4 Reasons to Include More Veggies in Your Diet

Every food group is important in a healthy diet but, for National Nutrition Month, we spotlight the humble earthy vegetable and encourage everyone to include as many servings of vegetables in your daily rotation as possible! 

Here are 4 reasons why you should get on board:

1. Vegetables are nutrient dense. The percentage of nutrients provided in a number of calories is very high. On average, there are about 50 calories per cup of vegetables, and getting a good dose of nutrients in that small amount! No other food group matches our nutrient needs as well as vegetables do.
2. Vegetables are a rich source of fiber. Dietary fiber is essential for our health, not only on a daily basis but on a meal-by-meal basis as well. Food cannot move through our digestive tract in a healthy way unless there is sufficient fiber. Be kind to your gut!
3. You need to eat vegetables every day because your body needs vitamins every day. Some vitamins have the ability to be stored in the body for later use because they are in the fat soluble vitamin group (vitamin A, D, E, and K). The other type of vitamins we need are in the water soluble vitamin group (the B vitamins and vitamin C), and they can’t be stored in the body or can only be stored for a short amount of time. This is why you need to consume them on a daily basis.
4. Vegetables provide us with phytonutrients, the unique substances that give foods their brilliant colors, flavors, and aromas. Carotenoids and flavonoids are the two of the largest groups of phytonutrients, and there is no food group that provides them in amounts as plentiful as vegetables.

For more inspiration and delicious veggie tips join the  #100VeggieChallenge!