During breast cancer awareness month it is not so much about the colour pink, but eating your greens.

October is breast cancer awareness month and there are many pink products being sold in the name of breast cancer prevention. Sadly a considerable number of the pink products hide a nasty secret; which is that some of the makeup items in particular can contain synthetic chemicals which are linked with breast cancer.  

This is called pinkwashing.  

Fortunately, as with many things, nature has an answer; broccoli, brussels sprouts and kale have a compound that is thought to be beneficial in cancer prevention, called diindolylmethane.  

Kale is really easy to grow here in British Columbia and if you pick the leaves gently and protect them from vast amounts of snow it will keep providing you with kale in winter.  

Mother was right when she said, "eat your greens," so some form of brassica vegetable a few times a week is a wise addition throughout the winter.  

If children do not like broccoli, why not rename it? I had two children staying whose mother said, as she dropped them off, “They hate broccoli and won't eat it.”  I had already started cooking supper by the time they arrived, so they were given broccoli.  

I merely said "We have trees as your vegetable this evening." They ate the lot. Food can be fun. 

I love eating broccoli, cauliflower, kale, greens and brussels sprouts lightly boiled with some butter, garlic, sea salt and pepper.  

As you well know, a balanced diet is key to vitality. Eating fresh and local is really best. There are some superb vegetable boxes, available and delivered each week. They provide you with locally grown vegetables that are in season. Inspire Earth based in Pemberton is one such box. 

So this October why not go green and enjoy your broccoli and kale.

Joanna writes for www.ActualOrganics.com and loves broccoli!