This post inspired by Frank at Dutch goes the Photo
The prompt: Wonder
The wonders of the world? The wonders of nature?
How about the wonders of the food we eat? The colorful & crunchy vegetables that grow from the ground – if carefully tended and nurtured and harvested.
From the earth we need to take better care of…but that’s another blog post topic all together.
A huge light bulb moment in the 7th grade changed my life. I asked my science teacher Mr. Jackson about potassium. My mother needed to increase her intake and I thought he might know the answer. It was a chemical after all.
His answer? Broccoli. Bananas. He then gave me a list of high potassium foods. It was that simple.
I had no idea until that moment in time that natural foods were that important. And what “healthy” as an adjective in front of “food” could really mean. Eat. Chemical reactions in the body. Feel better.
I went on to study nutrition and dietetics in college. My career resulted. Thanks to Mr. Jackson. Teachers: another wonder.
A true wonder of the world? I believe it starts with vegetables. Broccoli…peppers…carrots….
And then, of course, fruits.
As I used to show my patients, drawing a line down the center of a paper plate (way before the publicized “My Plate” visual), vegetables should take up half your plate.
Not always a popular suggestion.
Vegetables may not be exciting.
But they are still a wonder…
one letter UP ~ diary 2.0 
Your photos are outstanding… and your stories are even better. After all: “It’s the stories we tell that tell us apart.” Thanks for sharing both.
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Thank you!
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Yes, half the plate! A hard concept for some!
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Yes it is very hard for some. Thanks!
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I agree wholeheartedly. Life’s simple pleasures – like beautiful produce- are the best! My grandfather was a green grocer in Jersey City and nurtured a love of fruit & vegetables in me from as early as I can remember. I will always be grateful.
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Such a wonderful memory and how lucky you were 🙂
Thanks for your comment!
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They are a wonder – great pics, too!
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Thanks!
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We have improved on our intake and variety of vegetables since our children turned vegetarian and vegan! Lovely story of your journey!
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What a great plan for your entire family! Thank you 🙂
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Great choice for the challenge! We share the same background. I also studied nutrition and dietetics in college. I started as an R.D. in private practice and went on to become a diabetes educator. At the end of my career I worked for LifeScan supporting blood glucose monitoring devices.
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Wow! What a coincidence! I was an RD but didn’t go the diabetes educator route. From what a friend tells me, those glucose monitoring devices are fantastic. She is also a CDE. Thanks for your comment.
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They are getting better and better. I’ve already been retired for fifteen years, but read that here are now implantable systems that read the glucose levels and deliver insulin automatically via a pump.
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It’s a wonderful advancement for sure.
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Great photos, fun story. I’m more 3/4 plate veggies and fruits! Love the fresh crunch . . . and yes Broccoli is a wonder food . . . just read an article about broccoli and cancer prevention. Glad your teacher was resourced enough to understand the age old adage, you are what you eat, and eat for your health. Though my grandmother used to say I’d turn into a pickle because I ate so many sweet gherkin pickles. I switched to dill when I got into reducing my sugar intake . . fortunately I still haven’t turned any shade of green 🙂
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Haha! Let’s leave green for the veggies – not for your complexion :). Thanks!
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