10/07/2026
There’s a question I get asked all the time: should I be eating my vegetables raw or cooked?
If you think raw is a better choice (many of my clients do), what I’m sharing today may surprise you.
Some nutrients, like vitamin C and folate, are better preserved when vegetables are eaten raw.
Others, like lycopene in tomatoes and beta-carotene in carrots, actually become easier for your body to absorb after they’ve been cooked.
Heat breaks down plant cell walls in a way that makes certain compounds more available, not less.
And for some people, cooked vegetables are simply easier to digest - softer fiber, gentler texture, less gut discomfort.
So which is better? You don’t have to pick a side.
A mix of raw and cooked vegetables throughout the week means you get more of everything - more variety, more nutrients, more ways to actually enjoy eating them.
Swipe through for a breakdown of which nutrients benefit from cooking, which are better preserved raw, and the cooking methods that keep the most nutrition intact.
🗣️ More Recipes and nutrition tips headed your way in my new cookbook!
Cooking Sober 72 Recipes to Support your Recovery & Sobriety
Available October 15 on my website and online retailers.
