When the winter months roll around, the idea of eating fresh vegetables gets taken over by the thought of comfort food. If you give in to that comfort food mentality though, you could be missing out on some of winter’s best vegetables. Read on to learn about 5 of the best vegetables you should be feasting on in the colder months of the year.
Carrot
You might have had these as a cold snack during the summer months, but they taste better in the cold. That’s because the cold conditions make the vegetable convert its starch content to sugar, which gives it a sweeter taste. Aside from the taste, it’s also loaded with Vitamin A. This helps your eye health.
Brussel Sprouts
Some people have a pre-conceived notion that Brussel sprouts are horrible. When cooked right though, they’re actually one of winter’s best vegetables. They’re more durable in cold weather than most vegetables and are loaded full of Vitamin K. To put that into perspective, one cup of Brussel sprouts contains 137% of the daily recommended dose of Vitamin K.
Parsnip
Parsnips get compared to carrots, as they get sweeter during the colder months. This makes them one of winter’s best vegetables and especially good for roasting. When looking at the nutritional value, they’re also a good option. That’s because they’re full of potassium, vitamin B, and fiber.
Red Cabbage
Being a cruciferous vegetable, red cabbage really thrives in the winter months. What differentiates it from other cabbages is its red color. This color comes from anthocyanins. Anthocyanins are antioxidants, which are known to reduce the risks of heart disease.
Rutabaga
This is not the most well-known of vegetables, but its health benefits make it one of winter’s best vegetables. One cup of this vegetable contains 50% of your daily Vitamin C requirement and 16% of your potassium.
In Conclusion
When those cold months roll around, there are winter’s best vegetables to consume. By loading up on these, you are helping your own health as well as your taste buds.