Eat your garnish. Grow your meds. Parsley is more than just that little bunch of green you throw on the side of your plate. At the market, it’s one of the least expensive herbs to buy. It may be bitter but it’ll make you better .

Healthwise, parsley packs a punch. Antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory, there is almost nothing parsley can’t do. In traditional Chinese medicine it is used to aid digestion, remove stagnation, and increase the flow of chi. Use it this winter for a boost of Vitamin C, B12, K, and A, to help improve your immune system, tone your bones, and support your kidney functions. (Caveat: if you have kidney or gall bladder issues, don’t eat too much as the oxalates can be problematic.)

Ways to get more parsley into your diet

Chop it and put into salads, soups, and sauces. Throw it into rice or use it atop pizza. Feature it front and center in tabbouleh. In winter, fresh basil is not only expensive but sometimes hard to find. So we feature parsley in our pesto. Try our recipe here.

Pick up some parsley this week. Tell us how you feature it. Enjoy!