Did You Eat Your Veggies? Trivia Quiz

Answer: Broccoli

- Did you hear about the two guys who stole a truck full of broccoli?
- To get away, they really had to floret.

Eaten raw or cooked, broccoli is a healthy food that can be used in a wide variety of ways. A green vegetable where the heads and stalks are primarily consumed, broccoli is especially healthy due to its richness in vitamins and minerals, particularly, vitamin C, K, and some of the B family. It is also rich in antioxidants and may reduce the risk of certain diseases and conditions. Originally coming from Asia Minor and the eastern regions of the Mediterranean Sea, it is now grown all over the world.

Answer: Carrot

- How do you know that carrots are good for your eyes?
- Ever seen a rabbit wearing glasses?

Carrots are one of the most popular root vegetables. Crunchy, sweet, and filled with plenty of good vitamins and minerals, they are a popular food amongst adults, kids, and even infants. A source of fiber, potassium and antioxidants, they are a good source of vitamin A which helps promote healthy eyesight. They also contain lutein and zeaxanthin which are also beneficial for eye health. They apparently originated in the Afghanistan area and have been grown for over five millenia.

Answer: Cauliflower

- What did the husband do after forgetting his vegan wife's birthday?
- Cauliflower shop

From the same family as broccoli, cauliflower is also native to the same area, the eastern Mediterranean and Asia Minor. It is a cruciferous vegetable that often has a white compact head of florets that are the primary consumable part of the plant. It is a very healthy vegetable, rich in vitamins and minerals as well as fibers and antioxidants. It can be consumed raw or cooked and its low-carb nature lends itself as a substitute for other starchy things like cauliflower crust or cauliflower rice.

Answer: Artichoke

- What did the artichoke say to the man eating a salad?
- Have a heart.

Artichokes are related to the thistle, but are far more edible. The flower bud is used for food, the hearts being the most desirable part. Coming from the Mediterranean region, artichokes are unusually high in antioxidants and low in calories, making them a diet-friendly choice. Apart from the heart of the bud, the leaves around it are also eaten, though the base of the leaves is the more edible and tender part. Slightly bitter in taste, they are often served with a sauce or marinade to temper the flavour.

Answer: Celery

- Why did the gardener quit?
- Because his celery wasn't high enough.

Hailing from the eastern Mediterranean region and western Asia, celery is a popular vegetable with a crisp, clean, refreshing taste. Said to have 'negative calories', celery is very high in its water content which means that the gain of calories by celery is minimal and it can contribute to a healthy balanced diet. Often eaten raw, it was also found to have some medicinal properties for which it was used to treat conditions like high blood pressure, inflammation, and digestive trouble.

Answer: Garlic

- What does garlic do when it gets too hot?
- It takes its cloves off.

A member of the onion family, garlic is an aromatic and sharp-tasting vegetable that is very healthy. Often used as a seasoning rather than a main meal focus, garlic flavour is very popular in dishes like soups, casseroles, and sauces. Now grown worldwide, it originally came from central Asia and was revered for its medicinal properties. In 2022, China was still the main grower of garlic. With the rise in popularity of different aioli, the demand for garlic has never been higher, unless you're a vampire.

Answer: Lettuce

- Lettuce has no flavour.
- It's really an issue that needs ad-dressing.

Lettuce is a leafy plant that is used as a vegetable primarily in salads. Originally coming from Eurasia, it is now grown globally and has become one of the staples of many meals. The plant's leaves are usually green or red in colour, though a few other-coloured variants also exist. The leaves are usually eaten, though the stems and the seeds are also consumed. It is considered an easy plant to grow and many home gardens are successful at growing lettuce. Cold temperatures actually help this plant as it prevents it from flowering and keeps the leaves sweeter.

Answer: Potato

- What did the dad potato say to his son before his football game?
- I'm rooting for you.

A member of the nightshade family, though neither very toxic nor containing many alkaloids, potatoes are used as a food all over the world; in many places it is seen as a staple and perhaps even a main part of the diet. Don't worry, if there are toxins and alkaloids that are harmful to human health, they are stored in the skin of the tuber and those are usually peeled before eating.

The potato was first cultivated in western South America in round 8000 BCE, and it may have been even earlier. It only reached Europe in the 16th century, yet somehow, without it, the massive growth of the Old World would not have been possible in the 17th through 19th centuries! So popular on the British Isles, the Great Potato Famine of Ireland is still spoken of as a dark time in history.

Interestingly, potatoes are closer in relation to tomatoes than they are to sweet potatoes.

Answer: Leek

- What vegetables can't you take on a boat?
- Leeks!

Leek is a vegetable closely related to both onion and garlic. What is eaten of the leek is not actually the leaves or the stem, but actually a bulbous growth of the stalk. Many believe it is the 'hatzir' mentioned in the Old Testament, but evidence of its consumption can certainly be traced at least back to Ancient Rome.

The leek, apart from being a very delicious vegetable, is actually part of the emblem for Wales, a country of the United Kingdom. Shakespeare incorporated the use of this emblem into his play "Henry V".

Answer: Onion

- I asked a nurse if she had something for my liver.
- She gave me a bag of onions.

Of all the vegetables, this is one of my favourites because of the versatility of the different types of onions. It is closely related to the leek, garlic, and chive families, and shallots were (re)added to the onion family in 2010. It is a bulbous vegetable where the roots begin swelling after the leaves get to a certain length and at a certain age of the plant. The stems and the bulbs are both commonly consumed.

The onion's origins are not known for certain, but it is accepted that they originated in southern Asia at least as far back as 5000 BCE. When the Pilgrims came to North America, they discovered the leek, a close relative of the onion, already growing there. It was one of the first crops that they planted, probably due to the hardiness of the bulb.