your taste!

My favorite thing about her coleslaw recipe is that it isn’t your typical classic coleslaw that is sweet and slightly tangy. Rather, hers is a mustard slaw, so it’s super tangy!

Did you know that we grow cabbage and carrots right here in Arizona? Next time that you’re shopping for your coleslaw ingredients, keep an eye out for the produce that has been grown here in Arizona! Take a look at the Fill Your Plate website for more information on where to find locally-grown foods!