This post is brought to to you by VSP Vision Care. All opinions are my own.
With Thanksgiving right around the corner, it’s time to start browsing through recipes in search of everyone’s seasonal favorites. A moist, flavorful turkey, creamy mashed potatoes, green bean casserole piled high with french fried onions, sweet potato casserole and of course, pumpkin pie for dessert!
Did you know that pumpkin is actually good for you? Aside from being absolutely delicious, one cup of cooked pumpkin contains more than 200 percent of your daily recommended allowance of Vitamin A! According to the National Institute of Health, not only is pumpkin rich in Vitamin A, but the rich orange color of pumpkin actually comes from carotenoid compounds, which include beta-carotene, which once digested, is converted into another form of Vitamin A — the combination of both helps our vision!
Who would have thought that such a delicious Thanksgiving staple was actually so great for our vision? Now you have even more reason to indulge in all things pumpkin this Thanksgiving, like these Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars!
Pumpkin is not the only food that aids in vision, and it is quite easy to incorporate lots of eye-healthy foods into your Thanksgiving meal. Eveyrone loves sweet potato casserole, and sweet potatoes are known to be rich in Omega-3s! Studies have shown that Omega-3 can help protect the tiny blood vessels in the eyes and help ensure moisture. Throw a little avocado on your salad before dinner and you’ll get a great source of Vitamins A, C, B6, and E, which can help defend your eyes against macular degeneration, cataracts and other age-related eye diseases. While you’re planning these Thanksgiving recipes, don’t forget to add creamed spinach to the list – spinach is a great source of calcium, iron, thiamin and other vitamins to help prevent cataracts.
Just like we insurance our general health with insurance, we should look out for our eyes with regular eye exams. Many people overlook vision insurance, but it should be a vital part of your coverage. VSP Vision Care, the nation’s largest not-for-profit vision care company, offers affordable plans to fit every family’s need and every budget.
We often take our vision for granted, but we would literally be lost without it! Incorporating these eye-healthy foods not only into our Thanksgiving meal, but year-round, is an easy way to take care of our eyes. You can visit the SeeMuchMore.com Learn About Your Eyes website to learn more about eye healthy foods and find recipes!
Alex Jennings
It’s often said that carrots support healthy eye function, which is too bad because I don’t like eating them. I’m glad there’s an alternative to carrots, and I’m glad that it’s a vegetable that I actually like: pumpkins. When I’m home from work today, I’m going to try baking some of those pumpkin chocolate chip bars—they look delicious!
Alex Jennings |