Packaged, ready-to-eat vegetables are a quick, easy way to
get the vegetables you
need daily, says a University
of Georgia expert.
“Ready-to-serve vegetables such as packaged salads and
slaws are convenient for
working moms who want to serve their families healthy meals,
but don’t have a lot of time
to plan menus,” said Gail
Hanula. She’s an
nutrition specialist with the UGA
Family and Consumer Sciences.
“With these packaged vegetables, you can put together a
salad quickly and provide
a high-fiber, low-calorie, vitamin-packed dish,” she
said.
Hanula said packaged vegetables such as carrot sticks are
an excellent, easy way to let
children and adults eat healthy home-packed lunches.
“I bought some for my family’s lunches. They’re easy to
grab and throw in a lunch
box, and they’re healthy snacks,” she said. “They’re an easy
way to add one
serving of the recommended five fruit and vegetable servings
per day.”
Kids aren’t the only ones who brown-bag their
meals. “They’re perfect for adults
on the go, too,” Hanula said. “Packaged vegetables can be a
great addition to
snacks or dinner on the run. They’re quick, nutritious and
low in calories.”
Besides lunch-box meals, packaged ready-to-eat vegetables
fit nicely into home meals.
“When the meal preparer works outside the home, it’s hard
to put together a meal
in 15 minutes,” Hanula said. “These vegetables are real time-
savers. They can be
served as a raw, healthy side dish or added with meat for a
quick, easy stir-fry
dinner.”
Hanula said most packaged vegetables don’t need to be rinsed
before serving. However,
many people like to.
