Community contributed by Glenn I. Teves, UH County Extension
Agent. The August 2011 edition of Consumer Reports featured
results of a national survey on how often people ate vegetables,
and what kind. Thirty-three vegetables were highlighted. Results
show that gender, age, and regional differences dictate what
kinds of vegetables are eaten, and how often. This survey
probably has nothing to do with our eating habits in Hawaii,
since we’re influenced by both east and west. However, our
eating habits are constantly evolving as health challenges
dictate what we should be eating. The food experts at Consumer
Reports highlighted five overlooked vegetables. I feature three
of them plus a few of my own. Most are cooking greens, and they
grow well on Molokai in the right season. The first three are
brassicas or mustards. These contain a powerful antioxidant
called Glucosinolates, phytonutrients that provide us with
unique health benefits because they can be converted into
isothiocyanates (ITCs) that have cancer-preve