Zucchini: Plague or Dietary Necessity?

Yesterday, National Sneak-Zucchini-On-Your-Neighbor's-Front-Porch Night was celebrated across the United States. While this is probably not quite as popular a holiday as say, the Fourth of July, it nonetheless showcases most people's attitude toward zucchini. It is undoubtedly a prolific garden staple, which can be used in many delicious recipes. (It can also be sneaked into many other treats, such as chocolate zucchini bundt cake, without any real difference noted in the end product.) However, most gardeners have trouble finding ways to use up all of their zucchini; hence, one gives it away. Since almost everyone else also has an abundance of this vegetable, it starts to be seen as an end of summer plague.


In my opinion, however, zucchini should not be treated in such a degrading way. After enjoying a delicious stirfry dish (made by my mother for last night's supper) containing fresh zucchini, green beans, and other fresh vegetables, I decided to dedicate my first blog post to this "green giant".


After typing zucchini into my EvaluEat Version 1.2 Dietary Analysis Software (produced by Pearson Benjamin Cummings), I discovered that this vegetable is both nutrient dense and low in calories! 1 cup of sliced zucchini (with the skin) contains a mere 18 calories, with 1.4 grams of protein*, 3.8 grams of carbohydrate*, 1.2 grams of fiber*, and only 0.2 grams of fat. This one cup serving provides 30% of my daily needed amount of Vitamin C, 21% of Vitamin B6, 16% of Riboflavin, and 8% of both Folate and Potassium, along with many other vitamins and minerals. Obviously, zucchini is a vegetable not to be overlooked!


While zucchini isn't everyone's favorite, it nonetheless provides good nutrition with few calories. It is rather tasteless, however, so make sure to pair it with another vegetable or spices. Try it stirfried (by itself or with other vegetables), in cakes, brownies, or bread, or even pickled! I believe that zucchini truly is a delicious dietary necessity.

Happy Zucchini-ing!

*These amounts are 3% of my daily needed amount.