Most of us absolutely love baked vegetables! It could be for its flavor or texture, we tend to bake them more frequently for that reason. But is baked vegetables a healthier meal for you? If so, what are its benefits?
Well, stick around to find out more as this article will cover everything you need to know about baked veggies and its benefits for you. Baked veggies are healthy for you so let’s make that clear, although is it the healthiest form to eat your veggies?
Let’s begin!
Veggies That You Use to Bake
The vegetables generally used to bake and consume are:
- Potatoes
- Carrots
- Parsnips
- Cauliflower
- Eggplants
- Pumpkin
- Asparagus
- Squash
- Yam
If you haven’t tried them out before, you most definitely should!
Benefits of Baking Vegetables
It is often said that baking or roasting vegetables diminish and alter their nutritional value. Although it diminishes the value of some nutrients, it certainly boosts others! Here are a few nutrients that it boosts and how it’s healthier for you.
1. Faster Absorption of Nutrients
Firstly, baking vegetables enhances the ability of your body to absorb some of the nutrients in the vegetables faster and much at ease. For example, baking carrots will boost the levels of carotenoids in them. They are rich in antioxidants hence further increases due to baking them. An intake of rich antioxidants will allow you to fight oxidative stress and prevent you from catching diseases (heart disease, cancer, etc.) as it lessens the chances of it occurring through oxidation.
2. Improves the Levels of Lycopene
Moreover, baking or cooking tomatoes and red peppers can improve the levels of lycopene in it. To be clearer, this will bring you cardiovascular benefits and hence improve your health. Baking vegetables does not diminish all of its nutrients due to its heat as it improves others too. Just like tomatoes and carrots as explained above.
3. Higher Amount of Antioxidants
A higher intake of antioxidant compounds from mushrooms, asparagus, and cabbage is supplied to you than compared to when it’s raw. Such antioxidants we consume aid us against diseases such as cancer and more. A higher supply of antioxidants provided by baking them or cooking them would do us better hence yet another great reason to consume more baked vegetables!
4. Improves the Bioavailability of Lutein
Baking certain vegetables such as kale, spinach, parsley, broccoli, etc. improve the bioavailability of Lutein. This is a carotenoid that is within the vegetables mentioned and is enhanced by the act of baking or cooking them. Lutein is beneficial for us as it improves your eye health. It helps to protect and maintain healthy cells in your eyes and does more as it filters high-energy blue wavelengths of light from harming your eyes. Baking vegetables certainly sounds like a good plan!
5. Improves the Digestibility of the Food
Yet another simple benefit of baking vegetables is the fact that it aids the chewing of food and breaking them down improves the digestibility of our food. This is good for us as it allows the absorption of nutrients to take place faster.
So there you have it, baking vegetables do have its advantages that will help you to lead a healthier life. If you haven’t tried it out, you’re in for a treat! It is said that baked vegetables taste much better than if you were to eat it raw.
When preparing them, don’t forget to wash your desired vegetables well with water and dry them so you can place it on your baking pan to start baking! Typically people have it with the main course such as chicken to go with it so you may prepare it according to your preference.
How to Prepare a Perfect Baked Veggie Dish
Out of the many complicated dishes to prepare, you’re in luck as this dish is frankly simple to learn and prepare. To let’s give it a try!
Step 1
We begin with preheating the oven to 200 degrees C (400 degrees F) and applying oil lightly into the pan to give it some moisture and ease for cooking.
Step 2
Simply mix all your desired vegetables into one dish and add olive oil to it. As you brush the vegetables with olive oil, you may also lightly add a pinch or two of salt if you prefer to. Once you’re done, you may place it onto the baking pan and into the oven and let it heat.
Step 3
Finally, your simple and last step for your delicious dish of baked vegetables to be complete. Let it bake in the oven for about 30 to 45 minutes. This is plenty of time to allow your baked veggies to reach its softer and tender stage which is perfect hence should be taken out of the oven once it’s between those times. You may poke it with a fork to know if it has been baked well enough or not.
Conclusion
Now you may place it onto a plate and start serving it with your loved ones as they enjoy your perfect baked vegetables.
We’ve now reached the end of this article on baked veggies. You have learned one thing for sure from this, that baked vegetables are healthier for you in various ways. And you must not avoid it by thinking that they diminish all of the nutrients within them although it does diminish a few nutrients.
It greatly enhances the others. As this world is leaning more towards a greener, healthier lifestyle now this is yet another method for you to eat your veggies and possibly a yummier one for you!
