Carrots

Out of all the common every-day popular Irish vegetables, carrots are probably the best source of beta-carotene (a form of vitamin A). Just to give you a comparison – to get the same amount of beta-carotene as a medium portion of carrots, you would need to eat 670 pears!

Vitamin A is one of the most important vitamins for maintaining healthy skin and teeth. It’s also a very important nutrient for good vision, especially night vision. Hence the old saying carrots can make you see around corners!

A portion of carrots has only 24 calories! Foods like carrots are the best source of vitamin A.

Serving suggestions.

• Carrots are great for juicing although it’s best to use a juicer to help extract the juice. Add ginger and kiwi for a refreshing drink bursting with nutrients.
• Grate carrots into salads or coleslaw.
• Add chopped carrots to a stir-fry or casserole.
• Make delicious soups with carrots, celery, onion and lentils or potatoes and some stock, or simply carrots, stock and coriander.
• Eat carrot sticks raw as a snack or dip them in salsa and guacamole instead of tortilla chips. Try baby carrots as they are packed full of flavour and sweetness.
• Carrots can also be used in baking for carrot cakes or muffins. They add sweetness and moisture to cakes.