{"id":8036,"date":"2017-06-22T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-06-22T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/togethercounts.com\/5-veggies-youve-probably-never-heard-of\/"},"modified":"2017-06-22T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2017-06-22T00:00:00","slug":"5-veggies-youve-probably-never-heard-of","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/togethercounts.com\/es\/5-veggies-youve-probably-never-heard-of\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Veggies You\u2019ve Probably Never Heard Of"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Trying to eat more veggies? While lettuce, tomatoes, corn and carrots make your grocery list and ultimately make it to your breakfast, lunch or dinner plate, think about changing up your vegetable routine. As a Together Counts\u2122 partner for healthy active living, we know adding a new vegetable into the mix, whether sweet or savory, can inspire your taste buds. Soon you may find yourself lingering a little longer in the produce section to find something new.<\/p>\n

Still, some veggies are lesser-known or unknown altogether! Check out these picks for five veggies you\u2019ve probably never heard of and then challenge yourself to find, prepare and enjoy some exotic selections.<\/p>\n

Nopales<\/strong>
\nAlso known as edible cactus, cactus paddles or cactus pads,\u00a0nopales<\/a>, which taste like green beans, have iron, beta-carotene, vitamin C, calcium and some B vitamins. Sold at Mexican grocery stores, nopales are available year-round with peak season being spring through fall. They can be served raw or cooked Add cut up nopales to salsa, salad and side dishes. Nopales are especially delicious when paired with\u00a0scrambled eggs<\/a>!<\/p>\n

Fiddleheads<\/strong>
\nDon\u2019t let the funny name stop you from trying this tasty veggie!\u00a0Fiddleheads<\/a>, which are compared in taste to broccoli and asparagus, have many health benefits. They\u2019re high in iron as well as in anti-inflammatory omega-3s. Make sure you wash them, and also, don\u2019t eat them raw, which can result in illness. Instead\u00a0saut\u00e9<\/a> fiddleheads as an appetizer or a side, or serve them for the main dish, such as\u00a0fiddleheads and shrimp tossed with pasta.<\/a><\/p>\n

Oca<\/strong>
\nAn edible crunchy root,\u00a0oca<\/a>\u00a0is a versatile vegetable which can be served boiled, baked or fried. The cylindrical veggie, which is similar to potato, can be yellow, white, purple or red. It\u2019s eaten raw with salt, lemon and hot pepper. It can also be sundried to become sweeter and used in desserts.<\/p>\n

Celeriac<\/strong>
\nKnown as an ugly vegetable, celeriac has lots of flavor \u2013 tasting like a cross between parsley and celery. Don\u2019t eat the greenery; instead, go for the edible roots! Celeriac is great in soup, stew and cooked with a roast. The taste can be strong on its own though, so\u00a0Epicurious<\/a>\u00a0suggests using it grated raw in a salad, paired with other strong flavors such as carrots and beets.<\/p>\n

Daikon Radish<\/strong>
\nThis winter, white veggie grows in southwest and eastern Asia. The\u00a0daikon radish<\/a>\u00a0has been linked to many health benefits, including reduced inflammation, a boost in immunity, improvement in digestion, and like with many vegetables, prevention of certain types of cancer. Daikon radish is typically diced and added to soups, salads, condiments and rice dishes.
\nWhen looking for ways to bump up your veggie intake, think outside the box with more unusual choices like these to add flavor and variety to your meals.\u00a0 What unusual vegetables would you recommend?<\/p>\n

Healthy Dining\u2019s signature web and mobile site,\u00a0HealthyDiningFinder.com<\/a>, is the only search engine of its kind providing personalized dining out recommendations validated by Healthy Dining\u2019s team of registered dietitians. HealthyDiningFinder.com features more than 4,000 menu choices from participating restaurants nationwide enabling diet- and nutrition- conscious consumers to find nutrition information and Healthy Dining options emphasizing lean protein, fruits, vegetables, whole grains and unsaturated fats.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

HealthyDiningFinder.com<\/a>\u00a0also features a Kids LiveWell platform, a program developed by the National Restaurant Association, to help parents find restaurants offering healthier meals for children. With 25 years of expertise in the restaurant industry and hundreds of thousands of restaurant recipes analyzed for nutrient content, Healthy Dining is the most experienced restaurant nutrition services provider in the world.<\/em><\/p>\n

For more ideas on ways to incorporate healthy habits into your daily routine, take a look at these other articles from Together Counts!<\/p>\n