Fresh Vegetables

Better buys

• All fresh vegetables in season.
• Aim for a variety of different coloured vegetables.

Good to know

• Starchy vegetables such as potato, kumara, corn, yams, taro, breadfruit and cassava are high in carbohydrate.
• Non-starchy vegetables contain very little carbohydrate e.g. broccoli, peas, green beans, lettuce, puha, watercress, kamo kamo, parengo.
• Vegetables are low in fat and good sources of fibre. Leave the skin on if possible.
• Vegetables are a good snack food, especially non-starchy vegetables.
• Sweet tasting vegetables e.g. corn and Kumara don’t need to be avoided but must be eaten in appropriate amounts.

Watch points

• For people with diabetes – eating too many starchy vegetables or too much of one starchy vegetable, or more starchy vegetables than usual,may raise blood glucose levels more than is desirable.