New Survey Shows The Unexpected Vegetable America Loves Most

While we all know their nutritional importance, it turns out that most Americans don't actually consume the recommended dose of fruits and vegetables each day. In 2019, just over 10% of Americans ate the recommended amount, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Of course, it can be a little intimidating to try something new in the kitchen, especially if you're cooking for a crowd of picky eaters. Luckily, a recent survey might be able to help you find that crowd-pleasing veggie entrée.

Frozen and canned vegetable brand Green Giant conducted a survey of more than 5,000 Americans to find out more about their favorite vegetables, and then crowned America's most popular one (via PR Newswire). The annual survey was conducted to celebrate National Eat Your Vegetable Day, which occurs on June 17.

One of the most surprising results was that most parents reported that their children enjoy eating vegetables (via PR Newswire). Kids are often seen has the hardest crowd to persuade to eat vegetables, but about 68% of participating parents said that their children enjoy them. Another surprise was that more than half of states flipped their results from the prior year. For example, Iowa swapped last year's favorite corn for broccoli. It wasn't the only one that chose the common cruciferous, either.

According to Green Giant's survey, broccoli is the most popular vegetable in the United States (via PR Newswire). The dark green super food was voted number one by 29 different states. Sweet corn, the highlight of many summer harvests, came in second place, followed by carrots and potatoes. Asparagus took home fifth place, but didn't receive enough votes to take home the top spot in any state.

This isn't the first time broccoli has claimed the crown. It was also found to be America's favorite vegetable in Green Giant's 2020 survey, and data from Bolthouse Farms showed a similar result in the same year.

The survey did not make it clear why broccoli was such a crowd-pleaser. It may have something to do with its versatility and also its high nutritional value. According to Healthline, broccoli is a great source of protein, iron, fiber, and potassium along with vitamins C and K. It can also be served up steamed, braised in olive oil, or charred in cast-iron, and can be served up as a pesto, in a casserole with cheese, in pasta with pistachios and Meyer Lemons, or as the key ingredient in a delicious salad. There's no end to the number of great ways to enjoy this healthy and crowd-pleasing vegetable.