Eat Your Vegetables Day

_{Photo © Christine Benlafquih}

I'm not sure how a holiday like Eat Your Vegetables Day originated, but somewhere someone has dubbed June 17th with this wacky title.

Although I doubt many people will really make an extra effort to eat vegetables today, I thought it worth pointing out that Moroccans need no encouragement at all to eat their veggies. Even picky Moroccan kids dig right into healthy vegetable-intensive dishes without balking. Part of it may be cultural – we naturally acquire a taste for the foods we're raised with – but in the case of Moroccan cuisine I think great seasoning plays a large role. Some dishes are almost impossible not to like!

Below are some Moroccan recipes that just might win over even stubborn veggie-haters in your family.

• Lamb Tagine with Peas and Zucchini
• Couscous with Seven Vegetables
• Chicken Tagine with Potatoes and Carrots
• Zaalouk - Cooked Eggplant and Tomato Salad
• Taktouka - Cooked Roasted Pepper and Tomato Salad