Starbucks recently opened in several cities across the country. A quiet unveiling A pair of drinks, one resembling a pistachio milkshake and the other resembling a mossy sludge. Unlike the green drinks already on Starbucks menus, its hue doesn’t come from matcha, mint, or grapes. They are green because they contain actual green plants. At least that’s because it contains the dried, powdered green plant that supplement company AG1 sells. Now I’m eating a lot of vegetables. including but not limited to broccoli, spinach, andgrass” – It’s as easy as ordering Ice AG1 Coconut Milk Blend, or its sibling, Watermelon Blend.
Powdered vegetables are not a new concept. Dried and powdered vegetables sweetened with natural sugars have been used for decades in shakes and smoothies. But AG1, formerly known as Athletic Greens, is one of many powder green brands that are gaining popularity. Powdered greens, which can’t escape the social media feeds of wellness influencers, are riding the same wave as green juices and juices. erewhon smoothie. These health-coded, aesthetically pleasing, status-symbol products are vectors of the cool, comforting taste of classic vegetables.
Powdered vegetables claim all sorts of benefits, including more energy, stronger immunity, and a happier gut. But above all, we promise convenience.hack” The way Suja, another powdered vegetable company, is putting it together is for eating vegetables. As a general rule, eating vegetables is difficult, but necessary. Buying and consuming fresh vegetables – washing, cutting, cooking and chewing – is obviously very energetically demanding, very time consuming and very scary. It’s better to sneak it into a delicious drink. candy-like flavor.
Yes, swirling powder into liquid is less taxing than massaging kale. And drinking food is a quicker way to choke on something that doesn’t taste good. There was a time when eating vegetables was difficult and unpleasant, but now it’s different. Vegetables have never been cheaper, tastier, or more available. There are many better ways to eat vegetables than slurping them down like baby food.
The wellness industry is full of products marketed as shortcuts to better health, but some are questionable. At the very least, powdered vegetables are a really helpful way to get a solid amount of vegetables. Americans “have a really low intake of leafy greens,” Anna Rosales, a nutritionist and senior director of the Institute of Food Technologists, told me. According to the USDA: only 10% of people Eat the recommended amount of vegetables Approximately 2.5 cups One day. That’s a problem, because there’s green reduce risk Chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity, and heart disease.
Vegetables that are frozen and dried without heat retain more nutrients and fiber, Rosales said. However, green powder should be considered a “safety net” and is intended to “assist you in coming closer to dietary recommendations.” They are not a substitute for vegetables or an excuse to reduce your vegetable intake. In almost all respects, regular vegetables are better than powdered ones. A typical complaint about vegetables is that people don’t have time to buy and prepare fresh produce. As a working parent, I can relate. Grocery shopping and cooking are often simply impossible. Why not just take home a salad?
Earlier this year, I wrote about fast-casual salad chains expanding from coastal cities to Central America. It’s not a place like Sweetgreen where everything is $18 a pop. Salad N’ Go, a drive-thru chain based in the Southwest, offers options for less than $7, about the same price as a Big Mac.
Standard fast food chains, some of them waffles for salad In the past few decades, it is now on sale regularly. Wendy’s and Chick-fil-A products are very delicious. grow up interested in salads As my colleague Ellen Cushing has written, Caesar salads are mutating to include all sorts of strange ingredients, like tequila and fava beans, but “even the crude can be appealing; People want it,” putting pressure on restaurants to be better, or at least more interesting. Please buy it. ”
Even if you don’t like salads, ready-made vegetable dishes are easier to come by than ever. Gone are the days when celery sticks with chicken wings were the only option at fast-casual restaurants. Crispy Brussels sprouts, spinach and artichoke dip, and sweet potato fries (with salad) are now standard fare at national chains like Applebee’s, Olive Garden, and Cheesecake Factory. (Although these forms are not particularly healthy, they still count towards your vegetable intake. 8 Brussels sprouts Consists of 1 serving. )
Now, the at-home options are even better. The time it takes to shake up a cup of vegetables is about the same as the time it takes to heat up a frozen dish, such as roasted pumpkin and tomato pasta or spinach saag paneer, for example. Many meal subscription services deliver such meals directly to your home. Most grocery stores offer pre-cut vegetables to save you prep time (or eat straight from the tray). Discount stores such as Dollar General have also begun selling fresh produce. There are more ways to get your vegetables than ever before.
Of course, for many people, eating at a restaurant or subscribing to a meal plan is beyond their budget. Many Americans are Dietary guidelines for fruits and vegetables based on costonly increases with inflation. Regular vegetables aren’t cheap, but powdered ones aren’t either. According to a recent roundup, powdered vegetables range from $1 to $3.30 per drink. luck; Buy 1 month of AG1 for $99. The number of vegetables in each unit of green powder varies by brand, but even those that provide three to four servings of vegetables per scoop aren’t necessarily cost-effective. 12 oz bag of frozen broccoli from Walmart. 4 One serving of vegetables, price is Just over $1.
The real appeal of powdered greens may not be the time or cost, but that they feel like a cheat code for your health. A company called Croma Wellness market Supergreen Elixir Jar as “the easiest way to nourish your body.” Another Bloom says: “You don’t need to make any radical changes to feel your best this year. All you need to do is drink a drink every day!” Andrew Huberman, a neuroscientist who hosts a popular health podcast, also said: scientific advisor For AG1, it says it’s “the simplest and easiest way” to get your daily nutrients. In contrast, the hard way is to overhaul your diet and lifestyle to ensure you always eat enough vegetables and love them. Doing so is guaranteed to improve your health, but it won’t happen overnight or without a lot of effort. You certainly won’t experience the feeling of accomplishment you get right after downing a glass of vegetables.
However, as much as it’s easier to eat vegetables, it can be difficult to break the habit. Children munching on lima beans while holding their noses are not that different from adults gulping down sweet vegetables through straws. Sometimes parents add beet puree to brownies, mash pumpkin into macaroni and cheese, or mix black beans to make burgers. If you don’t, your child won’t eat it. However, this practice is contested. Some argue that children should learn to enjoy vegetables. Adults should do the same.
Powdered vegetables are the latest complication in America’s long and troubled relationship with vegetables. Vegetables are considered at best as a side dish. The worst thing you can do is spit it out on a napkin when no one is looking. Vegetarianism has been ridiculed for over a century. It’s baked into pop culture that all kids hate the color green. The idea that vegetables are second-class food is so pervasive that it’s easy to overlook the fact that they actually taste really good now, so much so that you don’t have to gulp down sugary drinks. Powdered vegetables may be helping some adults eat more vegetables, but they perpetuate the underlying problem. In other words, they still treat vegetables as their own. have I want to eat more than I want to eat.
