What is the number one vegetable for dogs

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated November 18, 2024

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The 14 Most Nutrient-Dense Vegetables

While all vegetables are nutritious, some are more nutritious than others. If youre looking to spice up your diet with nutrient-dense veggies, try adding spinach, broccoli, garlic, beets, or others to the menu.

Its no secret that vegetables which are loaded with fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants are a must-have in a healthy diet.

Although all vegetables are healthy, several stand out for their supply of nutrients and powerful health benefits.

Here are 14 of the most nutrient-dense veggies available.

This leafy green tops the chart as one of the most nutrient-dense vegetables.

Thats because 1 cup (30 grams (g)) of raw spinach provides 16% of the Daily Value (DV) for vitamin A plus 120% of the DV for vitamin K all for just 7 calories.

Spinach also boasts antioxidants, which may help reduce your chance of developing diseases such as cancer.

Carrots are packed with vitamin A, delivering 119% of the DV in just 1 cup (128 g). It also contains nutrients like vitamin C and potassium.

They also contain beta-carotene, an antioxidant that provides them with a vibrant orange color. Your body converts it into vitamin A.

One study of more than 57,000 people associated eating at least 24 carrots per week with a 17% lower risk of colorectal cancer in the long run.

A review of 18 studies also found that carrots may also reduce the chance of developing lung cancer.

Just 1 cup (91 g) of raw broccoli provides 77% of the DV for vitamin K, 90% of the DV for vitamin C, and a good amount of folate, manganese, and potassium.

Broccoli is rich in a sulfur-containing plant compound called glucosinolate, as well as its byproduct sulforaphane. It may be able to help protect against cancer, as well as decrease inflammation linked to chronic conditions like heart disease.

Garlic is very nutritious while fairly low on calories, and most people usually consume a small amount as an ingredient in cooking. One clove of garlic only has about 4.5 calories. It contains nutrients such as selenium, vitamin C, vitamin B6, and fiber,

It has also been used as a medicinal plant for millennia. Its main active compound is allicin, which has been shown to aid blood sugar and heart health.

Although further research is needed, test-tube and animal studies also suggest that allicin has powerful cancer-fighting properties.

are a great source of fiber, an important nutrient that supports bowel regularity, heart health, and blood sugar control. Each serving is also packed with folate, magnesium, and potassium, as well as vitamins A, C, and K.

They also contain kaempferol, an antioxidant that may be particularly effective in preventing cell damage.

Kaempferol has also been shown to have anti-inflammatory and cancer-fighting properties, which may protect against disease.

Only 1 cup (21 g) of raw kale is loaded with potassium, calcium, copper, and vitamins A, B, C, and K.

In one small study, eating kale alongside a high carb meal was more effective at preventing blood sugar spikes than eating a high carb meal alone.

Consuming Kale as a powder (made from dried leaves) or drinking its juice has been found in various studies to support decreasing blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels. That said, more research is needed to confirm these findings regarding kale juice specifically.

Peas are a starchy vegetable, which means they have more carbs and calories than non-starchy veggies and may affect blood sugar levels when eaten in large amounts.

Nevertheless, just 1 cup (160 g) contains 9 g of fiber, 9 g of protein, and vitamins A, C, and K, as well as riboflavin, thiamine, niacin, and folate.

Because theyre high in fiber, peas support digestive health by enhancing the beneficial bacteria in your gut.

Moreover, they are rich in saponins, a group of plant compounds that may help reduce tumor growth and cause cancer cell death.

One cup (36 g) of Swiss chard contains just 7 calories but nearly 1 g of fiber, 1 g of protein, and lots of manganese, magnesium, and vitamins A, C, and K.

Its also loaded with health-promoting antioxidants and plant compounds, including betalains and flavonoids.

Though more studies are needed, research has found these compounds may be anti-inflammatory and help reduce the chance of various chronic diseases

Beets are a vibrant, versatile root vegetable that packs fiber, folate, and manganese into each serving with very few calories.

Theyre also rich in nitrates, which your body converts into nitric oxide a compound that can help dilate blood vessels. This may help reduce blood pressure and lower the chance of developing heart disease.

Whats more, beets and their juice have been linked to improved endurance and athletic performance.

Just 1/2 cup (90 g) of cooked asparagus provides 33% of the DV for folate, as well as plenty of selenium, vitamin K, thiamine, and riboflavin.

Getting enough folate from foods such as asparagus may protect against disease and prevent developmental irregularities of the neural tube during pregnancy.

One animal study also suggests that asparagus extract protects against liver and kidney damage by reducing oxidative stress.

Just 1 cup (89 g) of raw red cabbage contains 2 g of fiber and 56% of the DV for vitamin C.

Its also rich in anthocyanins, a group of plant compounds that contribute to its distinct color and numerous benefits.

In one animal study, red cabbage extract reversed oxidative stress in rats with high cholesterol levels.

Similarly, in another study of mice fed a high fat diet, red cabbage microgreens significantly lowered levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol and decreased weight gain.

One medium sweet potato contains about 4 g of fiber, 2 g of protein, and a good amount of potassium, manganese, and vitamins B6 and C.

This root veggie is also high in beta-carotene, packing 122% of the DV for this vitamin.

According to a review of in vitro and animal 23 studies, sweet potatoes may be particularly effective for regulating blood sugar and cholesterol levels. However, human studies are needed

A mere 1 cup (130 g) of cooked collard greens boasts about 6 g of fiber, 4 g of protein, and 25% of the DV for calcium.

In fact, collard greens are one of the best plant sources of calcium. which is a mineral that plays a key role in muscle function, nerve transmission, hormone production, and bone health.

Some research links an increased intake of specific vegetables, including collard greens, to a lower chance of developing glaucoma, an eye condition that can lead to blindness (50).

Another review also associated a higher intake of cruciferous vegetables such as collard greens with an 8% and 19% lower risk of colorectal and stomach cancers, respectively.

Cauliflower is known for both its versatility and its stellar nutrient profile. Just 1 cup (155 g) cooked packs 3 g of fiber, 3 g of protein, and a variety of other important nutrients, including folate and vitamins C and K.

Like other cruciferous veggies, it

Its a great source of compounds such as glucosinolates and isothiocyanates, both of which possess potent cancer-fighting properties.

Cauliflower is also often used as a low carb alternative and may help support weight loss.

Not only are most vegetables brimming with antioxidants and an array of essential vitamins and minerals, but many also offer health-promoting properties.

Although the veggies listed above are great nutrient-dense options to add to your diet, many others are loaded with nutrients as well.

For the best health outcomes, try to consume a variety of vegetables to take advantage of their unique health benefits. Be sure to include them as part of a balanced diet.

Veggie Dogs Have Come a Long Way (Sort Of)

Im not willing to admit how many years ago this was now, but when I turned 15, I became a vegetarian. Predictably, because I was a teenager, I was sanctimonious about it, chastising everyone around me for not caring about animals or the earth or whatever else I could think of that they should care about in my extremely informed opinion. Being vegetarian and caring about the world thank you very much was a very outsized part of my personality.

Back then, especially because I was 15 years old with little income and worldliness, I defaulted to what I thought were the best options for a vegetarian to eat. Namely, fake chicken nuggets and hot dogs, with the occasional chickpea dish thrown in for health. I didnt know where to find these things nor did I know there were any other places besides my local Acme, a grocery chain in Philly that is basically fine. My hot dog choices back then were Smart Dogs and MorningStar Farms Veggie Dogs. And out of necessity, I loved them both.

Fast forward [redacted] number of years and the landscape for vegetarians has completely changed. The breadth and availability of products means that it feels easier than ever to forgo meat, even if the taste of meat is still your thing. Developments in mushroom-based meats, vegetarian burgers that bleed, and brands getting into plant-based products of all kinds means that the hot dog section of the freezer or fridge aisle is no longer a sad, lonely place where bossy teenagers get their kicks. For a number of years now, barbecues havent been the same.

Whether you are a vegetarian or vegan, hosting someone who is, or just generally interested in eating more plant-based foods, the new products on the market are almost too numerous to consider. Whats a person to do? How to decide what to serve? How to even understand what your preferences may be?

There are a few ways to figure out where you stand on the vegetarian hot dog spectrum: Do you prefer a simulacrum of a hot dog and its smoky, meaty flavor? Or are you looking for something totally original in its taste? Is the semblance of health important to you or do you prefer to feel like everyone feels after eating a hot dog (like you need to lie down)? How do you top your dog and does that factor into how you assess the flavor? And, likely most important of all, how does it perform on the grill does it blister, does it burn, does it fall apart?

In mid-April of 2022, I gathered an esteemed group of friends vegans, vegetarians, and meat-eaters, even one professional chef to assess 10 brands and varieties of vegetarian hot dogs for these exact qualities. The hot dog taste test (incidentally, also the name of an amazing illustrated book by BoJack Horsemans Lisa Hanawalt) was judged on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the worst and 10 being the best. Hot dog raters were then asked to provide tasting notes and a yes or no answer to whether they felt the vegetarian hot dog was similar enough to a real hot dog, in case that was something that mattered to them. So if you want add vegetarian hot dogs to your cookout repertoire, heres some guidance on where to start.

The Best of the Best

MorningStar Farms

All those years ago, MorningStar Farms Veggie Dogs (as well as MorningStar Farms Veggie Chikn Nuggets) were the go-to for vegetarians looking for a standard veggie meat product that tasted adjacent enough to the real deal that it was actually worth eating. To my surprise, MorningStars vegetarian hot dogs have really held up over the years. With the highest rating of the group, every single participant noted that the dog tasted similar to a real hot dog. The inside was so hot doggy, one friend wrote. Others remarked on the sweet, tomato-y flavor of the dog, and that it had a nice smell and look, though the grill chef noted that it browned too quickly. The MorningStar dog also fits rather neatly into a bun, so when concealed with toppings, it could convince even the most dedicated meat-eater that this dog is no joke.

Ikea

Most people associate Ikea with furniture thats hard to put together, relationship-ending fights, and cheap, satisfying hot dogs. Nothing feels as good as buying a particle-board nightstand while stuffing a hot dog in your face and wondering if you and Jamie are really meant to be together. Not many people, on the other hand, think of Ikea and vegetarian hot dogs in the same way, likely because not many people know that Ikea makes them. A friend swears by them so deeply that he came to the party with his own in tow. And what a surprising result: The hot dog which is actually more like an old-school veggie patty, with kale, lentils, quinoa, onions, and wheat protein, all smooshed together and visible came in second place. Nice to see the vegetables! one friend wrote. Kinda good. Looks and tastes like food, said another. Like a healthy egg roll, chimed in a third. Though no one said it tasted anything like a real hot dog, that didnt seem to matter.

Field Roast

Among the fake meat varieties, Field Roast has historically been one of my and many of my colleagues absolute favorites. The smoked apple and sage sausages are in my regular lunch rotation. But I hadnt ever tried their so-called signature stadium dogs, and on the list of veggie dogs, Field Roast ranked high for one specific quality that no hot dog should be without: smokiness. Almost every participant said that the Field Roast ballpark dog tasted like a real hot dog (save for one comment: Meh), but smokiness came up more than a handful of times. Smoky, snappy texture, one wrote just like a hot dog from the ballpark should be. There was a slight oiliness that didnt appeal to the crowd, but maybe thats just what youd expect from a stadium dog. Or as one friend put it, Compact but vaguely realistic, I guess.

Really Pretty Good

Beyond Meat

Say what you will about the difference between sausages and hot dogs (all hot dogs are sausages, but not all sausages are hot dogs, or something? I dont know) but when youre a vegetarian and have limited options, sometimes its best not to quibble over the details. Though Beyond Meats bratwurst sausages were unlike most standard hot dogs and more something youd want to eat with roasted peppers, they were pretty damn good. They had a nice snap when you bit into them, and a fatty quality just like sausages normally do, though some disliked the greasiness. Many noted that they werent comparable to regular hot dogs (a perhaps disqualifying offense, but once again, beggars cant be choosers), yet appreciated the meaty, smoky flavor. One friend mentioned their breakfasty taste. While they were perhaps too chunky for breakfast, they had a nice savoriness all the same.

Lightlife/Very Good Butchers

Tied for fifth place were hot dogs from Lightlife (the brand that makes the Smart Dogs I remember eating in my youth) and Very Good Butchers, a newer brand whose hot dogs are made from ingredients like navy beans, onions, and wheat gluten, and encased in must-be-removed plastic. The Lightlife dog, much like the MorningStar dog, hit some of the marks when it came to true hot dog comparison. Neutral hot dog. Perfectly acceptable, one participant wrote. Quite hot doggy, said another. The Very Good Butchers option was pretty salty to most, with a flavor confusingly similar to that of a corn dog though that wasnt necessarily a turnoff. Flavorful and moist, one friend noted approvingly.

Flawed But Maybe Theyll Work It Out

Impossible Foods

Given all of the attention lavished on Impossible Foods, it was inevitable that the company would one day unveil a veggie hot dog and sausage line to match its bleeding fake-meat burgers. Like Beyond Meats sausage, Impossibles bratwursts felt a little like they snuck into a party through the back door. But unlike the former, Impossibles were more breakfast-y than a dinner or lunch sausage, with a pretty heavy herb quotient. Herby but not synergistic, one friend wrote, which I still dont quite understand. They had an overwhelming taste to another, with a slight sweetness that many liked. The downside was there was a not-especially-nice aftertaste. Tastes like a breakfast-y hamburger, said one. If thats a genre of food that youre into, this may be for you.

BeLeaf

On the lower-ranked end of the spectrum, taster commentary turned almost exclusively to the unnaturalness of the flavor, which is similar to the criticism sometimes leveled at meat hot dog brands. When does a tube of processed meat start tasting like a tube of processed meat? BeLeaf dogs had the appearance of a hot dog, but their flavor tried way too hard to mimic the real deal. Can only taste smoke, one friend wrote. Too smoky, said another. The texture wasnt bad and resembled that of a hot dog in some ways, but overall felt like a poor attempt to mimic a beloved barbecue staple. Tastes like generic plant protein, one friend wrote. Others were less convinced: Whoa. Appears to be a hot dog but is quite fucked.

Tofurky

Most vegetarians associate Tofurky with Thanksgiving: While everyone else is tucking into a bird, a well-meaning aunt presents you with a loaf of vital wheat gluten in the shape of a bulbous log. What happens, then, when this same log is made into a hot dog? To many, not much. Cylindrical Tofurky, one wrote. Bland but oddly peppery. Strangely, some noted that it tasted more like buttery pasta or matzo ball soup or corn than an actual smoky hot dog. The color, which was practically gray, also caused an uproar. It was so off-putting that it was hard to imagine the hot dog as anything other than a reconstituted Thanksgiving log.

Maybe Next Time

Yeah Dawg

Very few hot dogs received as much criticism as the Yeah Dawg brand, which is a shame because its one of the few with a fun name. The flavor was more like savory lentils and the texture was spongy and nothing like a hot dog. While lentils are a fun and frequent meal for vegetarians, you dont necessarily want their flavor to show up in a hot dog its better saved for a dish with rice. Weirdly, several participants compared the taste to Stove Top Stuffing. Not a bad thing, but not a good thing, either.

Uptons Naturals

Finally, in last place, is the Uptons Naturals Updog, a truly salty hot dog with a texture that spoke to no one. Maybe after an ultra-marathon, one participant wrote, which is confusing feedback when you really think about it. Nearly every hot dog taste-tester commented on the saltiness of the Updog salty as shit, one friend observed and the fact that it tasted vaguely like Cajun seasoning. Like the Very Good Butcher dog, it also tasted like cornmeal, which makes you wonder if veggie hot dog brands should pivot to corn dogs instead. (Though for the record, it contains no cornmeal.) Eating vegetarian hot dogs all night long may not be most peoples chosen activity (in fact, many tasters requested a real hot dog at the end of the night), but their range gave many of us something to think about and also some options to bring to a barbecue. Updog, unfortunately, isnt among them. As one participant wrote: why.

Nicole Miles is an illustrator from the Bahamas living in West Yorkshire, U.K.