My cat Smurf will eat just about anything, from the processed concoction that is dry, diet cat food, to the mysterious blend that is wet, and any kind of meat or dairy product in between. This morning I was woken to a slamming in the kitchen and the soft patter of her paws down the wood floor of the hallway. I rose to find her hunkered down over a piece of crust from last night’s frozen pizza. Just about the only things Smurf won’t eat are fruits and vegetables; which makes her palate very similar to the average American’s.

Except for beets!

I discovered this aberration when I spilled a bowl of cooked, cubed beets onto the kitchen floor. Smurf went to town on those beety beets, risking decapitation from the refrigerator door without a second thought. I was surprised and intrigued as I had never seen her eat anything that didn’t have, or come from, something with a face. Was it the blood red color, reminiscent of raw meat that brought her on or the nutty, perhaps vaguely meaty taste of the root itself? Due to the language barrier, we may never know.

What we do know is that even though beets are not as famous as some other rooty vegetables, such as carrots and potatoes, their unique coloration makes them a nutritional treasure trove. Beet roots are rich in a plethora of nutrients including folic acid, potassium, calcium, Vitamin C and Vitamin A. Their telltale redness is an active ingredient that is thought by many nutritionists and natural health practitioners to thwart tumor growth, heal the liver and detoxify blood.

If your first experience with beets involved the pickled or candied varieties then you may be suffering from Post Traumatic Abused Vegetable Syndrome or PTAVS. Chances are you are hesitant to try them again and I understand your pain. I too thought of beets as foul red pickles, used for garnish and torturing children. I truly hope that you will give them another chance and discover their tastiness for yourself.

The versatile fresh beet root can be eaten raw, boiled, steamed, roasted (my favorite), or sautéed. They are great on salads and can be used as a meat substitute on sandwiches or burgers. Their peak season is June through October, but because they store well they can be found year round. If you decide to boil you beets, cook them with the skins on to minimize their magical nutrients leaching out into the water.

I beet-seech you to expand your vegetable horizons and give beets a try! If you hate them, you can always feed them to your cat.