VegetablesVegetables

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Vegetables are healthyVegetables are healthy

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January 17, 2010January 17, 2010 SAN JOSE JOURNALSAN JOSE JOURNAL In Latino Gardens, Vegetables, Good Health and Savings Flourish In Latino Gardens, Vegetables, Good Health and Savings Flourish By By PATRICIA LEIGH BROWN SAN JOSE — At dawn, Maria Lupercio Alarcon wakens to the heady scent of SAN JOSE — At dawn, Maria Lupercio Alarcon wakens to the heady scent of

onions and cilantro from her family’s first garden, outside her bedroom onions and cilantro from her family’s first garden, outside her bedroom window.window.

The two-month-old vegetable garden, from which Mrs. Alarcon picks The two-month-old vegetable garden, from which Mrs. Alarcon picks extravagant bursts of broccoli for breakfast with scrambled eggs, is both extravagant bursts of broccoli for breakfast with scrambled eggs, is both comforting and unfamiliar. It is one of 30 backyard vegetable gardens recently comforting and unfamiliar. It is one of 30 backyard vegetable gardens recently planted by a nonprofit group here called La Mesa Verde, or The Green Table, planted by a nonprofit group here called La Mesa Verde, or The Green Table, which makes house calls to help residents of the city’s low-income, which makes house calls to help residents of the city’s low-income, predominantly Latino neighborhoods grow their own organic produce.predominantly Latino neighborhoods grow their own organic produce.

““People don’t eat vegetables unless they are close by, to be honest with you,” People don’t eat vegetables unless they are close by, to be honest with you,” Mrs. Alarcon, a mother of three who grew up in Guadalajara, Mexico, said of Mrs. Alarcon, a mother of three who grew up in Guadalajara, Mexico, said of the human tendency to eat whatever is at hand, especially if it is cheap. “If you the human tendency to eat whatever is at hand, especially if it is cheap. “If you have vegetables,” she said, pointing to luxuriant tangles of peas and other have vegetables,” she said, pointing to luxuriant tangles of peas and other delights, “then you can come get them. To see them growing is a blessing.”delights, “then you can come get them. To see them growing is a blessing.”

The fledgling effort to bring backyard vegetable beds to San Jose The fledgling effort to bring backyard vegetable beds to San Jose neighborhoods like the Washington-Guadalupe and Gardner districts — historic neighborhoods like the Washington-Guadalupe and Gardner districts — historic portals for immigrants — is part of a national movement, from West Oakland to portals for immigrants — is part of a national movement, from West Oakland to Little Rock, Ark., to make healthy food readily accessible to marginalized urban Little Rock, Ark., to make healthy food readily accessible to marginalized urban neighborhoods. neighborhoods.

““Nobody was going into the homes,” said Raul Lozano, 55, the son of farm Nobody was going into the homes,” said Raul Lozano, 55, the son of farm workers, whose passion for gardening inspired him to form La Mesa Verde after workers, whose passion for gardening inspired him to form La Mesa Verde after 15 years as executive director of a Latino theater company. “You can get beer 15 years as executive director of a Latino theater company. “You can get beer in the neighborhood. But not vegetables.” in the neighborhood. But not vegetables.”

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Where?Where?

• Vegetables can be vary healthy if you eat enough of them. Like eggplants, rudabegas, tomaooteos, and other veggies.

• Their found in gardens, supremarkets, and ocasionaly on roadside stands.

The end

•Be sure to eat your veggies!

Eat Your Greens: The Benefits of Vegetables

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Mom always said, Eat your veggies!

Since the Agricultural Revolution, humans have survived by growing and eating their own vegetables. Today, the popularity of vegetables continues to grow, as more benefits are discovered each day.

Thesis: Vegetables are the most beneficial food because they prevent cancer, provide numerous vitamins, and are easy to grow at home.

Nutritional Information

Benefits of Vegetables: Are low in fat, calories,

and cholesterol Important source of

nutrientsContain fiber for

digestive health and folic acid for prenatal health

Assist in weight loss

Vegetables help to prevent:Cancer (mouth,

stomach, and colon)Type 2 diabetesCardiovascular diseaseHigh blood pressureStroke

Source: www.mypyramid.gov, 1/28/2010

Vegetables as Cancer-FightersVegetables with the Highest

Anti-cancer Activity garlic cabbage soy ginger carrots, celery, cilantro, parsley and

parsnip

Vegetables with the Modest Anti-cancer Activity onions citrus Flax seed broccoli, Brussels sprouts and

cauliflower Tomato and peppers

Source: HealthyCastle.com, 1/28/2010

Veggies in the News

Many people recognize the importance of eating vegetables, as can be seen in many newspaper articles:

“In Latino Gardens, Vegetables, Good Health and Savings Flourish” -Jan 17, 2010 SAN JOSE JOURNAL

“LaDonna Redmond pushes obesity battle on Chicago's West Side” -Jan 25, 2101 Chicago Tribune

“A Wine World Provocateur Switches to Vegetables”– Jan 22,2010, NY Times

How to Grow Veggies

1. Dig out your garden area and create a border.

2. Mix compost into your soil.

3. Allow 16”-24” between plants.

4. Put seeds 1”-1.5” below soil, and water when soil looks dry.

5. Pull weeds by hand instead of using chemicals.

Source: www. backyardgardener.com1/28/2010

Overall…

Vegetables are the most beneficial food because they prevent cancer, provide numerous vitamins, and are easy to grow at home.

Although many kids claim to hate spinach, they can’t ignore the health benefits and great taste of fresh veggies.

If everyone listened to their moms (by eating their veggies), cancer and obesity rates in America would lower, and we would all be healthier and happier.