Stop wasting time peeling your vegetables

If you want maximum nutrition and save some time, then don't bother peeling your vegetables. That's the message dietitian Themis Chryssidis of Sprout Cooking School wants to put out. He claims there’s hardly a vegetable that can't be eaten with its skin on.

"The skin has heaps of nutrition and if time is limited, let’s not add another step to that food preparation process."

The big bonus of eating unpeeled vegetables and fruit is the insoluble fibre they contain. "It helps bulk out our stools and makes going to the bathroom easier. It also helps reduce our absorption of cholesterol and keep us full for longer, which is important for energy levels and weight maintenance."

With the exception of onions, Chryssidis says there is hardly a vegetable that needs to be peeled; that goes for carrots, radishes and potatoes as well. He advises not to peel them: keep the nutrients, keep the fibre, save the time. Just give them a really good wash before you eat them.

As for pumpkin, Chryssidis tells coach.nine.com.au that the skin goes crunchy in the oven to add another texture to a dish. "It’s delicious and crispy.”