When we think of eating more vegetables we often think of carrots, broccoli, corn and peas, but there is a wide variety of vegetables out there waiting for you to give them a try. If you’re a fan of Italian food then you should get quite familiar with the eggplant.
Traditionally deep purple in color and egg-shaped, the eggplant does come in several different colors, sizes and shapes. Each type of eggplant has a different taste and texture so its really like having 6 additional vegetables from which you can choose.
Keep reading to learn more about eggplant nutrition facts.
Major Nutrients Found In Eggplant
As you can see, eggplant nutrition facts are incredibly healthy. With just 35 calories per 1 cup of eggplant and very little fat and sodium, the calories in eggplant can help you create a calorie deficit for weight loss. This no cholesterol food means you can reduce your cholesterol intake without sacrificing other major nutrients.
But if you need energy and fat burning, eggplant nutrition facts provides you those in healthy doses. You get 8.6g of carbohydrates to give you a needed energy boost (for a workout, perhaps?) while you also get 10% of your daily value of fiber for a fat burning boost.
In addition to a significant dose of potassium per serving, eggplant also gives you copper, folate, magnesium and vitamins B1, B6 and B3. So you get very few calories and a lot of nutrients, now all you need is a delicious eggplant recipe!
Selecting/Storing
When selecting an eggplant make sure the skin is firm and brightly colored, almost waxy looking. The eggplant should be heavier than its size indicates. This will let you know that the eggplant is healthy and ripe. Although you can find eggplants year round in most parts of the world, they are best in fall from August until October.
Store a whole fresh eggplant in the vegetable crisper for up to 3 days. Do not force the eggplant to fit because damaging the skin will expedite the ripening of the eggplant. If you purchase a packaged eggplant, remove it from the packaging as soon as you get home and store in vegetable crisper.
Eat It With:
Eggplant isn’t just for Italian dishes, it can also be added to Indian curries and a wide variety of stir-fry dishes. If you want a simple way to enjoy the calories in eggplant, dice it up and sauté it before adding it to a red pasta sauce. Stuff eggplants the same way you would bell peppers or mushrooms for a quick and easy meal.
{Eggplant Parmesan is a popular use of eggplant!}
Experiment with ways to add eggplant to your diet, but use these ideas to get you started.
Burn Off The Calories In Eggplant
To burn off the calories in 1 serving of eggplant you would have to do:
- 7 minutes of bowling.
- 6 minutes leisurely bicycling.
- 12 minutes of ice fishing.
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