Veggie Wars

Ever since we were kids, we’re told to love our fruits and greens. Those colorful variety of vegetables remind us of the old days when we have to play hide and seek with these healthy greens. Yet, many of us still holds misleading beliefs about which vegetable is healthy and which is not. For example, one person believes that eating fresh is better than serving cooked veggies.. and there are those who believe otherwise. Which is fact and which is fiction?

Popular Vegetable Myths Explained

To help educate you about choosing and serving your healthy greens, we scoured the web for these popular myths:

1. Cooked Vegetables Lack Nutritional Value

This actually depends on which veggie you cook. True that cooking destroys part of what makes a vegetable healthy to eat, like folic acid and vitamin C. Still, cooking helps release vitamin A and fiber nutrients for your body to easily absorb antioxidants from the foods you eat. If you like to get the best out of your vegetables, you better steam or roast, than boiling or worst, deep-frying.

2. Vibrant Colors Mean Healthy

Don’t be fooled by the colors you see. Even your iceberg lettuce or white cabbage is jam-packed with nutrients your body will love. Just because a vegetable like the white cauliflower or celery looks dull on the outside, it doesn’t mean they are less healthy to eat.

3. Fresh Veggies are Better than Frozen Greens

There’s actually a study that shows you get more nutrients in frozen vegetables, depending on the type of veggie and how long it is sitting in your supermarket. Many frozen vegetables are frozen just right after harvest, sealing with it the freshness and nutrition it has when it’s ripe for the picking.

4. Potatoes are Fattening

The truth is that potatoes are totally fat-free and low in calories. Also, it contains high amounts of fiber needed by your body. It’s how you cook these that makes it unhealthy.

5. Carrots will Help You Improve Your Eyesight

Perhaps, there is something wrong with the word ‘improve’ as carrots help maintain your poor eyesight from deteriorating more. Even eating five pounds of it a day won’t help you reach a perfect 20/20 vision.

6. Bagged Salads are Germ-Free

Not really! I’d rather give those greens a good rinse to remove anything left even if it’s labeled ” triple washed. ” There were cases of E-coli contamination in some bagged salads.

7. You Get Organic Produce from a Farmer’s Market

Maybe. But unless the vegetables are certified organic by the US Department of Agriculture, you can never guarantee that it is free from pesticides and chemicals. It’s good if you can be friends with a local farmer you can trust so you get the scoop on your greens.

Eating vegetables is a healthy habit and together with healthy choices, you can be one step closer to a better health if you only dispel these myths.

How to Cook Vegetables : Shop for Vegetables