Now I know why "flower" is in the name

The word cauliflower is derived from the Italian caoli fiori, meaning cabbage flower (1), and what a beautiful flower it is! It comes in a variety of colors including white, orange, green and purple. 100 grams (almost a cup) has about 2 grams of protein, 2 grams of fiber, 300 mg of potassium, and is a good source of many vitamins (2). 

My favorite is the purple cauliflower. It's not easy to find so when I see one, I snatch it up. Not only is it beautiful and vibrant, but the purple hue in foods comes with its own benefits. The anthocyanins are the pigments in purplish blue-colored vegetables and according to studies done by the National Institute of Health, they contain some potential health benefits. It is known to help reduce the risk of many diseases because of its ability to limit the efficacy of free radicals in the body. 

The anthocyanins from these beautiful purple hues help reduce risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer (breast, colon and esophageal just to name a few), and obesity. It also serves as an antimicrobial and helps promote visual health (3). Eating it raw has the best benefit since the heating process can decrease the nutrient levels (4).

I like to prepare it a couple of ways. One way is just to wash it, cut it up, and throw it in some greens with some homemade balsamic vinegar dressing (1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon honey). Another great way is to slice it into "steaks" and lightly roast it with some olive oil and fresh ground pepper.  

Nothing brightens up a plate quite like this! It's a beautiful plate that just can't be refused and it helps emphasize that a nutritious life is a pleasant life!

References
(1) WordReference.com Dictionary of English. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
(2) https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/169986/nutrients​
(3) ​https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5613902/
(4) https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/urban-survival/201510/raw-or-cooked-how-best-eat-11-fruits-and-vegetables