National Eat A Vegetable Day June 17!
Is it possible? Do you eat your vegetables? Here is a thought, if you put on your science hat, what makes a fruit a fruit and a vegetable a vegetable? Give up? Well....anything with a seed is a fruit. So, all of those things you may say you do not like are indeed not a vegetable at all. What is it that you do not like about vegetables? Is it that they have a variety of vitamins and minerals that help maintain a healthy body?
June 17 is National Eat Your
Vegetables Day. This actually was a
daily theme in my home growing up.
Vegetables have so many good things that help your body and your overall
health. Concentration on varying colors
and variety will not only make it more appealing to your eye and to your diet,
it will also provide you with a variety of vitamins and minerals.
Looking at the history of the
National Eat Your Vegetable Day, I found that the date selected was
strategically the mid date of the summer months. So, what is your favorite vegetable? Put it on your menu this week. Enlist the help of your family to try new
vegetables as well as to be creative with family favorites.
Summer time is a great time for a variety of vegetables. Our garden has lettuce and arugula ready for
harvest. We enjoy butter crunch lettuce
and for an additional spice, arugula adds variety to the salad from the
garden. Add a few radishes and throw in
a raspberry or two and you have a gourmet salad. There are no rules when adding vegetables to
your diet, do what it takes. Salads are
such a great addition to the menu, you can add all of the food groups into one
dish and there is no cooking required! For variety, check out your local Farmer's Market, you will be glad you did!
Grilling, what is better in the summer than a barbeque? Why not add vegetables to the menu. Slicing vegetables and putting them on a
kabob skewer, marinating them in your favorite dry rub and a little olive oil,
makes me smile thinking about it! You
can also place the vegetables in a foil pouch and this works well. You will need to watch carefully so that they
do not burn.
Do you have picky children or adults in your home who dislike
vegetables? Be creative; let them pick
out new vegetables to try. When all else
fails, play scientist and ask your family what makes a fruit a fruit and a
vegetable a vegetable. They may just
find the “vegetables” they dislike are truly fruits. Scientifically, a fruit has seeds, so that
cucumber that we deem a vegetable is really a fruit. This can be pondered all day!
Here is a wonderful salad that when you add a slice of whole
grain bread, you have all of the food groups in one dish! If you are like me, summer time is filled
with activities and the last thing we want to do is spend time laboring in the
kitchen. Salads are a great solution to
the summertime heat. What new vegetable
will you try?
Choose
MyPlate Salad
½ bunch dark green leafy
lettuce ½ C cheddar
cheese, shredded
1 tomato, chopped ½ c
cooked turkey or cooked ham cubed
1 carrot, chopped or shredded Favorite low fat
dressing
½ cucumber, chopped
¼ C raisins (or dried cranberries)
1 apple, chopped
- Wash lettuce and tear into bite size pieces. Place in a large bowl.
- Add the remaining ingredients and mix.
- Toss with your favorite dressing.
Still not convinced to try adding a vegetable to your day? Check out this resource from Choose MyPlate.gov, http://www.choosemyplate.gov/food-groups/downloads/TenTips/DGTipsheet2AddMoreVegetables.pdf You will find 10 tips on adding more vegetables to your plate.
It's really not that difficult to eat your veggies! Just wash and eat! Steam them, grill them, boil them it is all up to you. The benefits far out way the trouble it takes to just put them on your plate and eat! What is your plan for trying a new vegetable today? Vegetables should be on the calendar everyday all day, the pay off in the end would be less chronic disease, less obesity and living longer, healthier and happier lives. What are you waiting for? Go grab a carrot or other lovely veggie and enjoy!
The best benefit is if you begin the habit of feeding your family heart healthy food and incorporate physical activity at an early age, you will thank your mom for saying, eat your veggies!
Happy Eat A Vegetable Day!!!
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