Couldn’t resist the pun. Didn’t try very hard, either. I know, I know, it isn’t super creative and it’s been done before. I’m at peas with that.
Seriously, though. I’d better start minding my peas & Qs!
Really. I’ll stop now.
I love green peas. When they are, however briefly, in season and available at the farmers’ market, I love buying old-fashioned shell peas, shelling them, and eating them right away. I love adding peas to my macaroni and cheese, eating them frozen out of the bag, or using them to doctor leftover potato soup along with ham & garlic. (For example, the thumbnail picture with this post!) I love snap peas, both as a fresh snack and added to recipes, and snow peas in sautés and stir-fries.
Peas are good sources of iron, vitamin A, vitamin C, and some of the B vitamins. They are considered a starchy food, along the lines of potatoes, as about 70% of their calories come from carbohydrates. Peas are also a decent source of dietary fiber and protein, and they are being used more and more in the creation of meat alternatives such as Beyond Meat’s Beyond Burger. You can also find peas in non-dairy milk and ice cream as well as gluten-free noodles. Pea plants are more drought-tolerant than wheat, corn, or soy, which makes them more environmentally friendly to grow. And while it is possible to be allergic to peas, especially if you’re allergic to any other legume, such as peanuts, it is rare. Peas are one of the foods that contain antinutrients; these are substances that can inhibit your body’s ability to absorb some nutrients. For that reason, it is typically better to eat peas cooked instead of raw. (I’m still going to eat them any way I can get them!)
Perfect food? Maybe not, but peas are certainly delicious, nutritious, and good for the planet. That’s a good start toward appeasing our need for other products. (See what I did there?)
How do you like your peas?
Cheers! Here’s to your health!