Ok, I have to admit that when I first saw this book, I thought it would be about foraging for edible weeds or perhaps interesting venison cookery. I was delighted to find, however, that it's chock-full of real, helpful information for people interested in getting the most nutrition out of their food, but who prefer to get their food from the garden, farmer's market, or grocery store.
The book covers most of the common fruits and vegetables commonly available in the U.S., discussing the plant's history (did you know most of today's sweet corn was developed from seeds exposed to the nuclear radiation from the bombing of Hiroshima?), nutritional profile (artichokes have one of the best antioxidant profile of any food found in the grocery store!), preparation tips (believe it or not, you can get more antioxidants out of blueberries if you cook them), and a list of the best varieties to look for in the grocery store, farmer's market, or seed catalog (for example, a Fuji apple has more phytonutrients than a Braeburn).
This book is such a wealth of information for anyone looking to get the best nutrition from their food choices (I will definitely be buying myself a copy - I know I'll be looking back for tips, both when I'm perusing the seed catalogs in January and planning my family's meals each day). What a find!
