Season: April to November
Description: Peas are a source of vitamins A and C, which are antioxidants that may reduce your risk of heart disease and certain cancers. Vitamin A helps maintain eye health. Vitamin C helps protect skin from bruising, helps heal cuts and keeps gums healthy. Eating foods with vitamin C helps the body absorb iron. Peas also provide potassium, vitamin K, magnesium and fiber. Potassium helps maintain healthy blood pressure, vitamin K and magnesium help build and maintain strong bones, and fiber helps control cholesterol and keeps you regular. Peas are also a source of folate, which may reduce your risk of heart disease. Eating foods with folate before pregnancy helps lower the risk of delivering a baby with neural tube defects. Sugar snap peas have edible pods.
Vitamins: Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Potassium, Magnesium, Fiber, Folate
Selection: Choose pods that are green and not to thick.
Storing: In the refrigerator and use within 3 to 5 days.
Preparation: Remove stem on snow and sugar snap pea pods.
Serving: Eat raw, steamed or boiled. Steam for 2 to 3 minutes. Shell peas can be cooked in their pod or can be shelled and then cooked. The shells of snow and sugar snap peas can be eaten raw or cooked.