The Human and Vegetable Vendetta by E.S. Cromwell

Seemingly, there has been a constant feud between humans and vegetables since the dawn of mankind. Well, maybe not since then, but, there sure has been quite a conflict ever since our individual childhoods. A complete disassociation of vegetable from child was all too common. And, we're all to blame, too. As children, we could never just eat our veggies willingly. They were always left as lonesome piles on dinner plates and called every name in the book from yucky, to gross, to poopy.
As adults though, we are fine with vegetables and dare I say it, we enjoy them! We savor them because they actually taste good and the nutritional value is high. But, really, why should we eat vegetables? What makes them worth while?
A Multitude of Reasons
Nutritional Mitochondria:
Veggies are extremely healthful foods. Full of vitamins and minerals, vegetables are fantabulous sources for fiber. Even better, they're low in fat, sodium and calories.
Naturally Medicinal:
Phytochemicals - heart disease, chronic disease and cancerous preventatives �" exist in a number of vegetables. Broccoli, green peppers and spinach contain natural antioxidants that keep your body in tip-top shape, maintaining a youthful look and feel.
So, with veggie disputes behind due to beneficial knowledge, one would think things would have panned out. But alas, the quarrel with our vegetable beings is far from over. The battle has moved from our dinner tables of old to grocery stores of new. The current problem at hand isn't eating our vegetables, it's purchasing and maintaining their freshness.
Here though are a few tips to absorb and consider when it comes to choosing and housing your vegetables at home:
Keep an eye out for vegetables with bright and shining colors; they're what you want. The best produce available at a grocer will have a regular shape and size with untainted skins or surfaces.
Beyond regular and overall looks, be mindful of appearance in terms of damaging. Be sure to sift through and discard veggies that show evidence of tampering or aging. Nicks, bumps, bruises and the like can be unfavorable for future keeping and serving, as they can attract bacteria and mold to speed up spoilage in your refrigerator's crisper. When selecting your leaved vegetables, be aware of how fresh they are in the store and of the date they'll need to be consumed by; wilted and slimy romaine should be avoided at any grocer.
When purchasing your vegetables, especially if you buy fresh, be sure you'll be eating them within 3 to 5 days, as to not waste your money if they go bad. If you plan on not eating vegetables right away after grocery shopping, buy ones slightly unripe so you can store them and let them ripen over a more extended period of time. Yet, be aware that longer storage times reduces nutrient levels and overall scrumptious taste.
In-season vegetables should be purchased when they're in season! The closer you purchase a specific vegetable in relation to its growing season, the fresher that vegetable will be, obviously. And, the taste is much more enhanced and enjoyable. So, buy in season.
Opt for the produce section rather than the frozen produce section when you can. But, when some vegetables are out of season it's not a bad idea to console your frozen vegetable isle in your grocer. In some cases, frozen veggies contain lower sodium levels and a higher nutrient amount than some “fresh” vegetables, since they're processed immediately after harvesting.
The human and vegetable vendetta, it's been an ongoing occurrence for years. We all experienced it in our childhoods and we've grown out of it. Yet, the war still wages on in adulthood, specifically in choosing that perfect vegetable at the grocers. Thankfully though, you'll at least have the above tips and tools to utilize when in combat.
About the Author
Fight for yourself against uncooperative vegetables, use reusable produce bags! Try green bags to prolong the life of your fresh produce.