Okay, we can’t honestly say that National Eat Your Vegetables Day is going to be the favorite holiday of most children, but it is an excellent holiday for people looking to implement healthier eating habits in their lives. This day is observed on June 17th, and it’s a great opportunity for people to either enjoy their favorite veggies or do something more adventurous, such as choosing to make a vegetable they wouldn’t ordinarily serve. Regardless of how you celebrate it, it’s a good day for people to teach younger generations the importance of including a variety of vegetables in their diet.

Healthy Facts About Vegetables

When people look at a plate of veggies, they have one of two reactions. They are either excited to have some nice, fresh food to eat, or they’re not. And many children fall into the latter category. While we can’t make everyone excited about fresh veggies, what we can do is provide everyone reading about this holiday with some healthy facts about vegetables. We think the following facts are something that everyone can agree is a lot of fun.

• The Irish Potato Famine was caused by the Late Blight potato disease and a lack of genetic variation in those potatoes.
• One hornworm can eat through an entire tomato plant in just under 24 hours.
• The local Indians in the Andes Mountains of South America were the first people to cultivate white potatoes.
• Most of the potato’s nutrients are found in the skin and just under the skin layer.
• About 50% of all the broccoli sold in the U.S. is grown in California.
• In the U.S., tomatoes are the number one consumed fruit or vegetable.
• The bell peppers in supermarkets can be green, yellow, orange, red, or purple.
• Tomatoes have a high level of the carotenoid lycopene.
• Carrots, spinach, and sweet potatoes are also high in carotenoids.
• Foods high in carotenoids can lower a person’s chances of getting certain forms of cancer.
• A baked potato with the skin left on can deliver about 4 grams of dietary fiber.
• Germans eat twice as many potatoes as Americans.
• Beets can be used to add a reddish tint to hair.
• Mushrooms can help boost a person’s immune system.

Observing National Eat Your Vegetables Day

Obviously, the best way to observe National Eat Your Vegetables Day is to ensure that you make veggies a central part of your diet on this holiday. Of course, we understand that not everyone wants to do that, so an alternative is for people to serve up a side of veggies they wouldn’t ordinarily eat. No matter how you observe this holiday, just be sure to use the hashtag #NationalEatYourVegetablesDay on your social media accounts to announce your participation in this holiday’s festivities.