Vegetable | Understanding Diseases and Health

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Diets are extremely varied throughout the world but one thing that is becoming more common is the lack of variety within the diets of the first world nations. With many people turning to prepackaged foods as well as many other processed foods, white flour, sugar, sodium, and fat have become staples, eliminating or at least drastically cutting the amount of multi-colored vegetables, fruits, legumes, and whole grains from their diets. What fruits, vegetables, and meats that are being eaten are genetically modified and hormonally injected. Modern food is not the same today as it was many years ago. Even a common apple is much larger, and more “perfect looking” than a predecessor from 40 years ago, but many people will tell you that the modern apple probably has half the flavor as well. As such, many vital nutrients are lacking from the modern diet.

With malnourishment being an issue, especially among people who are anything but undernourished, changes are appropriate. There are plenty of ways to increase the nutrients you intake. Drastic, major changes are not the only way to supplement your diet either. Baby steps are easy ways to incorporate change without feeling like you have turned your world upside down. You may find that you won’t only enjoy some of the changes, but you will feel infinitely better physically, emotionally, and mentally as well.

Vitamins are a great place to start. A daily multivitamin can fill in a lot of nutritional holes right away. It is easy to pop one pill in the morning with your breakfast and feel the boost right away. The more nutrients in your breakfast, the better your vitamin will be absorbed as the nutrients will “piggyback” their way into your system.

Juicing is another painless way to start packing more nutrients into your system. High quality juicers can be found online and in stores starting in the one hundred dollar range. Fresh juice is not only delicious, but you will feel the pep immediately. If you don’t want to buy a juicer, many grocery stores and juice counters have great options available too.

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Most babies love pureed peas, smashed carrots, and sweet potatoes, so why don’t most tots and older children? Some argue that children simply lose the taste for them, especially if they are at all bitter. Others say that pop culture and peer influence plays a huge role. When children see other children or their favorite television characters shunning veggies, they mimic the behavior. When the cool kids are only eating grilled cheese sandwiches, pepperoni pizza, and processed chicken nuggets, they act in turn. After a steady diet of processed meats, sugars, salts, and starches, they are likely to lose their taste for the subtlety, freshness, and sweetness that is inherent in fresh produce.

Most children love hands on activities. Gardening is a great skill that is easy and economical to start. Tots will love digging in the dirt and picking fresh veggies that are ready to eat. Older kids love helping to plan and choose which vegetables they want to nurture. When they feel invested in the process, they will easily fall in love with vegetables. Vegetables are also most flavorful when eaten very fresh so they will be exposed to and ingrained with the most positive aspects of vegetables. It’s a great skill and mentality to give your children.

There are other ways to spruce up veggies too. Lightly sautéing them in healthy olive oil with a little bit of salt and pepper makes almost any veggie tasty. Add sweet onions and a little garlic for a tasty dish. Dips are great too. Strawberry yogurt is delicious with fruit and a light ranch dressing is always fun for kids. Dishes like lasagna, spaghetti, and burritos are great ways of hiding extra veggies that kids won’t even see while gobbling them down.

While it’s true that many children have an aversion towards vegetables, you do not have to be resigned in thinking that there are no other options. Reintroducing nutritional education for all learning levels can be fun and interactive. Making vegetables more palatable is not difficult either. Sneaking vegetables into other foods is a great supplemental (or last!) resort.
Most babies love pureed peas, smashed carrots, and sweet potatoes, so why don’t most tots and older children? Some argue that children simply lose the taste for them, especially if they are at all bitter. Others say that pop culture and peer influence plays a huge role. When children see other children or their favorite television characters shunning veggies, they mimic the behavior. When the cool kids are only eating grilled cheese sandwiches, pepperoni pizza, and processed chicken nuggets, they act in turn. After a steady diet of processed meats, sugars, salts, and starches, they are likely to lose their taste for the subtlety, freshness, and sweetness that is inherent in fresh produce.
Most children love hands on activities. Gardening is a great skill that is easy and economical to start. Tots will love digging in the dirt and picking fresh veggies that are ready to eat. Older kids love helping to plan and choose which vegetables they want to nurture. When they feel invested in the process, they will easily fall in love with vegetables. Vegetables are also most flavorful when eaten very fresh so they will be exposed to and ingrained with the most positive aspects of vegetables. It’s a great skill and mentality to give your children.
There are other ways to spruce up veggies too. Lightly sautéing them in healthy olive oil with a little bit of salt and pepper makes almost any veggie tasty. Add sweet onions and a little garlic for a tasty dish. Dips are great too. Strawberry yogurt is delicious with fruit and a light ranch dressing is always fun for kids. Dishes like lasagna, spaghetti, and burritos are great ways of hiding extra veggies that kids won’t even see while gobbling them down.

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