'Eat Your Veggies Day' June 17

Simon O'Donovan
Jun 17
2 min read

Eat Your Veggies Day – June 17

Eat Your Veggies Day is a fun annual celebration that encourages people of all ages to enjoy more vegetables and appreciate the important role they play in a healthy, balanced diet. It is a great opportunity to reminisce about favourite family meals, home-grown produce, allotments, shopping at greengrocers and traditional recipes from years gone by.

Facts About Eat Your Veggies Day & the 5 A Day Campaign

Eat Your Veggies Day shines a spotlight on the many health benefits of eating vegetables, which are naturally rich in vitamins, minerals and fibre. The day encourages everyone to try something new, rediscover old favourites and include more colourful produce in everyday meals.

The 5 A Day campaign recommends eating at least five portions of fruit and vegetables each day as part of a balanced diet. A portion is roughly 80 grams, and fresh, frozen, canned and many dried varieties all count towards the target. Eating a wide variety of fruit and vegetables has been linked with better overall health and can help reduce the risk of certain long-term illnesses.

Allotments have long been a cherished part of British life. They became especially important during the Second World War when the “Dig for Victory” campaign encouraged families to grow their own fruit and vegetables to help feed the nation. Even today, keeping an allotment provides fresh produce, gentle exercise, time outdoors and a strong sense of community. For many people, it also brings back happy memories of gardening with parents or grandparents and the satisfaction of harvesting food they have grown themselves.

Today's CST Activities

🥕 Name as Many Vegetables as You Can

A colourful picture challenge designed to stimulate memory, language and visual recognition. How many vegetables can you identify, and which ones have you eaten recently?

🍅 Vegetable, Fruit, Seed or Nut?

Can you tell the difference? Test your knowledge with surprising examples such as tomatoes, pumpkins, peppers, aubergines, peas, sweetcorn and cashews. You may be amazed by some of the answers!

🌱 What’s the Difference?

Discover the simple science behind the foods we eat. Learn what makes something a vegetable, fruit, seed or nut, and why some familiar foods blur the boundaries between the categories.

🥔 Name as Many Vegetable Dishes as You Can

From bubble and squeak to cauliflower cheese, vegetable curry to leek and potato soup, celebrate the huge variety of delicious meals where vegetables take centre stage. Share favourites and family recipes.

CST Songs of the Day

🎵 “Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’” – A timeless classic celebrating fields, fresh air and crops growing in the countryside.

🎵 “Green Onions” – The instantly recognisable instrumental hit by Booker T. & the M.G.’s, perfect for sparking memories and discussion.

🎵 “The Onion Song” – Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell’s soulful reminder that love and understanding matter more than material things.

🎵 “Life Is a Minestrone” – The witty 10cc hit that uses food as a playful metaphor for life, making it an ideal conversation starter for today’s theme.

Throughout today’s activities we’ll be sharing memories, learning interesting facts, singing familiar songs and celebrating the wonderful variety of vegetables that brighten our plates and our lives.