Factual Reader Literacy & Science Vegetables Elementary Readers
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Vegetables Which vegetables can you spot? Are you able to name them all? 2
Carrots This root vegetable is a carrot. Carrots grow underground, with the leaves above ground. We think of the carrots as orange, but did you know they can also be white, yellow, red and purple? The orange color comes from betacarotene, which the body turns into vitamin A. Vitamin A is important for healthy eye sight, as well as your bones, teeth and skin! 3
Potatoes This root vegetable is a potato. It is brown and has green leaves. Potatoes grow underground, with the leaves above ground. Potatoes have a lot of starch in them, which makes them more like rice, pasta and bread. They also contain a variety of vitamins and minerals. Potatoes are used in many different ways, such as boiled, baked 4 and fried. Can you think of other ways?
Cabbage This vegetable is a cabbage. Cabbage grows above ground. There are hundreds of types grown all over the world. The most common types are green and red varieties. Cabbage is high in fiber, vitamin C and K, as well as many other nutrients. Did you know that cabbage is a really old vegetable, dating back to the 1600s? 5
Broccoli This vegetable is called broccoli. It is green and has green leaves. Broccoli grows above ground. It can be separated into smaller buds, some call them florets. Broccoli is a member of the cabbage family. It is very high in fiber, vitamin C and A. Vitamin A helps keep your eyes, skin, bones and teeth stay healthy. Broccoli originates in Italy, and has been eaten there since the time of the ancient Romans in the 6 th century BC. 6
Cucumber This vegetable is a cucumber. Cucumbers grow above ground. They come in many different shapes and sizes, as well as colors. The most common color is green, but you can also find white, yellow, orange and many other colors. A cucumber is more than 95% water, but it still contains most of the vitamins you need every day! Cucumbers originated in India around 3,000 years ago! 7
Onion This vegetable is an onion. Onions grow underground, with green leaves above ground. They can be yellow or red inside, and have many layers. Slicing onions is known to make people cry. This is because it releases sulfuric acid that makes your eyes water. Humans have eaten onions for more than 7,000 years! They help us fight disease, and can even soothe your skin if you have an insect bite. 8
Tomato This is a tomato. It is actually a fruit, not a vegetable. Tomatoes grow on plants above ground, and need a lot of sun and water. Tomatoes can be red, green, yellow, pink, orange, black, brown, white, and purple! Have you ever seen one that isn t red? Tomatoes are very popular. Tomatoes are packed with vitamins A and C and other nutrients. It is thought that they originally came from Peru. 9
Lettuce This vegetable is called lettuce. It is usually green and grows above ground. Other colors are red, yellow and blue-greens. The most common head of lettuce is iceberg lettuce. It does not have as many nutrients as the other types of lettuce. Darker green lettuce leaves have more nutrients than lighter leaves. Did you know that the lettuce we see today actually started out as a weed in the 10 Mediterranean area 4500 years ago?
Corn cob This vegetable is a corn cob, also called an ear of corn. On average a cob has 800 kernels in 16 rows! Did you know that corn will always have an even number of rows? The cob and kernels are yellow, and the husk around it is green. Corn grows above ground on all continents of the world except Antarctica. There are over 3,500 uses for corn. Corn is processed and used in many different 11 foods and products.
Peas These vegetables are called peas. They are legumes, which means they have seeds that grow in long cases. These cases are often called pods. Green peas are one of the most nutritious legumes. Peas grow above ground on vines. They are popular garden plants. The pea is thought to have originated in Middle Asia. The oldest pea was found in Thailand, it was 3,000 years old! 12
Celery This vegetable is called celery. It is in the carrot family, and is grown for it s leafstalks. These stalks are U-shaped. Celery is crispy and crunchy because the cell walls are tougher to help keep the plant upright. Celery is 94% water, but also has several vitamins and minerals. It is also high in fiber. Celery was grown in parts of Europe and the Mediterranean as early as 1000 BC. 13
Leek This vegetable is a leek. It is a type of mild onion, but unlike other onions they don t have a bulb growing underground. Did you know that a leek can grow up to 1.5 meters? Leeks contain fiber, and are also a great source of vitamin C. Close to the root the leek is white. Its leaves are green. Leeks probably come from the Mediterranean, where they still grow wild today! 14
Cauliflower This vegetable is a cauliflower. It is closely related to broccoli. The head is white and looks like a miniature tree if you split it in half. The leaves are thick and green. Cauliflowers are also found in other colors, such as green, purple, orange, brown and yellow. Cauliflower is an excellent source of fiber, vitamins C, K and B. It also has a lot of important minerals. Did you know that it can grow from 8 to 30 inches both in height and width? 15
Squash This vegetable is a squash. It belongs to the melon and cucumber family. Squash are fleshy vegetables protected by a hard rind. The seeds are edible, and they can be processed into oil. They have a lot of vitamin C, but most of it is in the rind. You can eat that too! Squash grows above ground. Some grow on vines and some on bushes. They are commonly split into two groups: summer 16 and winter.
Zucchini This vegetable is a zucchini. The zucchini is a summer squash. It is also called a courgette. Did you know you can eat the zucchini s flowers? They look really nice in a salad, and taste good too! The world s largest zucchini on record was 69 1/2 inches long, and weighed 65 lb. That is 176.5cm and 29.5kg! Biggest isn t best though, the best tasting zucchinis are the small to medium sized ones! 17
Artichoke This vegetable is an artichoke. It grows above ground, and is an edible flower bud. Artichokes are green, purple or both. Did you know that one artichoke plant can grow more than 20 artichoke buds per year? They are rich in fiber and antioxidants. Antioxidants are nutrients that help us stay healthy. Artichokes also have several vitamins and minerals. 18
Peppers These vegetables are called peppers, bell peppers or sweet peppers. They come in several different colors even dark brown! Peppers grow on plants above ground. Peppers have a lot of vitamin C and antioxidants. The red peppers are also full of vitamin A. They are mainly composed of water, about 92%. Peppers are related to chili peppers and tomatoes. Did you know that peppers come from Mexico and other Central American regions? 19
Chili This vegetable is called a chili or chili pepper. There are thousands of types of peppers, but they all come from the same species. Chili peppers are known for being very hot. Did you know that they have a hotness scale called the Scoville scale? The mild types measure 1-100 on this scale. Did you know that the hottest chili pepper known to man measures 1.5 million on the scale? It is called the Carolina Reaper. 20
Garlic This vegetable is called garlic. It is related to onions. The bulb grows under grown with green leaves above ground. There are around 300 known varieties of garlic grown around the world. Garlic is often dried and used to flavor food. Some have stronger flavors than others, and you only need a little at a time. Superstitious people have used garlic to drive away evil for centuries including vampires! 21
Beetroot This root vegetable is a beetroot. They grow underground with green leaves above ground. Beets can be found in a variety of shapes and colors. The red one is most common, but there are also golden beets and pink-and-white striped beets. Beets are sweet! They have a high natural sugar content. They also have high amounts of vitamin C and fiber. Did you know that you can use red beets to dye with? Beet juice has been used as a natural red dye since the 16 th century! 22
Sweet potato This root vegetable is a sweet potato. There are two types: pale yellow with dry flesh, and dark orange with moist flesh. Some call sweet potatoes yams, but true yams are different vegetables! Sweet potatoes are great sources for vitamin A and C, as well as fiber and other nutrients. Vitamin A is good for your eye sight, and some of the other nutrients in the sweet potato is good for your heart! A very popular way to use them is to make 23 sweet potato pie. Have you ever tried it?
Brussels Sprouts These vegetables are called brussels sprouts. They grow above ground on thick stalks. Fresh brussels sprouts are green. Brussels sprouts are related to cabbage. They have a lot of vitamin C and fiber. There are more than 110 different varieties of sprouts! The brussels sprouts have always been very popular in Brussels, Belgium. They got their name from there, because they have been grown in Brussels since the 16 th 24 century!
Mushrooms Mushrooms are fungus, not vegetables. Unlike plants they don t need sunlight to grow. They are made up of around 90% water. Mushrooms grow above ground, and can be found in the wild. Be careful some of them are highly poisonous! Did you know that mushrooms are the only plant source of vitamin D? Vitamin D is very important for our health, and most of us don t get enough. They also contain many other nutrients. 25
Eggplant This is an eggplant. Some call them aubergine. They grow on bushes above ground. Eggplants have dark purplish skin, and have a creamy white spongy flesh on the inside. They have a lot of vitamin B6, which is important for your blood and brain. Eggplants are related to potatoes and tomatoes. Because they have seeds, eggplants are actually fruits! In the 12 th century, Italians called them mala insana,meaning crazy apple! 26
Asparagus These vegetables are called asparagus. Asparagus grow from seeds, and develop an underground stem. Buds on the stem form the asparagus spears. If the spears are harvested while growing underground they are white. If the spears are allowed to grow above ground, they are green. It takes two years for the first crop to finish! In ancient and medieval times, asparagus tips were crushed and used as medicine. They could treat swelling and relieve pains due to bee stings, wounds, and infections! 27
Pumpkin This is a pumpkin. They are usually orange, but can sometimes be white, yellow, green or red. Pumpkins grow above ground and have green leaves. They can be baked, roasted, steamed or boiled. Pumpkins have thick shells which contain pulp and seeds. Because they have seeds they are actually fruits, not vegetables. Pumpkins are very popular decorations for Halloween. People carve them and 28 sometimes put candles inside.
Beans These vegetables are called beans. There are many different types, all of which have narrow pods with seeds in them. Beans grow above ground on bushes or climbing plants. The most common is green beans. The younger the beans you eat are, the sweeter they taste! Beans are great sources of fiber, vitamin C and folate. Folate is in the B vitamin group. It keeps your blood healthy and helps you grow. 29
Spinach This vegetable is called spinach. It is one of the most nutritious vegetables you can eat! Spinach grows above ground, and both stem and leaves are edible. Spinach originated in Persia (modern day Iran), and because of that it s still called the Persian Green in China. Have you ever seen the cartoon Popeye? Popeye was a sailor that was filled with super-human strength by eating spinach! After Popeye was created, sales of spinach increased in the US. 30
Radish These root vegetables are called radishes. They grow underground with green leaves above ground. The roots come in many different colors: white, pink, red, purple, yellow and green. Radishes grow quickly, so they are great for school and community gardens! Radishes have a mild peppery flavor and a crunchy texture. They are a good source 31 of vitamin C.
Vegetables Which vegetables can you spot? Are you able to name them all? 32
Vocabulary Nutrients Nutrients are ingredients found in foods. For our bodies to function, be healthy and to stay alive, we need to eat enough of them. There are six different nutrients: water, proteins, carbohydrates, fats, minerals, and vitamins. Fiber Fiber is the part of a plant food that can t be digested by our bodies. This means that it travels through our stomach and intestines. It grabs water on the way, and helps our bowel movements! Vitamins and minerals Vitamins and minerals are substances found in foods we eat. Our bodies need them to grow and work properly. Vitamin D in milk helps your bones, vitamin A in carrots helps your night-time vision and vitamin C in oranges helps your body heal if you get a cut. These are just a few examples, each vitamin has its roles to play. Minerals are found in small amounts in foods. Just like vitamins they help our body grow, develop and stay healthy. Minerals do things like building strong bones, transmit nerve impulses, make hormones and maintain a normal heartbeat. Sulfuric acid Sulfuric acid is created when you take a knife and slice an onion. This happens because the cells inside the onion is broken down. A type of gas is released from the onion, and it reacts with the water in your eyes to form the sulfuric acid. Antioxidants Antioxidants help us stay healthy. They do this by preventing or slowing cell damage in our bodies. Having a diet that includes a healthy mix of colorful fruits and vegetables, and other rich foods, gives us the most antioxidants. 33