Matthew Gates http://notetoservices.com 2m 619 #vegetables
The views of this article are the perspective of the author and may not be reflective of Confessions of the Professions.
Challenge of the Week: Eat Vegetables
Vegetables often get a very bad rap and are the least favored food by many people, almost never being incorporated into the diet, specifically the American diet. Plenty of people go to the grocery store and have no idea what the vegetable section even looks like. They may go their lifetimes without having ever tasted a vegetable, possibly only liking one or two vegetables, because that is all they have ever been exposed to eating.
For those who do not like vegetables, they may turn to the only two vegetables that are favorable: corn and potatoes. These, however, are not the healthiest vegetables in the bunch, with green vegetables usually being overlooked. Green vegetables are the healthiest and yield great complex carbohydrates into the system, which are necessary for the body to get the essential nutrients.
Many of these vegetables can be acquired through your local grocery store or Trader Joe’s. It is preferable that you buy fresh vegetables or the frozen packages, as canned goods may contain preservatives and others chemicals that the body does not need.
Vegetables are not as bad as many people think and do taste great. There are some that do have an acquired taste, while others may be mixed with other foods in order to create a great taste, and there are plenty more vegetables that taste great on their own. Unfortunately, I cannot tell you which ones taste the best, because everyone’s tastes are different, but here is a list of vegetables that you should try this week, as part of a side dish in your main meal.
Your challenge this week is to try a different vegetable everyday to see which ones you like and could start implementing into your diet, as part of a healthy diet. There are various ways to cook these vegetables, including frying or baking, and some may even be eaten raw.
Artichoke
Arugula
Asparagus
Aubergine (UK) = Eggplant (US)
Amaranth
Legumes
Alfalfa sprouts
Azuki beans (or adzuki)
Bean sprouts
Black beans
Black-eyed peas
Borlotti bean
Broad beans
Chickpeas, Garbanzos, or ceci beans
Green beans
Kidney beans
Lentils
Lima beans or Butter bean
Mung beans
Navy beans
Pinto beans
Runner beans
Soy beans
Peas
Mangetout or Snap peas
Bok choy (known as Bok choy in UK and US)
Broccoflower (a hybrid)
Broccoli
Brussels sprouts
Cabbage
Calabrese
Cannabis
Carrots
Cauliflower
Celery
Chard
Collard greens
Corn salad
Endive
Fiddleheads (young coiled fern leaves)
Frisee
Herbs and spices
Anise
Basil
Caraway
Cilantro seeds are Coriander
Chamomile
Dill
Fennel
Lavender
Lemon Grass
Marjoram
Oregano
Parsley
Rosemary
Sage
Thyme
Kale
Kohlrabi
Lettuce Lactuca sativa
Maize (UK) = Corn (US) = Sweetcorn (actually a grain)
Mushrooms (actually a fungus, not a plant)
Mustard greens
Nettles
New Zealand spinach
Okra
Onion family
Chives
Garlic
Leek Allium porrum
Onion
Shallot
Spring onion (UK) == Green onion (US) == Scallion
Parsley
Peppers (actually fruits, but treated as vegetables)
Green pepper and Red pepper == bell pepper == pimento
Chili pepper == Capsicum
Jalapeno
Habanero
Paprika
Tabasco pepper
Cayenne pepper
Radicchio
Rhubarb
Root vegetables
Beetroot (UK) == Beet (US)
mangel-wurzel: a variety of beet used mostly as cattlefeed
Carrot
Celeriac
Daikon
Ginger
Parsnip
Rutabaga
Turnip
Radish
Swede (UK) == Rutabaga (US)
Turnip
Wasabi
Horseradish
White radish
Salsify (usually Purple Salsify or Oyster Plant)
Skirret
Spinach
Topinambur
Squashes (actually fruits, but treated as vegetables)
Acorn squash
Butternut squash
Banana squash
Courgette (UK) == Zucchini (US)
Cucumber (actually fruits, but treated as vegetables)
Delicata
Gem squash
Hubbard squash
Marrow (UK) == Squash (US) Cucurbita maxima
Patty pans
Pumpkin
Spaghetti squash
Tat soi
Tomato (actually a fruit, but treated as a vegetable)
Tubers
Jicama
Jerusalem artichoke
Potato
Sweet potato (Yams and Sweet Potato are same)
Taro
Yam
Water chestnut
Watercress
Zucchini
Vegetable list, courtesy of Wikipedia
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