Powerful good, those purple foods! No, no, not chemically-colorfied candies and goodies, but natural, wholesome fruits and vegetables from Mother Nature’s edible rainbow. If you’ve been passing up purple foods in the produce section, judging them too weird or trendy, it’s time to circle back! Load your basked from the prolific selection of purple foods available today including healthy-diet darlings like purple sweet potatoes (one of my favorite), purple cauliflower, purple carrots and long-time favorites such as purple grapes, eggplant, plums, berries and more.
Fittingly it’s a “P” word that makes purple foods so healthful – polyphenols! Purple fruits and vegetables are filled with polyphenols, important plant-based micronutrients which researchers say may help prevent degenerative diseases (like certain cancers) and protect your heart and overall cardiovascular health. One of the most abundant polyphenols in purple foods is a sub-classification named anthocyanins. Also found in foods like cocoa, nuts, olive oil and tea, anthocyanins are health-promoting, natural chemical compounds that aid in cell protection and healing. Nutritionists recommend include purple fruits and vegetables into your diet at least 4 to 5 days a week alongside dark green, orange and yellow foods for maximum benefits.
I love the Purple Asparagus from Friedas.com, it’s noticeably sweeter than it’s green siblings.Developed in Italy, the the large spears are purple-burgundy toned with a a creamy white interior.
Another one of my favorite foods with the good-for-you purple hue is a purple sweet potato. This dark tuber is royally delicious and once reserved only for the feasts of Incan kings in Peru. These days, purple potatoes reign supreme in the supermarket and, according to the USDA, can have in excess four times the antioxidant power of traditional white potatoes. Plus, potatoes of any color are such a great source of nutrition for athletes including complex carbohydrates to provide energy for workouts and potassium, iron, and other nutrients to help keep a hard-working body in balance. Eat them just like you would any other potato!
I also like to spiralize a purple sweet potato (or finely slice) my purple sweet potatoes and make healthy string fries. The easy recipe is featured below along with a few other links in my recipe collection that are popping with the power of PURPLE! Enjoy!
Here are two other recipes to try!
What is your favorite purple food? What are you doing this weekend, any races or events?! Please share in the comments below — xoxo, Jennifer
- 2 large purple sweet potatoes
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground white pepper
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
- 2 ounces crumbled blue cheese
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Preheat oven to 400 F degrees.
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Wash and dry purple sweet potato. Use spiralizer or mandoline to create string-sized pieces -- or, alternately, julienne very finely. Place on large rimmed baking sheet.
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Toss sweet potato strings with olive oil, bake at 400 F degrees for about 15 minutes, using a spatula to toss around halfway through baking.
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Crumble blue cheese on top while sweet potatoes are still warm.
I’ve never cooked with a purple sweet potato but they’re so pretty!! These look yummy 🙂
Thanks Liz! I’ve made this recipe so many times in the last few months
I love purple sweet potatoes. I don’t think I’ve ever seen purple asparagus, I see white though.
I’ve seen the white, but not tried it yet!
Sweet potatoes are my fave and love making them into fries. Fun to spiralize them too
I had no idea purple sweet potatoes would have different nutrient properties, but it makes complete sense! Can’t say I’ve seen these in any store near me. But I have had purple cauliflower and purple carrots!
Try Whole Foods, if you have one
LOVE purple foods. One of my favorite colors already, so of course I gotta eat them! I particularly like purple cauliflower.
I haven’t tried the purple cauliflower yet, but it’s on my list!
now that i have a spiralizer, i should try this soon.
Don’t you love the attachment?! It’s my favorite . . .and, to think, I almost talked myself out of getting it!
It is calling your name, and such an easy side dish to complement nearly any entree
I’ve been eyeballing those purple sweets at Whole Foods. My family loves sweet potatoes, and this would be a huge hit here!
They are really good, get them!
I’ve tried purple ‘regular’ potatoes once – made mashed potatoes, and it tasted completely the same as white potatoes, but much more fun to look at 😀
i definitely need to try these! sweet potatoes + blue cheese? a winning combination!
I’m sprialized obsessed. I need to find purpose sweet potatoes.
I know, thy’re sometimes hard to find!
Yum!!! I love purple food! I grow peppers in the summer and they are pretty awesome. Although I also love purple potatoes.
Like purple bell peppers? Don’t know if I’ve seen those!