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Expert Q&A
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| By Peggy O'Shea Kochenbach Registered Dietitian | ||
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My child loves green vegetables. What nutrition is she getting from them?
Green vegetables are an important part of a healthy diet and should be included each day. Green vegetables contain varying amounts of many different vitamins including vitamin A, vitamin C, beta-carotene, B vitamins and vitamin E as well as important phytochemicals, antioxidants, fiber and some even contain a significant amount of calcium.
When selecting green vegetables, keep in mind that the darker the green, the more nutrients they contain. The nutrient content of iceberg lettuce (very light green) is very low in comparison to darker green choices such as spinach or broccoli. Each green vegetable has unique benefits and is high in different vitamins and minerals.
Some of the most nutritious green vegetables include spinach, broccoli (a cruciferous vegetable, which have been shown to possibly reduce cancer risk), kale and green peppers.