Everyday during lunch, the lunch ladies serve a main course, milk and a choice of two sides. One of the choices for the sides are vegetables.

Of course, students eat most of their lunch. But, do we know if they finish their whole lunch? Vegetables and all?

In our childhoods, we’ve been convinced that vegetables were “yucky and gross” by many cartoons. With our parents forcing us to eat vegetables, we were able to eat the healthy amount of vegetables needed.

But what happens when the parents aren’t around?

Nobody forces us to eat our vegetables at school, but what most don’t know are the health benefits of eating vegetables. Eating vegetables can prevent heart disease, provide energy and lead to a healthy lifestyle.

It’s not rocket science to know that eating our vegetables is good for our body, but also vegetables can actually prevent the risk of heart disease. Our heart is our main artery, and if we don’t take care of our heart, it can kill us.

They contain fiber that help move food through the body, and it prevents constipation. Yes, it’s gross, but it actually matters.

Vegetables are also a good source of nutrients that our body needs for energy. All humans need energy, so don’t get hyped up on sugar. Sugar will give you energy, but it’s temporary and brief. Then your body “crashes” and that does not feel good. Athletes need energy for practice or an important meet. Coaches would hate having a lazy or sluggish player on the team. So, build up that energy! Vegetables will give you energy all throughout the meet or practice.

Not only is it important for athletes to eat vegetables, but teenagers need the energy too. Energy is a factor between passing an exam like an AP test or getting a good score on the ACT. Concentration is key for getting that good score, and vegetables will provide the energy needed to concentrate. Students don’t have to worry about being hungry or tired.

A healthy lifestyle includes exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight, and eating the right amount of food your body needs to function correctly.

It’s recommended to eat the right amounts of food shown on the food pyramid, but not everybody does that. Sometimes they each too much of one section and not enough of another.

Many Americans are already eating large amounts of meat because they believe that meat is the only way to gain the most energy However, too much meat can actually cause clog up your arteries and cause heart disease. Instead of focusing on meat products, focus on vegetables.

Vegetables have been ridiculed for so long, but what people don’t know are the benefits for eating these “icky” foods.

Never throw away the vegetables the school provides for lunch. Just try to make do with it. Salad dressing goes great with baby vegetables or green leaves.

By: Abbie Gail Lim