Polenta; those of you who are well versed with the term and know what it exactly is, great! However, I am sure, there would be many of you who would not have the slightest idea. Well, polenta has been a popular part of Italian cuisine for many years now, so much so that it is considered as a staple food there! It is nothing but cornmeal boiled in water to form a kind of porridge which is fulfilling, and, of course, extremely healthy. True; the recipe does not seem to be interesting, however, it has its share of benefits which can't be overlooked. Nutritional Information Knowing the nutritional info of any foodstuff is necessary before consuming it. Considering it is made of corn, it comes to us that it is a healthy option. You must have guessed, the method of preparation is pretty simple which includes boiling the cornmeal in water for about an hour so that a slurry is formed. If you ask me, it is best served for breakfast.

Nutrition	Nutritional Content
Total Carbohydrate	15 grams
Dietary Fiber	1 gram
Sugars	1 gram
Sodium	310 milligrams
Proteins	2 grams
Vitamin A	6%
Vitamin C	12%
Iron	2%
Total Calories in Polenta	70

(serving size = 120 grams)

• After going through the table, I hope it becomes clear to you that polenta consumption is healthy since it does not have much protein, and is totally fat-free. If you check properly, it is entirely made up of carbohydrates, and thus good for health.
• Though the carbohydrate content isn't significant, polenta is rich in vitamin A and vitamin C, and, hence, individuals having deficiencies can include this in their diet. Also, the calorie intake isn't much and therefore it is one of the healthy low-calorie foods known. It has little percentage of iron as well necessary for optimum hemoglobin levels. Sodium is present in healthy amounts which basically helps maintain the ionic balance in the body.
• Another benefit I would like to elaborate is that it is gluten-free. This means that it can be used by people having gluten intolerance as well.

Here is a recipe that you can use to make this healthy food at home. Recipe Ingredients

• 2 cups cornmeal
• 6 cups water
• Salt, for taste

Procedure The method for this cornmeal mush recipe is very easy. First, take a large skillet and add 6 cups of water. Keep it on high flame until it boils. Add salt as well. As soon as it boils, start adding cornmeal gradually, and stir the mixture simultaneously. As you keep on adding the cornmeal, the mixture will turn thicker; cook it on a low flame for around 45 minutes. When you see that polenta is cooked properly, take it off the flame and pour it in a dry dish. Spread it evenly. Now, here you can have it hot with vegetables and sauces or let it dry for sometime. Cut it into pieces and serve it with icing or yogurt. If you ain't comfortable with the taste, you can serve it with cheese, butter, cream, sausages, and meat as well, or you could use it as a pizza base. This was all about polenta nutrition. As you must have clearly understood, it is a very healthy dish and therefore there is no harm in trying this Italian food recipe.