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Edible Flowers for Weight Loss

April Showers Bring Diet Flowers

Edible Spring & Summer Flowers That Bring Fun & Color to Your Diet!  Learn how to harvest them, how they taste, & what dishes they go best with.  BONUS: One really snazzy tip for outdoor adventure as well as some surprise diet tips for CHOCOLATE!

Who says that dieting has to be ugly?  Now that spring has sprung, consider frolicking into the Great Outdoors to pluck colorful and tasty wads of fabulous flowers and blossoms that will add a 'Cooked by Chef' look to your table. Come and dine! OR you may choose to grow these lovelies yourself.  Gardening is great exercise - as is frolicking in the Great Outdoors.

Selectable Delectable - Select the hottest looking flowers for your table.  Look for pretty, plump awesome blossoms that ooze so much beauty and color that they practically wink at you.  Your fabulous flowers should be so fresh that almost kiss you.  As with most anything edible, the fresher the ingredient, the more superior the taste.

The Edible Flowers OR How Does Your Garden Grow?

Although all flowers are not edible, we still have a huge selection to 'pick' from!  In fact, there are so many specimens that we cannot list them all - so we've opted for some of the more well-known selections.  Before using your harvested flowers and blossoms: remove stamens, leaves, pistols & stems, and be certain to wash thoroughly.  If you are uncertain of its identity, pass it up!

Fresh 'N Fruity Specimens:

Apple & Peach Blossoms - Not only beautiful, but fragrant!  These beauties have a light, floral taste but should be eaten in moderation, specifically the apple blossoms.  

Lemon & Orange Blossoms - As you may guess, lemon and orange blossoms contain a light citrus taste and will perfectly balance your healthy dish of grilled salmon.

Fragrant Specimens: Carnations - One sweet flower that compliments most any dessert.  Be sure and remove the base (which is very bitter) and use only the sweet petals.

Edible Roses: Multiple flavor sensations ranging from minty to fruity.  Darker flowers render a bolder taste than the lighter colored specimens. Roses make a beautiful accompaniment  to ice cream dishes - and YES you can have a bit of ice cream while dieting. Remember, ice cream is a member of the Dairy Family and it's certainly something to moo about, especially during extremely hot weather.  In addition, studies have shown that incorporating calcium into your daily diet will excel weight loss.  As for the roses, they will also add "Dainty" to your favorite punch recipe. 

Don't overlook the rose leaves.  These can be painted with melted chocolate. Place immediately into refrigeration and allow chocolate to harden.  Next, remove leaves from hardened chocolate by carefully peeling.  Use your beautiful 'chocolate leaves' to garnish sweet imaginings.

Crysamthemum: Taste may be peppery; generally very tangy.  Use petals only; blanch before using. Beautiful when sprinkled over salads and orange pumpkin soup.

Dandelions: These taste like honey!  Harvest youngsters as the oldsters generally taste bitter.  

The yellow hue is absolutely stunning when tossed on white rice, noodles, or potatoes.  The leaves are also edible and make a delectable salad that's quite impressive!

Herbal-Liscious Specimens: Herbal Herb - Blooming herbs, wow what spice they can add to your life!  Generally, the flowering herb will taste like the herb itself, but will be much spicier, much kickier!

Lavender: What an interesting specimen! This herb is often used for relaxation purposes, such as the bath. And it's a survivor via its ability to withstand varying temperatures.  When you bite into lavender, you'll get a wang of lemon that's twisted with a light floral sensation.  You'll want to garnish your angelfood cake with a bit of this! Or, float some in your next glass of spring water.

Mint:  You probably already know that the tender flowers of Mint have a minty taste.  Use in anything that you want to add a minty edge to such as tea.

Sage flowers are fantastic with sauteed mushrooms!  Generally, the leaves are used in dishes such as stuffing during the holidays.  The flowers taste similar, but as with most flowering herbs, they hold a stronger flavor.

Veggie-Type Specimens: Flowering onions are delicious.  Garlic, leeks, chives - all are part of the Flowering Onion fam and are best served in salads.  

Keep in mind that your fabulous flowers and awesome blossoms will be found in different growth stages - depending upon your time of harvest. Size effects taste. For example, the developing seed-heads of the onion family tend to contain a sharp, strong taste so you may want to keep this in mind while frolicking.  

As a general note, the entire plant is edible!  The leaves and stems may be chopped and added to stews, soups and casseroles for an extra oomph.

Caveat: Sometimes, wild onion will mix with 'false garlic' which can make you quite ill.  Be certain you know what you're eating before you pass it through those lips!

Squash, Pumpkin, Okra Blossoms: True beauties!!!  They taste a bit like the raw parent.  Be certain to remove the stamens before use, as well as trim the stems.  These are extremely beautiful when baked and topped with a smidgen of melted cheese.

Broccoli: Flowers will be found on the little trees and taste like a hint of broccoli. Use in salads to boost flavor.

Sunflowers: Like artichokes?  Then you'll love sunflower buds!

Radish Flowers: The flowers taste like the radish - generally spicy with a bite. May be pink, white or yellow. Toss a few on your next salad.

If you are ready to learn where to locate your harvest, click here for 'Wherefore Art Thou, Little Awesome Blossom?"  Step-by-step tips for your adventure are included as well as preparation tips.

If you would like our 'diet tea' recipe for Summer Bouquet Garden Tea, then click here to read the article, 'I Went to a Garden Party'.  We'll also show you how to throw a blooming garden party - as well as a very neato suggestion for your ice-cubes in our Ice Cube Makeover.

Diet Tip: If you are a chocolate lover watching your waistline, purchase a bag of mini morsels. When your chocolate craving hits, simply count out one serving and allow the rich dark dots to melt in your mouth.

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