So what vegetable is that?

We all know that we are supposed to eat our vegetables but most of us don’t do it well or often enough.

Plant and Food Research Australia and Hobart-based MacTavish:West have worked together to develop a website called Veggycation to teach us all of the essential health benefits of vegetables in all their types. It was funded by Horticulture Australia using the National Vegetable Levy, and matched by funds from the Australian Government.

The project was led by Dr Hazel MacTavish-West from MacTavish:West and Dr Jocelyn Eason from Plant and Food Research. Dr Hazel MacTavish-West said “Everyone knows vegetables are healthy, and Australia’s vibrant vegetable growers also know how good their fresh produce is. However, until the new Food Standards were released in January 2013, making statements linking specific health claims with vegetables on the basis of their nutritional content was not allowed.”

Dr Jocelyn Eason said; “Vegetables are a great source of key nutrients, but there is limited knowledge on what these nutrients do in the body. Since coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death in Australia, this is no small claim. When it comes to the (not so) humble carrot, we can now legally say on-pack that ‘carrots are a good source of vitamin A, which is necessary for normal vision’, and also that ‘carrots are a source of fibre, which contributes to a healthy digestive system’. This will help parents really understand how food, particularly vegetables, contribute to the health of their families.”

The website can be found at www.veggycation.com.au

This article has been written by Rachelle Williams, The Green Food Safety Coach.