When I joined a community garden this year I inherited a massive amount of chives in my plot. They are a great companion plant to keep pests away, but they also take up a lot of real estate, so I’m trying to make a dent by incorporating them into my meals.
Today’s breakfast featured chive flowers and stalks along with pasture-raised eggs, sheep feta, collards, thyme and unrefined sea salt.
Chives are a type of onion in the Allium family and though used in small amounts, pack a nutritional (and flavorful!) punch. Just one tablespoon can boost your daily vitamin K, vitamin C, and vitamin A intake which play important roles in cardiovascular, bone, immune, and eye health. Chives also contain anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties which can aid in disease prevention, neuroprotection, and weight loss. Studies suggest that sulfur compounds (found in chives), can deter cancerous cells from growing and spreading. Lastly, chives are a good source of choline which is essential for fetal development, brain function (i.e. memory), metabolism and liver health. Add it to eggs (another excellent source of choline) and you get a double choline bump!
To harvest chives, trim them a few inches from the ground. Rinse, chop, sprinkle, and enjoy!
REFERENCE
Link, R. (June 30, 2019) What are chives? Hoe to grow, harvest & use this beneficial vegetable. Retrieved on May 25, 2022 from https://draxe.com/nutrition/what-are-chives/
Murray, M., Pizzorno, J., & Pizzorno, L. (2005) The Encyclopedia of healing foods, New York, NY: Atria Books
WebMD Editorial Team (September 2, 2020) Health Benefits of Chives. Retrieved May 25, 2022 from https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-chives
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