Deceptively Delicious - Jessica Seinfeld [10]
WHAT’S IN THAT VEGGIE?
¼ Avocado
(55 calories)
Avocados are the only vegetables that are loaded with monounsaturated fat, which helps lower cholesterol levels in the blood to keep kids heart-healthy.
They’re also a super source of soluble fiber, which helps stabilize blood-sugar levels.
And they’re full of vitamin E, which protects healthy cells and helps heal kids’ cuts and scrapes.
1 Cup Beets
(58 calories)
Beets are chock full of two different antioxidants that help protect healthy cells against damage all over the body.
The folic acid in beets also help keep kids’ cells growing and functioning the way they should.
And beets are good for heart health and for keeping kids’ blood pressure regulated, because they provide a nice amount of potassium.
1 Cup Broccoli
(30 calories)
Along with all other veggies in the cruciferous family, broccoli is important because it contains natural substances that may help the body fight certain cancers.
Broccoli also helps heal kids’ cuts and wounds—it’s a particularly good source of vitamin C.
And, for a vegetable, broccoli can’t be beat in helping build strong bones and teeth(it’s a great nondairy source of calcium—better absorbed by the body than spinach).
1 Cup Butternut Squash
(63 calories)
The deep orange color of this winter squash reminds us that it contains beta carotene, which is great for keeping your child’s eyes and skin healthy.
Plus, this vegetable contains potassium, which is important for heart health.
1 Cup Carrots
(52 calories)
Carrots are terrific for your child’s skin and eyes because they’re loaded with beta carotene.
And they’re great for keeping the pipes clean because they contain a good amount of insoluble fiber.
1 Cup Cauliflower
(25 calories)
Cauliflower is another member of the important cruciferous family of veggies that may help our bodies fight off certain types of cancers.
Cauliflower may help kids resist infections (it’s a good source of vitamin C).
1 Cup Pumpkin
(30 calories)
Pumpkin helps build healthy hearts because it’s high in potassium.
Its pretty orange color also signals that pumpkin is a rich source of beta carotene, which helps keep kids’ skin bright and eyesight sharp, and encourages overall good health.
1 Cup Peas
(134 calories)
Peas are a good source of folate, so it’s good for your child’s overall heart health.
Peas are also great source of fiber (both soluble and insoluble), which helps stabilize kids blood sugars and keep their digestion riunning smoothly.
1 Cup Red Pepper
(39 calories)
Red peppers are the single best way to get vitamin C into your children, which may help them to fight off infections and heal cuts and scrapes.
And thanks to their beautiful, rich red color, they’re high in several antioxidants that help protect healthy cells throughout the body.
1 Cup Cooked Spinach
(40 calories)
Spinach is your best bet for folic acid, which helps keep cells all over the body growing and functioning well.
And it’s an incredible non-animal-protein source of iron, which delivers oxygen all over the body, providing much-needed energy to kids’ muscles.
Spinach also helps regulate blood sugar and keeps your children’s hearts healthy because it’s high in potassium and magnesium.
1 Cup Summer Squash and Zucchini
(20 calories)
Summer squash and zucchini helps keep children’s skin glowing because it provides vitamin C.
The antioxidant called lutein in summer squash helps keep kids bright-eyed.
1 Small Sweet Potato
(112 calories)
Sweet potatoes help stabilize kids’ blood sugar levels by providing soluble fiber.
And they’re good for skin, eyes, and allover good health because they’re rich in beta carotene and other antioxidants.
Joy: The thing that destroys the good stuff in veggies is cooking them in too much water. The water-soluble vitamins (particularly vitamin