Tired of the grey wintery days?  Can’t wait for the sun to come out?  Well, if you cannot control the sunshine then try controlling the sunshine on your  plate!

I am a lover of green vegetables but after a long hard winter a bit of brightness on on your plate can really cheer you up.  You cannot get much brighter than beetroot.

I am not suggesting you open a jar of the ‘crinkle cut’.  But to start adding it to your meals.

Beetroot can be eaten cooked or raw and one of the easiest ways to cook it is to peel, chop in half, cover in a little olive oil and roast for 40-60 minutes.  Job done.  You can also chop it into chunks and add to your shepherds pie, casserole or curries.  Going raw?  Try peeling spirals on to the top of your normal veggies or into a salad.  If you have a little more time on your hands then finely chop the beetroot and six it into rice, quinoa or a portion of peas.

So apart from the colour why beetroot?  It is jam packed full of nutrients and fibre, especially vitamin C, potassium and folate.  Research has shown that it can help lower blood pressure, increase stamina and supports the liver in detoxifying the body.  So what is not to like?

Possibly one thing…….be careful when preparing it and do not wear your best outfit as it can easily stain your clothing.

Finally, nothing to worry about but if you eat a lot of beetroot your wee will turn pink…..so do not panic if that happens to you.

Fiona Stephen is a nutritional therapist based in Barnet, North London. Find out about the nutritional therapy packages available or contact Fiona Stephen Nutrition to discuss your requirements.