prestige and availability pushed grains,
vegetables, and fruits to the side of the plate
and the end of the meal. And for decades,
nutritional science affirmed their accessory
status. Fruits and vegetables in particular were
considered to be the source of a few nutrients
that we need only in small amounts, and of
mechanically useful roughage. In recent years,
though, we’ve begun to realize just how many
valuable substances plant foods have always
held for us. And we’re still learning.
Essential Nutrients in Fruits
and Vegetables: Vitamins
Most fruits and vegetables contribute only
modestly to our intake of proteins and
calories, but they’re our major source for
several vitamins. They provide nearly all of
our vitamin C, much of our folic acid, and
half of our vitamin A. Each of these plays a
number of roles in the metabolism of our