by Jennifer Poindexter
When planting your garden, what things do you take into consideration? Do you consider which vegetables taste the best? Perhaps, you consider, which vegetables grow the easiest?
One thing you might want to consider is which vegetables are the most nutritious. Gardening should be a fun and healthy hobby. Yet, being able to grow some of the best foods for you is a wonderful bonus which could have positive impacts on your life.
If you like the idea of planting a garden filled with the most nutritious vegetables, here you go. These are the healthiest vegetables you can grow.
1. Bell Peppers
I love to grow bell peppers. They come in a variety of colors, taste great in many recipes, and they make a delicious snack.
What you may not know is the more colors you eat, the more nutrients you supply to your body. Therefore, it may be wise to grow many different colors of bell peppers.
These vegetables contain vitamins A and C. They also are high in potassium, folic acid, antioxidants, and fiber. You can feel good about what you’re eating when you eat bell peppers.
2. Carrots
When I was a kid, I didn’t like cooked carrots. I could eat them raw but didn’t like them any other way. Thankfully, those days have passed.
Carrots are wonderful in soups, eaten raw, or roasted. They make a tasty side dish or work as a colorful ingredient to stir-fries and stews.
If you need more reasons to grow this vegetable, they’re great for colder conditions and are high in vitamin A. When winter is bearing down on you, reach for a carrot to receive a natural dose of vitamins for the day.
3. Green Peas
Many people leave green peas alone because they are higher in carbohydrates than many other vegetables. I tend to grow fewer of them because they take a good bit of work to shell once they’re ready to harvest.
However, once you get past the carbs, and labor to eat them, they’re delicious. I love them in soups or as a side dish.
When eaten in proper portion sizes, green peas can be great for you. They’re higher in fiber, and this is something many people lack in their diets. If your diet falls in this category, green peas can give you a boost.
4. Kohlrabi
Kohlrabi is a cool weather crop. It has a unique appearance and gets overlooked in many gardens because some aren’t familiar with it.
You’ll be happy to know it’s a versatile vegetable. It can be steamed, roasted, enjoyed raw, or even pureed.
If you’re searching for a way to naturally boost your vitamin C, consider adding more kohlrabi to your diet. The best way to ensure you eat more of it would be to add it to your garden.
5. Spinach
Many of you were probably waiting on this super food to appear on the list. Spinach is a small plant, but it packs a nutritious punch.
This vegetable is great for use in salads, can be grown when the temperatures are cooler, and is a great way to give your body a boost over the winter when grown indoors.
Spinach is a great way to naturally boost your vitamin A and K intake. Swap out your plain lettuce for spinach, and you’re on your way to better nutrition.
6. Red Cabbage
Can I tell you a secret? I love colorful food! The more color there is in my food, the happier I am. When I moved to the south, everyone ate coleslaw.
However, they only used green cabbage in their recipes. I get many funny looks when I add red cabbage to my recipe because I love the contrast of color.
Imagine how happy it makes me to know that the added color is also giving me more vitamins. Red cabbage is another fabulous source of vitamin C.
7. Cauliflower
When I was growing up, cauliflower was the rejected broccoli. No one ever ate it because it didn’t have as much pizazz as broccoli.
Then the low-carb world came into the spotlight. Now, cauliflower is the answer to almost every potato recipe.
If you lean on cauliflower, as you wean yourself from potatoes, be encouraged because this vegetable is high in vitamin C, K, folic acid, potassium, calcium, and is a great source of fiber.
8. Broccoli
You can see how things have shifted because broccoli came further down the list than cauliflower. Though, cauliflower is getting more attention, we can’t forget broccoli.
This vegetable still has a great deal to offer us, and it’s delicious. Whether you like it cooked, raw, or steamed, it’s a vegetable worth considering adding to your growing space and eating regularly.
Broccoli is a wonderful source of sulforaphane. This is a nutrient thought to help deter cancer.
9. Sweet Potatoes
When I was growing up, I wasn’t a fan of sweet potatoes. I didn’t like overly sweet vegetables. I didn’t like anything overly sweet.
I wasn’t even a fan of chocolate! Thankfully, those days are long gone. Now, I love sweet potatoes. They’re great for sweet dishes or for use in spicy dishes.
However you choose to eat sweet potatoes, know that you’re supplying your body with extra fiber, potassium, vitamin B6, and vitamin C.
10. Beets
We grow beets around our garden because my husband thinks you can only eat pickled beets if made by one recipe.
Since it’s a family recipe, it means we must grow our own beets and make the recipe ourselves. Whether you enjoy beets in a pickled form, or cooked, you’ll be glad to know they’re nutritious.
Beets are an excellent source of fiber. This is an important nutrient because it keeps your system flushed and helps you to feel full longer.
11. Onions
Onions are a great vegetable to add to most any savory recipe. They’re aromatic and bring a great deal to any dish they’re included in.
Some people love onions so much they want to eat them raw. How you choose to enjoy onions is up to you.
However, understand that they’re simple to grow and good for most people. This vegetable is a wonderful source of antioxidants.
12. Greens
All the greens people typically eat are considered highly nutritious. You can enjoy turnip greens, collard greens, or even mustard greens.
They’re all a delicious side dish or wonderful in a salad. The most important thing about these vegetables is the nutrients they bring to the table.
Greens are an excellent source of calcium and fiber. If you need more of this in your diet, consider eating more greens.
13. Brussels Sprouts
Brussels sprouts taste like tiny cabbages. I wasn’t a huge fan of them because they always seemed to be under or overcooked.
Then one day, I came across brussels sprouts that were cooked in the ideal manner. Someone had roasted them, and they were amazing!
If you have a great brussels sprouts recipe, put it to good use. These vegetables are delicious and high in antioxidants.
14. Garlic
If you need to amp up the flavor profile of a meal, add garlic. It’s best to cook it, but once mixed with onions and allowed to sweat in a pan, you have a delicious and flavorful combination.
Even better, garlic is great when grown in the ground, in containers, or in raised beds. No matter your amount of growing space, garlic could still have a home in most settings.
Plus, this is a great source of antioxidants. If you need a way to add flavor to your diet, while cleansing your body, garlic might be a possible solution.
15. Asparagus
You get a great deal of bang for your buck with asparagus. If you choose to grow this crop, one plant can last for up to twenty years.
This vegetable is best, in my opinion, when roasted or grilled. With the right seasoning, it makes a delicious side dish.
If you need even more reasons to try asparagus, it’s a great source of vitamin K. This can be another way for you to introduce vitamins into your system in a natural way.
16. Kale
Kale is another food known for being a superfood. It’s great when cooked or used in a salad. The thing I love most about kale is how sturdy it is.
When adding kale to a salad, you’re more likely to stay full because it takes longer for your system to break it down.
Kale is also a great choice because it’s high in vitamins C, K, A and antioxidants. Try growing this leafy green as the temperatures cool. If grown indoors or in a greenhouse, it could be a great source of nutrients during the colder months.
17. Swiss Chard
It may not surprise you that I’m also a fan of swiss chard. I prefer it cooked, but it definitely makes a statement on a plate.
There are different varieties of swiss chard. Some are basic leafy greens. I prefer the rainbow swiss chard which comes with leafy greens on a colorful stem. The appearance could be a great way to introduce more healthy vegetables to those with a stubborn diet.
Swiss chard not only looks interesting, but it’s filled with many nutrients. This vegetable is high in vitamins K, A, C, and magnesium. If you need a boost in nutrients, consider eating more swiss chard.
These are the most nutritious vegetables. Whether you’re looking to amp up the nutritional value of your grocery list or trying to add more nutrition to the vegetables you grow in your garden, this list might be able to help.
Hopefully, it will point you in the right direction and help you jumpstart a diet packed with nutrients your body loves.
More About Growing Vegetables
Can i have a copy of the above document. In my country, we produce all the food we eat.