How to Teach Children About Carrots

My son turned orange to yellowish when he was about one or little after. His doctor asked me one question; “do you give him carrots?” And I answered, yes, everyday, in his porridge, at least twice a day!

Carrots

Lets teach our children about carrots today and here is a simple 2 minute recipe that can be prepared for lunch or dinner and with rice, bread or potatoes.

Stir Fried Carrots

One carrot thinly sliced (it cooks faster and remains fresh)

Chopped onion, garlic and little ginger

Salt to taste

Cooking oil or butter or olive oil

You can add some sliced chicken if you like.

How to Prepare

Heat Cooking Oil

Fry the onion, ginger and garlic

Add chicken

Add in the carrots

Cook for about 3 to 4 minutes

Add in the salt to taste

And that’s it!

Stir Fried Carrots

Tasty dish because it keeps the freshness of the carrots, the sweetness and there is tad of saltiness giving it the extra zest.

Carrots are beautiful vegetables. They get their bright orange colour from β-carotene, which is metabolised into vitamin A in humans. I learnt that the overconsumption of carrots can cause carotenosis, a harmless condition in which the skin turns orange.

Carrots are rich in dietary fibre, antioxidants, and minerals. Carrots can be eaten in a variety of ways. Did you know that only 3% of the β-carotene in raw carrots is released during digestion, which can be improved to 39% by pulping, cooking and adding cooking oil. (Wikipedia) The above recipe is just perfect for this.

The best way to store carrots are with refrigerating them covered. Young carrots have a shelf life of about 2 weeks, while mature carrots have a shelf life of 3–4 weeks. Removing tops before storing increases shelf life.

Carrots are said to be extremely beneficial for “

• lowering the risk of cancer - One carrot (half a cup) once a day can cut the risk of lung cancer in half. Cooking releases carotenes which are believed to be the active ingredients shielding carcinogenic attacks.

• lowering blood cholesterol - Two and a half medium-sized raw carrots eaten daily lower blood cholesterol by about 11%.

• preventing constipation

• helpful for general nervousness, asthma, skin disorders,


• Improves vision - Carrots are rich in beta carotene, which the body converts to vitamin A - a crucial nutrient for maintaining proper eyesight

• A great weight loss product - Grated carrot makes a great snack. You'll find that a grated carrot is much more filling than a whole carrot - strange but true.

• Carrots are also rich in dietary fibre, antioxidants, and minerals. It is recommended that we eat one carrot a day as part of our fruit and vegetable intake.

Those are the teaching notes. Teach our kids the nutritional benefits of carrots. At the same time, if you noteiced, you have given your child a science lesson. Don’t you think he will remember that carrots are orange because of its carotene and the nutrients?

Please share your carrot recipes. Click here for some ready made carrot dishes and recipes for carrots.



Happy Teaching and Cooking