Eating vegetables is an important aspect of living a long and healthy life. Each year, June 17 is marked as Eat Your Vegetables Day, which falls just about in the middle of National Fruit and Vegetables Month. This is a good time for all people, including those suffering from a disease such as Alzheimer’s, to be sure that they are eating a diet with plenty of fresh veggies.
Many people did not like vegetables when they were younger, but over time, many people discover that many vegetables are very tasty! Vegetables provide a lot of texture, freshness and sweetness to many dishes, and they do not require a great deal of work.
We should remember that fresh vegetables means FRESH! We should not boil our vegetables until they become mushy and lose color. Steaming vegetables is better than boiling. Another idea is to blanch vegetables in boiling water for one minute and then throw them in an ice bath. Serve them raw. You also can roast some vegetables for more flavor, such as sweet potatoes or butternut squash.
These days, most grocery stores are well stocked with all of the standard veggies, such as peas, cauliflower, squash and broccoli. But there also are many new vegetables in stores that can be very tasty. For example, kohirabi is a cabbage-like vegetable that may look strange, but it makes a great add in for a salad. Celeriac is a good choice instead of potato, and has a lot of fiber.
Some of the most healthy vegetables include:
Tomatoes
These technically are fruits, but are usually served as vegetables. They are full of lycopene and help the body to fight cancer, due to their high vitamin content.
Broccoli
There are few foods that are better for our bodies than broccoli. This veggie is full of antioxidants that cut down on cancer risk.
Squash
This vegetable has a lot of nutrients that are anti-inflammatory, and are full of vitamin C.
Sweet potato
This tasty root vegetable has many anti-cancer nutrients, including vitamins A, C and manganese.
Bell peppers
These delicious vegetables in several colors are full of heart and brain healthy nutrients, such as folic acid and lycopene.
Blue Scooper Plate
If your loved one has Alzheimer’s disease, it is important for her to continue to eat a diet that is full of fresh vegetables. To make this easier, we recommend the Blue Scooper Plate, and also the Redware Dishes for Alzheimer’s Patients.
