Story: Health Tip – Purple Vegetables
Episode: 6
Presenter: Julie Meek
Air Date: 26 September 2021

Purple a fantastic colour! Did you know that purple vegetables are also fabulous for your health? Julie loves her purple veg and shows us how to best enjoy it.

• A compelling health benefit of purple fruit and vegetables lies in the purple colour that they all display.
• The purple colour indicates the presence of a powerful antioxidant called anthocyanin.
• Purple vegetables are also rich in fibre, which keeps you fuller for longer and assists with maintaining healthy body weight.
• Antioxidants exert their protective effects on the body by preventing damage to our cells by compounds known as free radicals.
• Anthocyanin is known to reduce cholesterol levels, promote healthy brain function and may assist in reducing the risk of cancer.

Roasted Purple Carrot Salad (Serves 4)

Ingredients
1 x bag of purple carrots
2 x red onions, cut into halves and then quarters
Olive oil
Handful of fresh thyme

Dressing
1 cup Greek yoghurt
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp honey
½ bunch of fresh dill, chopped finely
¼ cup currants

Method
Scrub and chop each carrot into three pieces and cut the red onion into halves and then quarters. Place all into a large, lined baking tray with the thyme sprigs and drizzle with olive oil and a little ground salt and pepper. Roast in a moderate oven until soft and caramelized.

While the vegetables are cooking, combine the yoghurt, cumin, honey and dill in a small bowl.

Spread the yoghurt dressing on a large platter and scatter currants on top. Finish by placing the roasted carrots and onions on the dressing. Enjoy!