Nutrient Brief: Carrots

While there are many fancy fruits and vegetables out there to try from pomegranates to purple potatoes, you can never go wrong opting for an unassuming produce staple like the common carrot. 

We can all stand to add some fresh veggies to our diet, so why not make it easy?  Carrots are one of the most versatile and easy to use vegetables.  Eat them raw with hummus or some peanut butter, steamed with a little seasoning, in soup with some other hearty ingredients, or even shred them to add bulk and extra nutrition to a meat loaf!  They are so adaptable you can even add them to a fruity smoothie to bring that number of servings of fresh produce up even higher.  You can get a one pound bag of carrots at the grocery store for little more than a dollar, or go preparation free and get a bag of snack size baby carrots.  Here are some of the nutritional benefits:

• 50 calories in one cup of carrot strips, with 3 filling grams of fiber
• Vitamin A powerhouse—most known for enhancing vision, but also important for boosting immunity and preventing infection (important to know during flu season!)
• Also a good source of vitamin C and K, potassium, and a range of phytonutrients

Studies have also shown crunchy snacks are satiating, and carrots are much healthier to reach for than that bag of potato chips and will also keep you full longer especially when paired with a protein such as nuts or some low fat cheese

At Fitness Together we always suggest a wide rainbow of colors in your diet (no, skittles do not count), so fill that orange spectrum with some crunchy carrots next time you head to your produce procuring destination! 

written by:

Katie Jensen, CSCS

Psychology B.S.

Fitness and Nutrition Coach