Purple Power! 6 Purple Foods to Eat on the Regular

Reds, oranges and greens get a lot of press when it comes to health foods. But don’t overlook the power of purple! We’re thinking purple foods don’t get enough respect: after all, there are several purple foods that have even been misled into thinking they’re red (we’re looking at you, red onions and grapes) when they’re really pretty obviously purple. And really, aren’t blueberries and blackberries just shades of purple, too? Need some ideas for working purple foods into your plate? Try these on for size!
1. Plums. Plums and their pruney dried counterparts are deliciously sweet and juicy. Plus, they’re small and perfectly portable! (And they’ll totally help your poops!)
2. Eggplant. Large, firm and beautifully dark purple, the eggplant can be an intimidating-looking veggie for the uninitiated. But it’s super versatile, and with a mild taste, you can grill it, roast it, put it on a sandwich or serve the classic eggplant parmesan. No matter how you slice it, it’s delicious.
3. Purple cabbage. Buy a package of pre-chopped lettuce and you just might find purple cabbage hiding amongst the leafy greens. (This is another one typically called “red” when it’s sooo not!) You likely don’t even notice it’s there, but it’s packed with vitamins A and C!
4. Raisins and grapes. Raisins aren’t my favorite purple food and I definitely prefer their plumped up counterpart the grape, but sprinkled on a salad or for an easy snack on the go, raisins are purpley perfection.
5. Red onions. The red onion, which is more purple than red, is a staple in my house. A salad is simply not complete with a little sliced onion on top.
6. Purple … everything! If you want to get foodie and fancy with your purple, you can find purple potatoes, carrots, asparagus and even cauliflower. You might not find it in your typical grocery store, but hit up a farmer’s market or another natural market to see if you can score some fancy purple goodness.
What are a few of your favorite purple foods? —Erin