Which Vegetables Are Best?
Monica Reinagel, MS, LD/N, CNS
Ask the Diva: Which Vegetables Are Best?
Q. I’m trying to eat more vegetables but considering the multitude of choices in the produce section, I don’t know where to start. Which ones give me a good spectrum of nutrients and allow me to manage my expenses?
Answer. To ensure a good balance of nutrition, try to eat vegetables from each of the following groups at least once a week:
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Green (lettuce, spinach, kale, Swiss chard, beet and mustard greens, etc.)
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Red/Orange (tomatoes, carrots, sweet potatoes, winter squash, red peppers)
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Cruciferous (cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts)
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Pods (peas, green beans, snowpeas, etc.)
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Stinkers (onions, scallions, shallots, garlic)
To get the most nutrition for your money, look for whatever is in season and grown close to where you live. Local, seasonal produce generally spends less time in transit and storage, where nutrients can fade. Keeping it local also keeps costs down, because you’re paying for less fuel.
To find out what’s in season where you live, check out this online guide from Sustainable Harvest.
For more up-to-date information on healthy eating, check out my new guidebook, Nutrition Diva’s Secrets for a Healthy Diet. Read a free chapter here.
About the Author
Monica Reinagel is a board-certified licensed nutritionist, author, and the creator of one of iTunes’ most highly ranked health and fitness podcasts. Her advice is regularly featured on the TODAY show, Dr. Oz, NPR, and in the nation’s leading newspapers, magazines, and websites. Do you have a nutrition question? Call the Nutrition Diva listener line at 443-961-6206. Your question could be featured on the show.