I could never understand the intrigue of broccoli.

Seriously, why would anyone eat something that resembles a baby tree?

Then, I met my college roommate. She ate broccoli for every single meal. I’m not kidding. One night after, I came home to a cream of broccoli soup that she had made.

Too tired to fiend for myself, I gave in.

I’ve never looked back. That was years ago and now my little girl is eating “baby trees”.

This recipe is one of our family’s favorites.

Makes 6 servings

INGREDIENTS

• 6 cups vegetable broth
• 2 medium potatoes, chopped
• 1 large head broccoli, chopped
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• Salt and freshly-ground black pepper, to taste

DIRECTIONS

1. Sauté onion with olive oil in large pot until tender
2. Add broth and potatoes to the pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and cover until tender.
3. Meanwhile, steam broccoli until bright green.
4. Add broccoli and basil to pot and blend with immersion blender until smooth
5. Add salt and pepper to taste.

SUBSTITUTIONS/ALTERNATIVES

You can sauté the onion in coconut oil if you would like and add ½ clove of garlic for a bit of a kick. For a sweeter taste, try sweet potatoes in place of the potatoes. It’s delicious!

TRANSFORMATIONAL NUTRITION BENEFITS  

Among other things, broccoli is an amazing source of calcium! Not only does this mineral help build strong bones, studies show it also plays a role in controlling high blood pressure.

DID YOU KNOW?

Contrary to popular opinion, potatoes are absolutely okay to eat when trying to lose weight!

You see, potatoes contain a resistant starch and unlike refined grains and sugars, resistant starches aren’t broken down into sugar in the small intestine.

Instead, they “resist” this digestion and move on down into the large intestine, where they act like dietary fiber.

But wait, there’s more!

Resistant starches are also fermented in the large intestine, a process that burns calories. On top of potatoes being a resistant starch, they’re also rich in nutrients like potassium and B-vitamins.

Aren’t you happy you don’t have to banish these delicious guys from your diet forever?