Eat Your Veggies Everyday, but Especially Today

For good oral health and even protecting your orthodontics appliances, there are foods Dr. Bailey doesn't recommend you eat and foods we tell you to avoid all togehter. However, one food group we promote consistently as being beneficial is vegetables.

Today, June 17th, is Eat Your Veggies Day. This day was created to promote including vegetable in your diet. Vegetables are an essential part of a healthy diet. We've all remember being told by our parents “you better eat your vegetable if you want to be strong”, well your parents were right. There are a large variety of foods included in the vegetable food group that are tasty and healthy

What foods are in the Vegetable Group? source: USDA
Any vegetable or 100% vegetable juice counts as a member of the Vegetable Group. Vegetables may be raw or cooked; fresh, frozen, canned, or dried/dehydrated; and may be whole, cut-up, or mashed.
Based on their nutrient content, vegetables are organized into 5 subgroups: dark-green vegetables, starchy vegetables, red and orange vegetables, beans and peas**, and other vegetables.

Here are some examples:

Dark-green vegetables

• bok choy
• broccoli
• collard greens
• dark green leafy lettuce
• kale
• mustard greens
• romaine lettuce
• spinach

Beans and peas

• black beans
• black-eyed peas 
• kidney beans
• pinto beans
• soy beans
• split peas

Red and orange vegetables

• acorn squash
• butternut squash
• carrots
• pumpkin
• red peppers
• sweet potatoes
• tomatoes

Other vegetables

• artichokes
• asparagus
• avocado
• bean sprouts

Today put down the sweets and pick up a healthy veggie! Leave us a comment letting us know what are your favorite or favorite recipes including veggie.