Benefits of eating courgette

As we speak, Britain’s courgettes are quickly reaching their deliciously sweet, nutty peaks. They’re often used to bulk out sauces and dishes like spaghetti bolognese and lasagne, but here’s why we think courgettes should be enjoyed in their own right.

Left too long in the soil, and they’ll grow large and become bloated with water. While these green monsters might look magnificent, the best tasting courgettes are the short, slim ones – dainty in the marrow world.

If you’re trying to lose weight then it might be helpful to make the courgette number one on your shopping (or growing) list. They’re very low in calories because of their high water content so you can pretty much chomp until your heart’s content, providing you don’t deep fry them!

The courgette’s thin dark skin is high in soluble fibre, which slows digestion and stabilises blood sugar levels

Courgettes may not pack the nutritional punch of other green vegetables such as broccoli or kale, but they do contain significant levels of potassium that help control blood pressure, and vitamin C to boost your immune system.

The courgette’s thin dark skin is high in soluble fibre, which slows digestion and stabilises blood sugar levels – potentially getting rid of those pesky mid-afternoon sweet cravings. Soluble fibre can also prevent constipation and help with those unpleasant IBS symptoms so many of us endure.

You can buy courgettes from most big supermarkets as well as small farmers markets when in season. Try to buy locally sourced courgettes as supermarkets are known for shipping vegetables thousands of miles despite them being in season, a few minutes down the road.

How to prepare courgettes

Try not to cook courgettes with too much water as they can become quite soggy. The best way to cook them is to get a good crunch. Slice them into thin chip shapes, place them on foil and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and a sprinkling of salt, spices and herbs, then place under the grill until golden. You can eat these as a snack, or with a salad.

Alternatively, you can roast courgettes with a selection of other vegetables to enjoy with classic meat and potatoes, or you can make Greek-style fritters on the BBQ with lots of chopped dill.

Although they keep well in the fridge, don’t leave courgettes too long as they’ll develop a slightly bitter taste.

Simple recipes to up your courgette intake

Up your veggie intake from the get-go with these simple tips to help you get more veggies in your breakfast. From adding an extra crunch to your porridge oats or baking up some delicious muffins, fuel your day the right way with three simple veggie breakfast recipes.

To finish the day with a boost, this super quick, simple dinner recipe has just five ingredients, perfect for feeding the family or even whip up a big batch and take it to work for lunch!