Vegetables continue to have their day in the sun as a “superfood” to help us lead a healthy lifestyle. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, those who eat more vegetables and fruits are likely to reduce the risk of some chronic health issues such as heart disease, heart attack, stroke, and some cancers.
A healthy diet is essential for the body’s immune system and helpful in preventing type 2 diabetes and obesity.
How much do you need to eat? The 2020 – 2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that adults eat 1.5 to 2 cups of fruit and 2 to 3 cups of vegetables daily.
If you are looking for inspiration on how to add vegetables to your menu planning, cookbook author Sharon Palmer has 100 vegan recipes to share in her latest book, The Plant-Powered Plan to Beat Diabetes.
Here is one recipe from her book. To read more about her book and see more delicious vegetable recipes, see the full article in Healthy Aging® Magazine: Vegetables to the Rescue.
Raw Purple Power Salad
Makes 10 servings, 1 cup each
- 1 small red cabbage, thinly sliced
- 1 bunch kale, stemmed and chopped
- 1 small head purple cauliflower, broken into florets
- 1 medium purple carrot, thinly sliced
- 2 medium watermelon radishes or pink radishes, trimmed and thinly sliced
- 1 medium pink or red beet, trimmed and thinly sliced
- ½ cup sprouts (such as alfalfa, radish, or kohlrabi sprouts)
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- Pinch of salt (optional)
In a large bowl, combine the cabbage, kale, cauliflower, carrot, radishes, beet, and sprouts. Toss well. Drizzle with the lemon juice and olive oil and season with the salt (if using). Toss again gently until all the ingredients are well coated. Serve immediately. The salad will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Reprinted with permission from The Plant-Powered Plan to Beat Diabetes by © Sharon Palmer. Published by Union Square & Co. Photography © Ghazalle Badiozamani
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