Three Little Super Foods to Eat in September

Another new month- welcome to September! And because we’re saying goodbye to August (hope you had a good one!) it’s time to say hello to three more little super foods we need to be eating this month. Don’t forget to buy organic where you can, and try to buy local too if possible. Here are our top picks for super foods to eat in September…

Plums

Plums are definitely underrated, but they really shouldn’t be! They’re sweet, they’re juicy, and they’re in season and waiting for you to pick them right now! Plums are a traditional super food, packed full of vitamins and minerals to help protect the heart, maintain a healthy digestive system and assist in lowering the body’s blood sugar levels. In addition, plums are rich in antioxidants which means that they are fantastic for helping to neutralising cell damaging free radicals, thus preventing memory loss. Cool, huh?

How to eat them

Plums are delicious enough straight from the punnet, but here are three of our favourite ways to eat them right now:

Dried

Otherwise known as prunes, dried plums are a fantastic way to keep the digestive system regular (too many will have a laxative effect, so be aware!) and on top of that they can also help to balance your hormones too. Prunes are known to help regulate levels of oestrogen in the body, and help to encourage a regular menstrual cycle, decrease the risk of breast cancer and improve overall bone health.

Slow cooker plum butter

A simple yet delicious way to eat plums- and we love this one because you can leave it gently cooking all day with minimal effort required! All you need for this is:

4 lb plums with stones removed
650g honeyZest of 1 orange
Zest of one lemon
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 tablespoons Agar Agar flakes

To make the plum butter, simply place all ingredients into your slow cooker and cook on low for up to seven hours. Then transfer to a large pot and leave to simmer, until the water is almost gone. Make sure your story frequently, removing from the heat once it’s thickened up nicely. Then allow to cool before enjoying!

Baked

Baked plums are such a lovely dessert and we love them with a drizzle of honey and just a sprinkling of cinnamon. Bake for around 15 minutes with seasonings and enjoy with greek yogurt and some chopped almonds. Delicious!

Broad Beans

Last month it was runner beans, this month we’re all about broad beans. No, not boiled to within an inch of their lives! We prefer to treat them with the respect they deserve! So whats the big deal? Well broad beans are not only packed full of protein and fibre (which means they’ll help you to feel fuller for longer and therefore less inclined to want to snack on other, less healthy foods) but they are also rich in folate and vitamin B, both essential for nerve and blood cell development, cognitive function and energy.

So how to eat them? Simply. We love them lightly steamed then sautéed with garlic, mint and a little crushed chilli. Delicious!

Blackberries

September is THE month for blackberries and if you can, try to get out and pick your own. It’s a great way to get the kids involved in cooking and enjoying food, and a wonderful way to get out there and connect with nature again. Blackberries are rich in fibre, high in vitamin C and a good source of minerals such as potassium, manganese, copper and magnesium. Combined, this means that the humble blackberry is able to assist in preserving and enhancing memory function, maintaining bone health, and maintaining skin and eye health too.