Everyone knows that fresh fruit and vegetables are essential for a healthy diet. However, to get the maximum benefit from fruit and vegetables we need to consider 2 factors. Is this produce in season? Is it locally grown?

When you buy locally grown produce you are getting the most nuitrient-rich fruit and vegetables. Often buying from large supermarkets means the produce has probably been picked several days, maybe even a week, before it has found it’s way on to the shelves where it sits even longer. Sometimes, to allow for packaging and transportation, this produce is picked before it is ripe which again reduces the nutritional value.  Fruit and vegetables start to change as soon as they are picked and the vitamin content begins to deteriorate.

Finally, consideration should also be given as to how we cook fruit and vegetables. It is important not to overcook them or, again, essential nutrients are lost. Steaming, or using waterless cookware , is the healthiest method. You can see our range of waterless cookware at www.itsecotime.com.

Using waterless cookware  really is the most energy efficient, healthiest way to cook. The food cooks in its natural juices, it tastes terrific and it retains approximately 98% of its vitamins and minerals, compared to only 58% when using conventional cookware. Cooking with waterless cookware is easy once you understand the fact that you simply don’t use as high a temperature as with regular cookware, and it seems to take less time than conventional cooking. Since the heat is so evenly distributed there’s less chance of burning or sticking, which makes the pots easier to clean. And of course you don’t have to use oil to prevent sticking. A Special Steam-Release Valve Lid is used to keep water from escaping. The lid forms a seal with the pot, and locks in the natural moisture that normally escapes from the food during the cooking process. Once the natural juices have created a sufficient amount of steam, a whistle sound is heard coming from the steam valve. At that time the heat is turned off or down, depending on the foods you’re preparing. This, of course, saves much energy, and the foods cook at a more constant temperature, because of the cookware’s heat retention capabilities and the steam heat inside the pot.