A Nutrient Dense and Budget Friendly Veg to Make Friends With

With the cost of living on the rise looking after your health while keeping within your budget can be a challenge. This is still possible, and this blog focuses on one nutrient dense and budget friendly vegetable you can enjoy each day, the mighty carrot!

At around $1-2 per pound, this vegetable can help meet your daily vegetable serves needed to keep your body functioning at its best.

This underrated vegetable is packed with nutrients. Carrots are a good source of vitamin C, potassium, fibre, water and beta-carotene. One medium carrot will give your body 100% of its vitamin A needs for the day in the form of beta-carotene. Vitamin A plays many important roles including helping your immune system to work optimally. Vitamin A is better absorbed by your body when cooked and combined with fat. Try cooking your carrots with heart healthy extra virgin olive oil which add an additional 36 different antioxidants to your meal too!

Carrots have a sweet taste and due to this can be paired with a range of different dishes. Here are some ideas on ways you can enjoy carrots in your meals:

1. Grate a carrot and add to porridge with walnuts and sultanas.
2. Add to cakes and muffins.
3. Add to stews, soups like pumpkin and carrot soup.
4. Add to a salads.
5. Add as part of a spaghetti bolognaise sauce. Many people overdo the meat portion of a meal; by adding more vegetables like carrot you will not only help to meet your vegetable serves for the day but save money too as vegetables are cheaper than meat.
6. Slice and dip into hummus or nut butter.
7. Top 2-3 Corn Thins slices with hummus or tahini with grated carrot. For more recipe ideas check out the Corn Thins recipe section on their website: Vegan Lox on Corn Thins slices

Take home message: In these tougher financial times, it is possible to look after your health and meet your body’s needs while keeping to a tighter budget. It just takes a little more mindfulness over choices.