Fresh Veggies Day on June 16 is celebrated to commemorate the nutritional value of fresh vegetables and their importance to human health. Fresh vegetables are the best sources of micronutrients that are vital for metabolism, growth, development, and disease prevention.
little planning but is totally worth it. Do something enjoyable, delicious, and extremely healthy for the family, like these activities:
Nutritionists agree, when it comes to fresh fruit and vegetables, the average person simply is not getting enough in their regular diet. An increase in daily consumption of vegetables (and fruits) is the entire point of the day.
Get ready to make a healthy change on Fresh Veggies Day! This is the ideal opportunity to invite family, friends, and neighbors around for a fun and surprising meat-free feast!
History of Fresh Veggies Day
Fresh Veggies Day is celebrated in early summer when the tastiest new-season vegetables started to become plentiful. It’s a great kickoff to the rest of the summer, acting as a reminder to look out for fresh, local vegetables to add to the table all throughout the season. In fact, the entire month of June is known by some as Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Month, so that gives plenty of time to create new habits!
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), individuals should eat at a minimum of 400 grams of vegetables and fruit each day (this doesn’t count as super-starchy tubers like potatoes). This has turned into a 5-a-Day program that has gone through various versions in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and other countries.
Head Out to a Farmers’ Market
While keeping at least one eye on the weather, take a trip to a local farmers’ market or specialist food store and stock up on whatever happens to be ripe – along with some free recipe ideas. Also, it’s super fun to actually speak to the person who grew those vegetables! There will also likely be other local businesses represented at a farmers’ market, such as bakers, honey harvesters, jam makers, local coffee roasters and much more. It’s a fun way to support local businesses and be healthy in the process.
Go to a U-Pick Veggies Farm
For some early crops, it may even be possible to go to a farm and pick your own. Why not get some friends together and plan a day out? Depending on the particular location, you-pick farms may have seasonal offerings that include fresh foods such as asparagus, peas, tomatoes and more. Fruit is a very popular U-pick food as well, often offering apples, strawberries, blueberries, rhubarb and much more.
