We have waxed poetic about our love for probiotics on many a blog post (check out this Food for Thought on probiotics and this one on Greek yogurt). Today, we bring you a Costco gem sure to delight both your taste buds and your gut flora: sauerkraut! Why do we love this zesty cabbage? For starters, fermented foods (such as kraut, miso, kefir, and yogurt) contain probiotics. These are live microorganisms that help aid in digestion and immune function. They are the “good” bacteria that populate a healthy gut! This particular kraut contains the most common probiotic strain, lactobacillus, which is found in fermented foods.
This sour non-starchy delight will surely add some crunch and bite to any balanced plate, and may be just the thing you need to get out of a food rut. Try a spoonful of kraut with your egg and veggie scramble, as a taco topping, or incorporate into your salad; the options are endless! And at just five calories per serving, this zesty cabbage won’t break the calorie bank. This variety contains just green cabbage, sea salt, and garlic, but this particular brand offers other flavors, including a curry cauliflower blend, smoky kale, and dill and garlic.
*A note for those being mindful of their sodium intake: Salt is used in fermented foods both as a preservative and to encourage bacterial growth. Check out the label on fermented foods like kimchi, sauerkraut, and miso, which traditionally contain high amounts of sodium. This particular variety contains 240 milligrams per two tablespoons.
