Colorful Carrots

I researched vegetables, including the carrots, green beans, tomatoes, and bell peppers, when writing my children's book, Vegetable Kids in the Garden. I was especially fascinated with the history and versatility of carrots.  Early carrots were purple or yellow. Each color of carrots has slightly different nutritional benefits. 

If you Missed History, “The earliest cultivated carrots were purple and yellow. Purple carrots get their color from anthocyanins — the same pigments found in blueberries and red cabbage.” 

Carrots have been used as a dye among many other uses. Orange carrot or purple cabbage juice make fun natural food coloring for frosting.

“orange dye from carrots was sometimes used to color butter and cheese, which created a commercial incentive to grow them in large quantities.” Missed History

Carrots cooked, raw, or blended each have their own unique nutritional value. 

“When blended, the fiber in carrots is broken down, making the nutrients more accessible to the body. Blending also helps to increase the bioavailability of carotenoids, such as beta-carotene, which can improve the health of your eyes, skin, and immune system. Additionally, blending carrots with other vegetables, such as spinach or kale, can increase the nutritional value even further. ” The Cooking Facts

“Studies have shown that the absorption rate of beta-carotene increases when carrots are cooked.” Easy Clean Cook

When I read that it enhances the carrot’s value when blended with greens, and cooked, I started making, Nona’s Homemade Pasta Sauce for my family. Kids often love pasta in different forms, so pasta sauce is a great way to bring in spinach, carrots, or whatever vegetables you have handy.

Chop Chop Family Kitchen offers their instructions for making Crispy Carrot Fries. I haven’t tried it yet, but it would make an interesting experiment for children to bite into a crispy. raw carrot, and then notice what changes after they are baked crispy. What changes in the flavor, texture, or aroma when the heat changes? What changes when the Crispy Carrot Fries cool? 

Look for My Favorite Recipes in Color

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