Give your health the best gift ever with delicious festive vegetables
Brussels sprouts
A whopping 130 million Brussels sprouts get binned over Christmas. Yet they’re packed with goodness, including vitamin C for immunity and healthy skin, and vitamin K for healthy bones and blood clotting. They also contain glucosinolates, which form a cancer-busting compound in the body. Eat up: 8 sprouts = 1 of 5-a-day.
Red cabbage
Cooked with onions, spices and apple, red cabbage fills our kitchens with festive aromas, and research shows that it may protect against heart disease, support healthy blood pressure, and keep memory sharp. Eat up: 4 heaped tbsp = 1 of 5-a-day.
Parsnips
They’re the favourite part of Christmas lunch for 14 per cent of Brits, which is good news as parsnips provide potassium, folate, fibre and manganese — an antioxidant vital for healthy bones. Research also shows parsnips have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects, and may hinder the growth of cancer cells. Eat up: 1 medium parsnip = 1 of 5-a-day.
Cauliflower
Cauliflower provides the B vitamin, folate, and vitamins C and K. Research shows it may protect against cancer and has been linked to heart health. Steaming rather than boiling is best. Eat up: 8 small florets = 1 of 5-a-day.
Carrots
They’re loaded with beta-carotene, an antioxidant the body uses to make vitamin A, important for eyesight and healthy skin. One study found that carrots reduce the risk of stomach cancer by 26 per cent. Eat up: 3 heaped tbsp = 1 of 5-a-day.