Green leafy vegetables are usually called vegetables.
The concept of vegetable is used to name vegetables , especially those that have green leaves . The term, however, is not scientific, so its scope may vary according to each country or culture .
In general it can be said that vegetables are those edible plants whose leaves are green . In this sense, various parts of plants can be included in the group depending on what is part of the human diet: seeds such as peas , stems such as asparagus , fruits such as cucumbers or leaves such as chard .
Some foods that are usually considered vegetables are not characterized, in any case , by their green color, such as carrots , potatoes , onions or eggplant . Green is given by a natural pigment called chlorophyll , which varies according to various characteristics and explains why greenish tones can vary even between plants of the same species.
Vegetables in the diet
There are various culinary uses of vegetables. Many of them are consumed raw in salads, seasoned with oil or vinegar. That is the case of lettuce or arugula . Other vegetables are often steamed , boiled, roasted, baked or fried. It is even possible to blend some vegetables to drink, such as carrots.
Vegetables are considered a very healthy food, since they contain vitamins , fiber , minerals and other nutrients that serve as antioxidants or help prevent various diseases , while their calorie and fat content is very low. It is important, when preparing, to wash the vegetables very well with drinking water to remove dirt and the possible presence of substances toxic to the body.
In a broad sense, a vegetable is called a plant that, beyond its color, is part of the human diet.
vegetarian diet
A vegetarian diet is known as one that does not include products of animal origin, such as eggs, milk and meat, which is why vegetables represent one of its fundamental elements. It is worth mentioning that there are variants of vegetarianism that do allow the consumption of eggs and milk, and that is why the concept of strict vegetarianism is necessary to refer to the diet mentioned in the previous sentence.
Although many people are unaware of it, it is not necessary to use any product of animal origin to eat in a healthy and nutritious way, acquiring all the vitamins and proteins that are often associated with meat, as if it were their only source of obtaining it. Veganism inspires millions of people to create a wide variety of delicious dishes using vegetables and legumes, which can be tastier and healthier than their meat alternatives.
Children and vegetables
In many cultures, it is common for children to not like vegetables, or to prefer meat and less natural products. Even in countries where plant foods are highly valued, there is usually the image of the little ones rejecting a plate of vegetables. Needless to say, the responsibility for this phenomenon lies purely and exclusively with the parents, since no one is born feeling disgust towards broccoli or asparagus, but rather these may not be as attractive to a person who has spent their early years eating junk food like first option.
There are various ways to generate a taste for vegetables in these children, all with a high percentage of success, since in adulthood the aforementioned rejection is not so common. An almost foolproof technique is to include vegetables in a preparation without letting the child know until they have tasted them and expressed their satisfaction. This is more revealing and direct than promising a reward if he finishes a plate of broccoli , as it shows him that the rejection was not justified.