Explore the Store: Carrots
Do you find yourself buying the same things when you are grocery shopping? Want to spice things up? Well, welcome to Explore the Store! Each week a new item found at your local grocery store will be featured.
The feature of the week is carrots!
What are carrots?
Carrots were Bugs Bunny’s favorite root vegetable! Carrots are usually a vibrant orange color but can come in a wide range of dark purple, white, and yellow. The carrots found in the wild are called Daucus carota and are native to Europe and Southwestern Asia. You can eat the whole carrot, including the leaves and stems, but the root is mostly what consumers prefer.
What do carrots taste like?
Depending on where the carrots are grown, they have a slightly sweet, earthy flavor. Fresh carrots are crisp and crunchy, while canned carrots are softer. You can even find pickled carrots.
Potential health benefits
Carrots are a good source of fiber, vitamin C, and potassium, as well as vitamin B6, folate, and several minerals, including calcium and magnesium. Beta carotene is essential for eyesight, skin health, and growth.
How much do they cost?
- Walmart – $0.67/lb, whole carrots
- Kroger – $0.99/lb, whole carrots
- Trader Joe’s – $0.89/lb, organic whole carrots and $2.99/lb, organic color whole carrots
Try these carrot recipes!
Do you love carrots?
Let us know your favorite way to use them in the comments or tag us @UGAHealthCenter!
References:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrot
- https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/5-healthy-facts-about-carrots
Written by: Rebecca Reese, dietetics practicum student in the UHC Health Promotion Department