And the Beet Goes On!

By Angela MacDougall

It's no Sonny and Cher song, but the lowly beet has played an important role in feeding the world since the Roman Empire.

​Although a beet is not really attractive to look at, it’s a nutrient powerhouse for your body. In the past, beets were used as a medicinal food for detoxification and to improve digestion, blood health and heart health. Now, people appreciate beets for their high level of antioxidants. 

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Beets are easy to find at local markets and food stores. Although many people may only think about using beets as pickled beets, there are many other ways to eat the vegetable. Beets are a staple in our kitchen. See our recipe for Dilly Beet Soup here, or perhaps, Beet Falafels here.
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Cooking tips

• Use beets in soups and stir-fries.
• Beets are delicious roasted in the oven with a drizzle of maple syrup.
• Roasted beets can be added to hummus.
• Slice beets thinly to make oven-baked chips.
• Bake beets in chocolate beet muffins. 
• Sprinkle grated raw beets over eggs.
• Use grated raw beets in smoothies.
• If you don’t like how they turn everything red, try golden beets. 

​Beets can be grown in Albert County. However, if you had a hard time with beet germination last summer, you were not alone. This became a popular topic of conversation during the growing season. For gardeners and people growing their own food for winter, poor germination of root crops is a big deal. Root crops keep for many months and are relied upon as a healthy source of food throughout the winter and early spring. Crop failure can disrupt our winter diet. Fortunately, beets are still available from local farmers and stores.


​Connecting Albert County is grateful to the Province of New Brunswick which is providing support for our Guide to Healthy Eating through a Community Food Action Grant.

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