Question

Radha comes back from school hungry and went to her mother in the kitchen. Radha’s mother was peeling vegetables. She noted that the peels were varied thick and her mother then started washing the vegetables. Radha asked her to stop washing the vegetables. Her mother was surprised and asked why? Radha told her all she knew about how nutrients are washed away if we and then wash them?

(a) If thick peels are removed from vegetables, what happened?

(b) Washing of vegetables after peeling is not a good practice. Can you tell why?

(c) What are those components that get washed away?

(d) Give two examples of vitamins and minerals containing food.
(e) Do you think Radha has any value? Name them.

Answer 1

(a).

1. Various vegetables contain most of the nutrients present just below their skin surface.
2. Thus, removing the peels from the vegetable leads to the elimination of nutrients.

(b).

1. Thus, the washing of vegetables after the removal of peels or after the cutting will lead to the elimination of water-soluble vitamins and minerals from them and can lower the nutrient level of the vegetable.
2. Hence, washing vegetables after peeling is not a good practice.

(c).

1. Water-soluble vitamins like A and C and minerals like zinc are washed away.
2. Also, other vitamins like vitamin D, E and K and minerals like iron, calcium and phosphorus are washed away.

(d).

1. Vegetables that contain vitamins and minerals are tomatoes, green leafy vegetables, potatoes, etc.

(e).

1. Yes, Radha is good observant, sincere, helpful and knowledgeable.
2. She used her knowledge in the right way and her mother for doing incorrect work.