Vegetables - What's Not To Love?

For some people, a disdain for vegetables starts from early childhood and stays with them for a lifetime. That is such a shame, because there's so much to love about vegetables. Let's discover some of those benefits.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 75% of Americans don't eat the recommended five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables per day. That's alarming, considering how important vegetables are to maintaining a healthy and productive lifestyle. 

If we could manage to set aside our childhood impressions, we would find vegetables a lot more appealing. And there are plenty of excellent reasons to eat vegetables and to teach our children to eat vegetables:

* Vegetables are dense with nutrients. Vitamins, minerals, protein, fiber and   phytonutirents are all great reasons to love vegetables. Think of them as heart healthy little cancer fighting machines that aid digestion, while helping you see and remember better.

* Vegetables are a dieter’s dream come true. They are low in calories without shortchanging nutrients. For a few veggies, the energy your body exerts in eating and digesting them equals the calories in the vegetables themselves.

* Vegetables come in so many varieties, and there are so  many ways to cook them up, it’s virtually impossible to not find some that you like.

* Vegetables are made up of complex carbs that take time to digest. So they don’t cause your sugar levels to rise and fall. The only exceptions to this are beets and corn. They also contain lots of fiber that keep things moving in your colon and make you feel full.
 
So what are some of the healthiest vegetables on your plate?

* Artichokes
* Broccoli
* Spinach
* Sweet Potato
* Kale
* Brussel Sprouts
* Kale
* Spinach
* Red Pepper
* Carrots

For those who still need to take their vegetables in low doses, try adding a few leaves of spinach to a sandwich or burger instead of lettuce. And add a slice of tomato while you’re at it. Mix a little bit of broccoli in with your pasta. Add some red pepper to your rice. Bake your family a carrot cake or zucchini bread.

One of the best ways to begin an appreciation for vegetables is to grow your own garden. There is no greater joy than watching your own crops grow, and cooking them fresh from the garden. Get your kids involved to start their appreciation a little bit earlier.