Chives make a tasty addition to omelettes, salads, and many other
dishes.
Chives, a member of the onion and leek family, are a fragrant herb with a mild onion
flavor. Both the slender, vivid-green stalks and the lavender flowers are edible.
Varieties
Chives are a type of
onion.
Buying and storing tips
Chives can be found in the produce section of most health food
stores, specialty markets, and supermarkets. They’re also available dried, but the fresh
variety is far preferable. Look for those with a uniform, glossy appearance and bright green
color, with no signs of browning. Use chives as soon as possible, or store them in a plastic
bag in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Availability
Chives are available all year long.
Preparation, uses, and tips
Rinse fresh chives in cold water just before using. Snip fresh chives
into omelettes or soups, add them to cheese or tofu spreads, or toss the flowers into salads. Add fresh chives
toward the end of cooking time to retain their flavor and keep them from turning bitter.
Nutritional Highlights
Chives (raw), 1 Tbsp (3g)
Calories: 0.9
Protein: 0.09g
Carbohydrate: 0.13g
Total Fat: 0.02g
Fiber: 0.075g
Health benefits and concerns
Cancer
Foods high in vitamin K such as
vegetables typically are associated with low cancer risk. Despite the fact that the
anti-vitamin K drug warfarin might reduce the risk of
cancer under certain circumstances, no evidence suggests that avoidance of vitamin K (from
food or from supplements) would in any way help protect against cancer.
Health benefits and
concerns for vegetables
Many health benefits and concerns associated with this food are applicable to other
vegetables. Read about health benefits and concerns
for vegetables for a full description.
Copyright © 2002 Healthnotes, Inc. All rights
reserved. www.healthnotes.com
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Learn more about the authors of
Foodnotes.
The information presented in Foodnotes is for informational
purposes only and was created by a team of U.S. registered dietitians and food experts.
Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using
any supplements, making dietary changes, or before making any changes in prescribed
medications. Information expires December 2003.
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