How to Increase the Nutritional Value of Food: Dietitian Tips for Everyone.

According to The Sun: Enhance the flavor and benefits of your food with these dietitian-approved tips for storage, preparation, and consumption.

Does anyone really want salad in January? Unlikely, but it's the new year and the perfect time to get your nutrition back on track.

“In general, heat, light, and oxygen damage nutrient content,” says Karin Patel, registered dietitian.

So, how can you maximize the nutrient content of your meal?

Swap Carrots for Kohlrabi

This time of year, try kohlrabi, which belongs to the cabbage family.

“Introducing new ingredients and foods provides your body with new nutrients and properties,” says Julia Rodriguez Garcia, a professor of culinary and food sciences at the University of Reading.

Freeze It

Utilize the freezer aisle – there’s a lot of goodness there.

“Vegetables like peas are frozen immediately after harvest, preserving about 95% of nutrients, except for vitamin C, which quickly deteriorates in all fruits and vegetables, whether frozen or not.

“This means that in some cases, you can get more nutrients from frozen fruit or vegetables compared to fresh options that have spent time in transport or sitting on supermarket shelves.”

Shop with Your Eyes

Prices can be overwhelming now, but make sure you’re really looking at the food you buy.

“Choosing seasonal, locally grown fruits and vegetables is best since they start to lose some vitamins right after harvest,” explains Karin.