Fresh is Best

Written by Chris Burkett

Part of National Nutrition Month 2013

Picture taken by Chris Burkett

When I was a kid I thought of green beans as a nasty grey-green limp vegetable that tasted like salt and came straight from the can. I’m sure many of you have a similar memory to mine, whether it is with green beans or some other fruit or vegetable. 

Now imagine this:  a bright green, fresh, and firm green bean with a nice crunch when you bite into it. Does that not sound much more appetizing than a limp grey-green string bean? Not only does it sound more appetizing, but that fresh green bean is much more nutritious than the canned one. 

In one cup fresh green beans that have been boiled with no salt, there is 12.1 mg of vitamin C and 1 milligram of sodium. Compare this to one cup of canned green beans with only 4.1 mg of vitamin C and 376 milligrams of sodium! 376 milligrams of is a lot considering you’re only allowed 1500 milligrams of sodium per day. The point that I’m trying to make with these numbers is that fresh food is more nutrient dense, making it much more nutritious for the average person! Additionally, if you’re trying to get into a healthier lifestyle fresh is best for you! Not only are they better for you but fresh veggies pack more bang for your buck. 

At my local Kroger fresh Green Beans cost $1.79 per pound or about $0.11 an ounce. Compare this to a $1.00 twelve ounce bag of mixed veggies at $0.12 an ounce, and how can you not go fresh? As a poor college kid, I’m seeing the benefit of fresh food since fresh is cheaper and more nutritious. But you should decide for yourself:  is fresh really best?

References

Nutrient data for 11053, beans, snap, green, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/foods/show/2841

Nutrient data for 11056, beans, snap, green, canned, regular pack, drained solids. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/foods/show/2843

Kroger weekly ads. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://krogermidatlantic.mywebgrocer.com/Circular/KROGER-402/004021168/Categories/Frozen/581/1

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