Why should you eat vegetables?

The people of Olenek in Siberia live on a diet mainly of reindeer meat and not much else, they enjoy longevity and health, so why do we need a so called balanced diet that not only includes a portion of protein (meat, cheese, grains) and a substantial amount of vegetables?

For one, these Siberians eat meat to raise their metabolic rate in order to keep warm and this is something that has evolved over the centuries. So, what if you are not a Siberian reindeer hunter, why should you eat vegetables?

Vegetables nutritionally contain very little protein or fat, however they do contain fibre, carbohydrates, vitamins, provitamins, minerals and something called phytochemicals which have antioxidant and antibacterial properties amongst other things.

So from a basic level, veggies have a lot going for them in terms of giving you a balanced plate of nutrients; eating sufficient amounts of vegetables and fruit can help prevent heart disease, cancer and type 2 diabetes. Vegetables also provide much needed potassium, that helps stop cramp and the formation of kideny stones.

Did you know:

  • Vegetables have no cholesterol (when eaten without a sauce)
  • Vegetables contain potassium, that helps lower blood pressure
  • Vegetables contain folic acid that is an essential part in red blood cell formation
  • Vegetables of course, contain fibre. Fibre helps reduce cholesterol, reduces heart disease, promotes proper bowl function and helps to make you feel fuller with less calories.

A large number of vegetables can be eaten raw (and we'll explore this in our post about getting kids (and the rest of the family) to eat more raw vegetables and food), however there are a few that must be cooked to remove toxins and antinutrients.

Vegetables add colour to your meal, both visually and taste wise, they also mean that you can make your portion of meat go further in feeding the family, while we need protein, today many of us eat too large a serving of meat in our diets and miss out on many vegetables that would give us a boost and improve our overall metabolism, not to mention actually helping to reduce methane, a greenhouse gas.





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Recipes Highlights

Summer bean salad

A hearty & wholesome bean salad, served with crunchy carrots, semi sundried tomatoes, char grilled artichokes, olives & fresh herbs. This salad is packed with protein, fibre, antioxidants & vitamins. Beans contain essential nutrients such as calcium, potassium, vitamin B6, magnesium, folate & alpha-linolenic acid..


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Just for fun

Children’s Veggie Excuse Me’s

“I don’t like the green bits”
“Where’s th
e cheese?”
“I’m too f
ull, please can I have dessert”
“I didn’t want this for dinner”
“My brother said it tastes bad, so I don’t want to eat it”
“I am not supposed to eat this today”
“I think the cat licked my plate”


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