Eat Your Vegetables Printables

A smiling child bites into a cherry tomato
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Your mom may have always admonished you to eat your vegetables, but why? Have fun with vegetables using the following free printables to learn more about the variety of foods that make up the vegetable category.

What Are Vegetables?

Vegetables are edible plants or the edible parts of a plant, such as the roots, stalks, stems, and leaves. They are an important part of a healthy diet because vegetables are filled with vitamins and antioxidants that the body needs to grow and maintain good health.

Vegetables are also the only source of dietary fiber, which the human body needs to aid digestion, filter out cholesterol, and lower blood sugar. Some vegetables, such as broccoli, kale, and spinach, are also packed with calcium, which strengthens bones and teeth. Vegetables include carrots, potatoes, beans, peppers, and cabbage.

How Many Vegetables Should a Person Eat?

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, children ages two to eight should eat a cup to a cup and a half of vegetables each day. Children and teens ages nine to eighteen should eat two to three cups of veggies per day.

Vegetables come in a variety of colors, and nutrition experts recommend "eating a rainbow" each week for optimal health. Usually a deeper hue indicates more nutrients. Kids (and adults) should make it their goal to eat at least one serving of vegetables from each color of the rainbow every week. 

How to Prepare Vegetables

Vegetables can be prepared a variety of ways. They can be eaten raw and plain, or dipped in veggie dip or salad dressing. They can be baked, sautéed, steamed, boiled, or roasted. Careful, though, because lots of vegetables lose much of their flavor and many of their nutrients if they are overcooked, so the cooking method with the shortest cooking time is often the healthiest option.

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Eat Your Vegetables Vocabulary

Print the PDF: Eat Your Vegetables Vocabulary Sheet

Begin to explore the tasty world of vegetables with this vocabulary sheet that introduces a wide variety of common veggies. Use the internet or a dictionary to help match each vegetable with its correct description. For extra fun, visit your local grocery store and purchase the vegetables that you haven't tried before, and take them home for a taste test.

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Eat Your Vegetables Word Search

Print the PDF: Eat Your Vegetables Word Search

Use this fun word search puzzle to review the vegetables defined on the vocabulary sheet.

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Eat Your Vegetables Crossword Puzzle

Print the PDF: Eat Your Vegetables Crossword Puzzle 

How many veggies can your student remember? This crossword puzzle provides a fun and simple review. Each clue describes one of the vegetables defined on the vocabulary sheet. See if you can correctly identify each and complete the puzzle.

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Eat Your Vegetables Challenge

Print the PDF: Eat Your Vegetables Challenge

Use this vegetables challenge sheet as a simple quiz to see how many vegetables you can correctly identify. Each clue is followed by four multiple choice options. 

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Eat Your Vegetables Alphabet Activity

Print the PDF: Eat Your Vegetables Alphabet Activity

Review the names of 25 vegetables while practicing alphabetizing skills. Perfect for little kids. Write the names each of the vegetables listed in the word box in correct alphabetical order on the blank lines provided.

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Eat Your Vegetables Draw and Write

Print the PDF: Eat Your Vegetables Draw and Write Page

Use this versatile draw and write sheet to practice descriptive writing skills. Draw a picture of your favorite (or least favorite) vegetable. Then, use the blank lines provided to describe the vegetable, including its appearance, texture, and how it tastes and smells. 

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Vegetables Tic-Tac-Toe

Print the PDF: Vegetable Tic-Tac-Toe

As you learn about veggies, have fun playing vegetable tic-tac-toe. First, cut the playing markers off at the dotted line. Then cut the pieces apart. This activity gives the perfect opportunity for honing fine motor and critical thinking skills.

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Vegetable Cart Coloring Page

Print the PDF: Vegetable Cart Coloring Page

As you color this page encouraging eating a healthy diet of vegetables each day, remember to include as many colors of the rainbow as possible

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Vegetables Theme Paper

Print the PDF: Vegetable Themed Paper

Use this veggie themed paper to write a story, poem, or essay about vegetables. 

Updated by Kris Bales

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Your Citation
Hernandez, Beverly. "Eat Your Vegetables Printables." ThoughtCo, Feb. 16, 2021, thoughtco.com/eat-your-vegetables-printables-1832473. Hernandez, Beverly. (2021, February 16). Eat Your Vegetables Printables. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/eat-your-vegetables-printables-1832473 Hernandez, Beverly. "Eat Your Vegetables Printables." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/eat-your-vegetables-printables-1832473 (accessed March 28, 2024).