9 Ways to Choose Fresh and Healthy Vegetables
Healthy and fit body is a dream for everyone. To have a healthy and fit body, it takes effort that is not easy. In addition to implementing a healthy lifestyle, you also have to be good at how to choose good vegetables, because quality vegetables are very good for your body's health, you know!
If you want to have a healthy and fit body, you are advised to consume more types of foods that contain nutrients and vitamins that are good for the health of the body, such as those contained in vegetables.
How to choose good and fresh vegetables
Choosing healthy and fresh vegetables is very important to do. Calm down, now you do not need to worry, because here are some tips on choosing vegetables that are good for you:
1. Note The Color of vegetables
When you choose a vegetable, the first thing you notice is the color of the vegetable. How to choose a good vegetable is a vegetable that still has a bright color or original color. Because, vegetables that have changed color indicate that the vegetables are no longer fresh. And it may be that the content of nutrients and vitamins has decreased.
Vegetables that change color include carrots and potatoes that have a green color at the base, and green leafy vegetables that start to turn yellow.
2. Leafy vegetables do not wither
An easy way to find out which vegetables are still good or not seen from the color and freshness. Leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale, lettuce, mustard greens, which are still good usually have a hard texture and bright green color and fresh. While vegetables that are not good look wilted and discolored.
Fresh vegetables are usually freshly harvested and do not go through a long journey.
3. Pesticide-free vegetables
How to choose a good vegetable is not a smooth and whole, you know!
Usually in vegetables there are small caterpillars that like to eat the leaves of vegetables, causing the leaves on vegetables are not intact and perfect again. However, it turns out to be very good for your health. Because, if the leaves on vegetables are eaten by caterpillars, it indicates that the vegetables are free from pesticides. Therefore, when choosing vegetables, you should choose vegetables that have leaves are not intact, aka bolong-bolong.
In addition, the characteristic of vegetables sprayed with pesticides will be visible white spots that dry on the surface of the leaves.
4. Vegetables that have not been cleaned
One way to choose good and fresh vegetables next is to look for vegetables that are still rooted and have not been washed by greengrocers. This is because vegetables that have not been cleaned tend to be fresher and not easily wilted and rotten. The water in it is also well maintained.
5. Vegetables do not wrinkle
When you buy root vegetables such as onions, potatoes, carrots, sweet potatoes, jicama, you should avoid if the vegetables are wrinkled, soft, bruised, perforated, sprouted, and not hard.
How to choose a good vegetable, choose root vegetables that are still hard textured and the aroma is still fresh. For example, fresh garlic is an onion that has a white color and clean, not sprouted, onion skin is not wrinkled and not yellowish.
6. Not mushy and smelly
When choosing fruit vegetables such as tomatoes, eggplants, cucumbers, peppers and other fruit vegetables, look carefully. How?
How to choose a good vegetable is enough to pay attention to the condition, if the fruit vegetable is broken, torn, mushy, watery, moldy and smelly, this is a sign that it is not feasible for you to consume.
7. Shop for vegetables at the Farmers Market
How to choose good vegetables in the supermarket is definitely feasible, but shopping at the farmers market is more feasible and financially smarter, as they are cheaper.
In addition, shopping for vegetables at farmers ' markets is more guaranteed to be fresh, because they have just been harvested from the field. Another advantage, vegetables that you can directly have a longer decay time.
8. Shopping for vegetables in the morning
How to choose the next good vegetable needs a struggle, because you have to get up early. This is usually done by vegetable sellers to get fresh vegetables.
In addition to still fresh, buying vegetables in the morning makes it easy to choose vegetables that are still complete, aka not running out. Of course it's fun, isn't it?
9. Choose organic vegetables
Eating organic vegetables is certainly healthy, because it is free from exposure to pesticides that can harm your health. So how to choose organic vegetables?
Organic vegetables are usually perforated due to Caterpillar bite marks
Organic vegetables have a brighter color than non-organic vegetables
No white spots or pesticides on the surface of vegetables
Organic vegetables in supermarkets usually have a certified organic sticker or seal.
Buy vegetables directly from farmers or traditional markets, because you can ask directly about the quality of vegetables.
Tips for storing vegetables correctly
In addition to how to choose good vegetables, it is also important how to store good and correct vegetables such as the following:
Before storing in the refrigerator, clean and wash the vegetables in advance from yellowed roots, soil and leaves.
Choose the right containers for vegetables, such as paper and plastic
Do not store vegetables and fruit in the same storage. When mixed, the fruit can cause the Greens to change color
yellow during the ripening process.
Store fresh vegetables separately from raw meat, poultry and fish.
Store pieces of fruit and vegetables in sealed plastic bags or
regularly clean the container in the refrigerator.
Store fresh root vegetables and fruits in need
ripening at room temperature.
Well, after knowing how to choose good vegetables, of course you can distinguish which vegetables are still fresh and which are not. Good Luck, healthy friends!