How to Keep Full When Eating From Your Garden
If you are looking for a way to grow your own food and enjoy the benefits of fresh, nutritious, and delicious produce, you might be interested in learning about the best types of plants to grow in a home garden. Not all plants are created equal when it comes to providing calories and nutrition, so it is important to choose wisely and plan ahead. In this article, we will explore some of the best crops for a home garden that offer high-calorie content, protein, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
Why Calories Matter:
Calories are a measure of energy that your body needs to function properly. If you are growing your own food, you want to make sure that you are getting enough calories from your crops to meet your daily needs. This is especially important if you are relying on your garden as your main source of food or if you are preparing for a survival situation. You will also want to make sure that you are planting a wide variety of plants to ensure you are consuming a wide variety of vitamins and minerals.
The Best Plants for Calories:
The calorie density of the food you eat will make a huge difference on whether you have your energy needs met by the food in your garden. For example, a cup of cooked rice has about 200 calories, while a cup of cooked spinach has only 40 calories. This means that rice has a higher calorie density than spinach.
Generally speaking, plants that have a high calorie density are those that are rich in carbohydrates or fats. These include root vegetables: grains, nuts, seeds, and fruits. These plants provide quick and easy energy for your body and can also store well for long periods of time.
Some examples of high-calorie plants that you can grow in your home garden are:
- Potatoes: One medium potato has 110 calories and is a good source of vitamin C, potassium, and fiber. Potatoes are easy to grow and can be harvested throughout the season. You can store them in a cool and dark place for several months.
- Sweet potatoes: One medium sweet potato has 103 calories and is an excellent source of vitamin A, vitamin C, manganese, and fiber. Sweet potatoes are also easy to grow and can be harvested in late fall. You can store them in a cool and dry place for several months.
- Corn: One ear of corn has 77 calories and is a good source of vitamin B6, folate, magnesium, and fiber. Corn is a warm-season crop that requires full sun and fertile soil. You can harvest it when the kernels are plump and juicy. You can store it in the husk in the refrigerator for up to a week or freeze it for longer storage.
- Beans: One cup of cooked beans has 227 calories and is an excellent source of protein, iron, folate, fiber, and antioxidants. Beans are legumes that can fix nitrogen in the soil and improve its fertility. You can grow different types of beans such as green beans, dry beans, lima beans, soybeans, etc. You can harvest them when the pods are mature and dry. You can store them in an airtight container in a cool and dry place for up to a year.
- Sunflower seeds: One ounce of sunflower seeds has 164 calories and is an excellent source of vitamin E, selenium, magnesium, phosphorus, and healthy fats. Sunflowers are beautiful flowers that attract pollinators and birds to your garden. You can grow them in full sun and well-drained soil. You can harvest them when the petals fall off and the seeds are exposed. You can store them in an airtight container in a cool and dry place for up to six months.
- Avocado: One avocado has 322 calories and is an excellent source of monounsaturated fats, vitamin K,folate,potassium,and fiber. Avocados only grow in environments that are warm all year long, but if you are lucky enough to live in one of those areas you have a great product that will add plant-based fats to your diet. If you don’t live in a warm climate some have grown an avocado plant in a greenhouse or as a decorative plant indoors.
Keeping your diet diverse will increase exposure to healthy nutrients and flavors. Diversifying your garden can not only make your land beautiful, but help keep you and your family healthy when you are relying on the land for food.