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Vegetables - versatile and valuable

It is common to refer to plants and plant parts that are edible in raw and/or cooked form as vegetables. The plants in question are generally annual or biennial. The term "vegetable" comes from the Middle High German word "gemüese," which at the time referred to a puree made from useful plants. Because fruits, leaves, bulbs, stems, or roots of vegetable plants contain significant amounts of vitamins, fiber, and minerals, they play an important role in a healthy diet. Popular vegetables such as potatoes, onions, cabbage, and lettuce are grown extensively and often harvested mechanically. Vegetables are sold both fresh and frozen, as well as preserved. Fresh vegetables should be eaten as soon as possible after harvesting, as a gradual loss of vitamins and minerals can occur. Scientists who have studied the nutritional value of frozen and longer-stored fresh vegetables have concluded that for many types of vegetables, freezing is more beneficial than storage at 4-10 degrees Celsius.

Healthy meals with vegetables

Each German consumes about 90 kilograms of vegetables (fresh and processed) per year. Until not too long ago, it was common in Germany to serve vegetables as a side dish. A shift in thinking in terms of healthy eating is due in no small part to the German Nutrition Society e.V. (DGE), founded in 1956: The DGE's nutrition circle distinguishes seven food groups - the three most important being cereals, cereal products and potatoes, vegetables and salad, and fruit. If you want to eat a balanced diet, you should mainly consume foods from these groups. A recommendation from the German Nutrition Society published in 2009 calls for the consumption of 400 grams of vegetables and 250 grams of fruit per person per day. From a nutritional point of view, vegetables are convincing due to their low energy density and high levels of vitamins (especially vitamin B and vitamin C), trace elements, fiber, and secondary plant substances. The biologically active substances also have an extremely positive effect on health. Unfortunately, even the preparation of raw vegetables (such as washing and chopping) can result in a loss of vitamins of up to 50 percent. Therefore, you should always make sure to avoid washing vegetables for too long and consume them as soon as possible. Tender vegetables that you want to eat cooked are best steamed or stewed gently. More rugged vegetables such as red cabbage, on the other hand, can withstand longer cooking times.

Enjoying potatoes

Potatoes, a type of tuber vegetable, are particularly important. The vegetable, which belongs to the nightshade family, is popular all over the world: In 2013, more than 376 million tonnes of potatoes were harvested, most of which were used as food. Aside from traditional cooking methods like boiling, frying, and roasting, the potato offers numerous other possibilities for use. These include potato chips and frozen products such as rosti and croquettes. There are around 5,000 potato varieties worldwide, whose most important distinguishing criteria are color, consistency, taste, and cooking properties. Potatoes are valued for their versatility, nutritional content, and uncomplicated cultivation. Although the consumption of pasta and rice has increased in Germany in recent years and that of potatoes has decreased, potatoes are still the preferred source of satiating carbohydrates. A potato consists of about 16 percent carbohydrates, around two percent minerals (especially magnesium, potassium, and calcium), and 0.7 to 1.7 percent fiber. With a fat content of only about 0.1 percent, you don't have to worry about getting fat from eating potatoes. Other ingredients, such as fatty meat and/or a cream sauce, are responsible for any potential weight gain.

Using sweet potatoes

The sweet potato (also called yam) looks quite similar to the potato, but is not related to it and belongs to the morning glory family. Originally from the American tropics, sweet potatoes are now grown in many warm regions and serve as a substitute or addition to the much better-known tuber vegetables in this country. The preparation options are similar to those of the potato: You can cook, bake, fry, or deep-fry sweet potatoes as desired. In the United States, baked sweet potatoes are an important part of the turkey menu served on Thanksgiving. Due to their high sugar content, sweet potatoes taste sweet. Nevertheless, sweet potatoes are just as healthy as "normal" potatoes. They also contain hardly any fat, but a high proportion of secondary plant substances and antioxidants. Sweet potatoes contain vitamins B2, B6, and E, as well as the minerals manganese and iron, among other things.

A tasty lily plant: the onion

The onion gives numerous dishes the desired taste: The onion aroma is often the finishing touch that should not be missing. The best-known onion in this country is the cooking onion, which has a yellow-brown skin and is versatile. A very mild variety is the vegetable onion, which can grow up to 15 centimeters and can even be eaten stuffed with ground meat. Leeks and spring onions are excellent ingredients for salads, soups, or quark. Red onions and shallots offer special taste notes and can be used to prepare delicious sauces, fish dishes, and salads, among other things. The antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of the onion were already appreciated by the ancient Egyptians. And even today, onion juice and syrup serve as proven home remedies in case of colds.

Buying vegetables in the online shop

There are vegetable varieties such as asparagus and tomatoes that are very sensitive and for which online sales are rather unsuitable. However, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and onions can be stored well and transported without problems. Therefore, you can use the time you would have spent shopping for these foods in the supermarket for other things. Choose the vegetable varieties you prefer in the desired quantity and place your online order. Within a few working days, you will receive the potatoes, onions, and all other products you have selected directly to your home.

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