Walking on Sunshine with Mushrooms

What winter lacks in sunshine, it makes up for with cold temps!  If you’re like us, most of your time this season was spent indoors watching Stranger Things. (Speaking of stranger things: have you seen this time-lapse of mushrooms growing?) With all that time inside, your vitamin D batteries may be running low, too. With spring right around the corner, it’s time to shake off that winter-time slump!

Aside from spending more time outdoors, mushrooms can help get that spring back into your step. Did you know mushrooms are the only source of vitamin D in the produce aisle? Score! All mushrooms contain some vitamin D, but some varieties contain higher levels than others. Growers also have the ability to increase D levels by exposing mushrooms to ultraviolet light.

Vitamin D in Mushrooms
The recommended daily allowance of vitamin D is 600 IU (international units). How do these varieties stack up?

• Maitake: Raw maitake mushrooms (84g) contain 943 IU.
• Portabella: Portabella mushrooms (84g) exposed to UV light contain 953 IU.
• Crimini: This variety is number one in vitamin D content! One serving (84g) of UV-exposed crimini mushrooms contains 1,072 IU.

Source: US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Nutrient Data Laboratory. USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 28. Version Current: September 2015, slightly revised May 2016. Internet: /nea/bhnrc/ndl

Springtime Mushroom Recipes

Feel the spring fever with a healthy serving of mushrooms.

Pan-Roasted Mushroom Salad

Hit restart with a salad that layers nutritious crimini mushrooms with fresh spring flavors!

Teriyaki Portabella Mushroom Kabobs

Tangy teriyaki sauce, sweet pineapples, and warm portabella mushrooms combine into one colorful kabob recipe.

Seven-Minute Spring Ramen Bowl

Spring into an easy-to-make meal that combines fresh asparagus, creamy avocado, and your favorite mushrooms.