Cabbage is commonly thought of as a cold-weather vegetable. Indeed, it prefers cooler weather to grow. Compared to summer’s heat, cabbage prefers Canada’s coolness. With cold weather definitely upon us, one can see why today is National Cabbage Day. In honor of National Cabbage Day [1], here are some fun facts about cabbage.
What Are In The Cabbage Family?
The cabbage family includes Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, bok choy, kohlrabi, and kale. The origins of cabbage can be traced to Asia Minor (now Turkey) and the eastern Mediterranean. Jacques Cartier introduced cabbage to the Americas for the first time. Cabbage is versatile and can be eaten raw, steamed, or sautéed. Cabbage is a popular ingredient in Asian, German, Irish, and Latin recipes; it’s a culturally diverse food.
Nutrition
 Its low calorie content (6 calories per leaf) makes cabbage a popular diet food as well.  It has no fat or cholesterol, is low in sodium and carbs, and is a good source of Vitamin C. Cabbage is a very humble vegetable that has traditionally been considered a food for the poor. In recent years, we’ve begun to realize how nutritionally dense it is.
Ideas To Celebrate National Cabbage Day
Here are some ways to celebrate the day.
- cabbage rolls; can even try a cabbage leaf wrapped around a hot dog;
- coleslaw;
- steamed cabbage;
- cabbage soup; just a few leaves added to a soup ad flavor and nutrition;
- sauerkraut;
- pick out some cabbage seeds to grow this summer;
- try a variety of cabbage you haven’t eaten before.
This is an excellent day to test your corned beef and cabbage skills in preparation for March 17, St. Patrick’s Day. Some seed companies, like Burpee, are having sales on cabbage seeds in honor of the day.
Notes:
- ^https://nationaldaycalendar.com/national-cabbage-day-february-17/ (go back ↩)
