To Peel Or Not To Peel

Many folks insist on peeling their vegetables and even fruits before eating them, something I just don't understand. My boyfriend peels his potatoes after cooking them, my roommate peels her mangos before eating them...what are these people doing!?! I eat the skin of just about any fruit or veggie I desire...mangos, potatoes, apples - heck, even orange rinds time and again (however, bananas I must exclude). These skins have nutritional value! There is typically more fiber in a serving of potatoes with skin than many "whole-grain" products. Apple skin is one of the main sources of the potent flavonoid quercitin, an antioxidant, which when combined with another antioxidant, Vitamin C, bolsters the body's immune defenses. It also contains the soluble fiber pectin, which helps relieve constipation by acting as a stool softener...and, because pectin firms up an excessively loose stool, it's also used to treat diarrhea. Viola! Why would you put your colon at risk? As much as I moan and groan, folks will still want to peel those beautiful skins, so I've found what I consider to be some of the coolest new peelers around (groan). Read on: OXO Good Grips Swivel Peeler The sharp stainless steel blade glides through fruit and vegetable skins with ease (they're replaceable too). The soft handle cushions your hand as you peel, and is non-slip, even when your hands are wet. Chef'n Palm Peeler As the name implies, the Palm Peeler slides on your finger, tucks in under your palm and peels anything you can throw at it with it's stainless steel blade. I've never seen a cuter kitchen gadget...tee-hee. Kyocera Perfect Peeler Essentially 3 peelers in 1, the Perfect Peeler rotates to vertical, horizontal, and 45-degree positions and features an ergonomic, non-slip handle (left- and right-handed friendly) and an ultra-sharp ceramic blade. photos courtesy of OXO, Chef'n, and Kyocera, respectively