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By Kayla Walton

Clark County Health Department

After a study done in 2015, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention discovered that only one in ten adults was eating the recommended amount of vegetables daily. That means over 90% of people need to eat more vegetables! What’s the big deal about veggies anyway? Is eating your vegetables just something for mom to pester everyone about at the dinner table? Turns out mom was (as usual) right! Vegetables contain essential vitamins and minerals that are difficult to get elsewhere and they are full of fiber. Veggies are also naturally low in calories and fat, making them a great addition to any meal or snack.

If you want to pick up some vegetables grown in Clark County, you can visit the Winchester-Clark County Farmers Market from 8:00 am – 12:00 pm on Saturdays at 1 Depot Street.

Are you interested in free veggies? The Clark County Health Department will host the annual Veggie Fest on July 1 at the farmers’ market. The first 200 customers will receive a $5 voucher to spend on produce, meat, eggs, dairy or honey. There will also be activities for kids and a door prize for one lucky customer! Kids are encouraged to dress up as their favorite fruit or vegetable to be entered into the costume contest at 10:00 a.m., with a special prize for the best costume.

Tomatoes, peppers, summer squashes, green beans, sweet corn and cucumbers are just a few vegetables you can expect to see at the farmers market in the summer months. Read on to find out why your body will thank you for eating some of these foods!

Tomatoes are actually the most produced and consumed vegetable worldwide! At only 30 calories per cup, tomatoes have 23% of the daily recommended amount of Vitamin C and are also a good source of potassium (an electrolyte) and Vitamin K. Tomatoes are 95% water, which means they are hydrating too. Tomatoes are one of the most versatile vegetables and can be used in sauces and soups or eaten roasted, fried, sundried and even stuffed. The possibilities of tomatoes are endless, which is probably why the world loves them.

Sweet bell peppers start showing up in Kentucky around June. Sweet bell peppers contain more Vitamin C than an orange! Bell peppers are a great source of B vitamins too. They contain around 20% of an adult’s daily recommended amount of Vitamin B6 and 15% of folate. Red, orange and yellow peppers are also good sources of beta-carotene. Raw bell peppers are a delicious addition to sandwiches and salads. You can add some chopped bell pepper to be cooked with taco or fajita meat or in a stir fry for an extra serving of vegetables.

Summer squash and zucchini are other traditional summer vegetables in Kentucky. Both of these vegetables are good sources of Vitamin C as well. Summer squash is also a good source of magnesium and zucchini has around 12% of the recommended daily value of Vitamin B6. Summer squash and zucchini are tasty cooked up in a cheesy casserole or pan-fried with just a little bit of oil, salt, and pepper. Zucchini is even popular for its use in cinnamon or chocolate breakfast bread- a great way to sneak in some extra vegetables for even the pickiest eaters.