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Trying to eat more vegetables?
Many readers (and even my wife!) have mentioned that the hardest part of the Four Week Challenge is making sure to eat enough vegetables every day.
This recipe is one of our favorites- I promise that even those who don’t love vegetables will love them! Something about roasting them in the oven makes them so sweet and delicious.
What is the Healthiest Way to Cook Carrots?
How you cook foods can make a difference in taste and nutrition. Boiling can destroy antioxidants and vitamins, while other cooking methods can preserve nutrients. Try to cook carrots for as little time as possible, in the least amount of water possible.
Cooking methods such as microwaving, stir-frying, or steaming are great ways to cook carrots. Cooking some vegetables is actually better for you because it increases levels of nutrients and makes it easier for your body to digest and absorb those nutrients.
Are Carrots Better for you Cooked or Raw?
Cooking carrots increases the levels of beta-carotene for your body to use. Your body converts beta carotene into vitamin A, which is important for your eyesight (I’m sure you’ve heard the fact that carrots help you see better in the dark), bone and tissue growth, skin and teeth health,reproductive health, and your immune system.
Keep in mind that eating carrots raw is still very healthy for you, but cooking carrots can offer a variety of other nutrients for your body. Either way you’ll enjoy benefits to your health, so eat a variety of fresh and cooked vegetables.
When Should You Eat Carrots?
Carrots are great to eat any time of the day, whether that is in the morning, afternoon, or evening. They are a great snack and offer many health benefits. Carrots are low in calories, contain no fat, and provide your body with fiber, vitamin A, and other nutrients.
The fiber in carrots can help you regulate your digestive system which also can reduce your risk of constipation, bowel problems, and diseases such as cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol, diabetes, etc. Fiber also helps to regulate your blood sugar and aids in weight loss by helping you to feel full and satisfied after a meal or snack.
Try eating carrots when you are craving a snack in the late afternoon, that can be a great time to give your body some energy and the nutritious boost it needs to power through the rest of the day.
If you want to start your day with veggies, carrots can be a great vegetable to include in a green smoothie or juiced.
Should You Always Peel Carrots?
Unpeeled carrots are perfectly fine to eat, as long as you wash and scrub them to remove any dirt or other debris.
Some people don’t like the texture or taste of the outer skin layer and choose to peel them, however if you are cooking with carrots you don’t need to peel them, especially if they are being roasted, baked, stewed, or pureed. If you are using uncooked carrots in a salad or other dish, it looks and tastes better if you peel them first.
This recipe below calls for baby carrots, which come pre-peeled and ready to go, making this an easy, healthy, and delicious recipe for you and your family.
How Many Carrots can I Eat Per Day?
You may have heard that eating too many carrots can cause your skin to turn orange! This is called carotenemia and happens when you eat too much beta-carotene, which is the form of vitamin A in carrots. The condition is generally harmless, and you need to eat about 3-4 or more large carrots EVERY day (depending on the individual) in order to notice a difference in your skin tone.
The Best Way to Eat Carrots
Carrots are a delicious and versatile vegetable. They are easy to eat- just grab a bag of baby carrots. They also have a mild flavor that allows them to be easily added to many dishes to boost the nutrition.
The fat-soluble vitamins (vitamin A, Vitamin D, vitamin E, and vitamin K) are better absorbed into your body when you eat them with a small amount of fat. Carrots have vitamin A and should be eaten with a little bit of dressing or cooked with a little bit of oil for optimum nutrition.
Hope you enjoy this delicious carrot recipe!
- 1 pound baby carrots
- 3 Tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley (optional)
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- Line a baking sheet with foil and spray lightly with non-stick cooking spray. In a bowl, mix together carrots and olive oil until carrots are all covered. Spread the carrots in a single layer on the baking sheet. Sprinkle salt and pepper on top.
- Bake uncovered, turning once, until carrots are tender (about 25-30 minutes). Top with fresh parsley (if desired).
- Serves 4-6.
These would be great as a side dish for some of these recipes:
Healthy Chicken Avocado Salad Sandwiches [Low Carb]
Chicken Broccoli Cheesy Shells Skillet
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Jared
I always do this with potatoes and sweet potatoes, and I was just thinking tonight to add carrots to the mix since the rest of the family are total carrot fanatics! I was going to do balsamic glazed carrots, but maybe I’ll just throw them I. The pan with the others and the olive oil. Sou do great!