We’ve all heard the saying a time or two (thousand): “Eat your vegetables!” Whether the request/demand is coming from your mom, doctor, or nursery rhyme, the health benefits of consuming vegetables is hard to argue. But, are we listening? A survey conducted for VeggieTracker.com — a brand of Dr. Praeger’s Purely Sensible Foods — sought to find out how Americans really feel about vegetables.
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Most Favorite #1: Corn
Survey says ... corn is the vegetable of choice among Americans, capturing more than 91% of the vote.
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Most Favorite #2: Potatoes
Coming in just a tick under corn is the versatile potato.
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Most Favorite #3: Carrots
89% of poll respondents say carrots are tops.
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Most Favorite #4: Tomatoes
Technically, tomatoes tied with carrots for the No. 3 slot at 89%.
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Most Favorite #5: Onions
87% of survey takers dig onions.
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Least Favorite #1: Turnips
In this survey, there's no love for turnips. 27% of respondents rank them as their least favorite veggie.
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Least Favorite #2: Beets
Beets took a beating from poll takers, where 26% would rather leave them in the ground.
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Least Favorite #3: Radish
Radish ended up on the red side of the ledger. 22% of survey respondents put them in their least favorite bowl.
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Least Favorite #4: Brussels Sprouts
Even though they are good for you, 21% of pollsters would pass on Brussels sprouts.
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Least Favorite #5: Artichokes
According to the VeggieTracker.com survey, 20% don't have an affinity for artichokes.
Beyond learning what crops were favored for flavor and others that are more likely pushed off to the side of plates, the informal survey of 2,000 Americans uncovered a few other interesting stats:
72% of poll respondents wished they ate more veggies than they currently do
25% said they’ve never eaten a vegetable
25% of respondents said the biggest reason they don’t eat more vegetables is that their produce rots before they get a chance to eat it
25% respondents said vegetables cost too much
22% said they take too much time to prepare
19% said they don’t how to cook vegetables properly
Scroll the slideshow above to see the Top 5 vegetables Americans love to eat and 5 others they love to hate.
015What are the Top Vegetables Americans Love and Love to Hate?
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Paul Rusnak is the Senior Online Editor of American Vegetable Grower, American Fruit Grower, and Greenhouse Grower magazines, all Meister Media Worldwide brands. He is based in Northeast Florida. See all author stories here.