Our new “eat your veggies” line of t-shirts and tank tops celebrate the healthy benefits of eating plenty of vegetables every day. Along with tasting great, vegetables are low in calories and fat and high in vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Eating enough vegetables as part of a low-fat, high-fiber diet may help reduce blood pressure, manage weight, and reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer and other diseases. Reduce your risk of obesity, diabetes and other disease by eating your veggies! You’ll feel great and make your mom proud.
BEETS
Beets are related to spinach, cacti and the infamous venus fly trap. Raw beets are sweet and crunchy but turn soft and buttery when steamed. This reddish-purple veggie is a nutrient powerhouse packed with heart-healthy folate and potassium as well as tons of fiber and Vitamin C. Fancy yourself a red-head? Beet juice was once used to dye hair.
DANDELIONS
Dandelions, meaning “lion’s tooth,” is prized for its variety of medicinal uses from treating inflammation to infections. The flower petals can be made into Dandelion wine, the leaves can be tossed in a salad and the roasted roots makes a delicious caffeine free coffee substitute. Now won’t you think twice about calling Dandelions a weed?
BROCCOLI
Broccoli is a member of the uber-healthy cruciferous vegetable family. These “little trees” are an excellent source of iron, contain twice the Vitamin C as an orange and have almost as much calcium as a glass of milk is an excellent source of iron. Broccoli has anti-oxidant, anti-viral, anti-cancer, and detoxifying properties… Need we say more?
CARROTS
Carrots come in purple, red, white, yellow and orange. In the 1600’s, ladies used to decorate their hats with the tops of carrots in lieu of feathers. How eco-conscious of them… Carrots contain 1.8 grams of tummy loving fiber, are rich in Vitamin C and beta-carotene, and, in excess, can make you look like an Oompa Loompa.
MUSHROOMS
Mushrooms are more than a delicious pizza topping. In addition to being packed with fiber and Vitamin C, these little fungi promote immune function and help balance blood sugar levels. Want to go “mushrooming”? Don’t forget a take along a skilled mycophagist (a skilled mushroom hunter)!
TOMATOES
Tomatoes help purify and detoxify the blood, improve skin texture, and greatly help reduce the risk of cancer. Once called “the apple of love” by the French, tomatoes are best when they are in season from July through September, but you can have tomato soup any time of the year!
BELL PEPPERS
Bell Peppers are chock full of healthy sulfur compounds and Vitamin C and A. These delicious crunchy veggies come in a wide variety of colors from yellow to purple are most nutritious when they reaches their optimal ripeness. And don’t be afraid to eat the pulpy white insides, they are rich in nutrients too!
