Morels: A Mouthwatering, Michigan Miracle

What room has no doors, no walls, no windows, no floor and no ceiling? A mushroom! All jokes aside, it's morel season and we couldn't be happier.

While morels typically aren’t lauded for their nutritional value, they do offer some healthy benefits. They also put the “fun” in fungi, as they’re a blast to hunt for each spring – which can serve as a great way to get moving. The tricky part is knowing when to look, as morel season varies each year due to winter elements, temperatures and more. But, between now and mid- to late-May, you might consider getting your mitts on the mitten state’s most prized mushroom. Here’s why:

Rich in vitamins

Morels are actually rich in vitamins and minerals such as vitamin B, vitamin E, potassium, niacin, selenium, iron and copper. That means adding them to your diet can promote healthier heart function, an improved immune system and better blood sugar levels. That’s right, morels aren’t a super health food, but these pungent pieces of earth certainly don’t hinder a healthy lifestyle. So, for those who say, “Mushrooms are sick,” you might consider the immune system boost they offer makes them anything but.

Low Cal, So Cool

With a whopping four calories per cap (that’s one mushroom), cooked morels shouldn’t widen your waistline. However, many recipes call for loads of butter—which is certainly something to avoid. That’s why we suggest trying a good olive oil as a tasty, less caloric alternative. Morels are, however, fat free and sodium free—and can be great for those losing weight, especially since they pair so nicely with healthy foods like veggies or fish. This mushroom soup a great dish for anyone looking to eat on the healthier side without sacrificing flavor.

Finding morels is a full-body workout.

Working out to mitigate the physical setbacks of a delicious meal is common. Whether it’s a trip to the treadmill after too much of mom’s meatloaf, or some light cardio after an ice cream cone—we’re used to exercising more to offset a little extra food. That’s why morels might be more remarkable than most foods because you can get the workout in before you eat them. Mushroom hunting, also called foraging, is an activity many Michiganders enjoy this time of year. It gets you outside, moving around, stretching muscles and stimulating your mind. So don’t feel too guilty if you get a second helping of this fettuccine with asparagus and morels; odds are you’ve earned it by burning calories finding the main ingredient.

So, no matter how you slice it* morels make for an exciting, exercise-friendly food. Plus, they’re in season and made right here in Michigan. Happy hunting!

*Remember, morels are always sliced vertically before being thoroughly washed to remove any dirt or insects and thoroughly cooked to remove the trace amounts of toxins that can be harmful if undercooked or consumed raw. For more information on safe foraging, read more here, or talk to your doctor about any risks you may have.