What plants are the best to grow for a complete diet?

[Miguel Afonso]

What plants would you pick to grow in your system if you were to survive using aquaponics?

[Miguel Afonso]

Kale 

Have wide array of available vitamins and minerals. They are particularly high in chlorophyl, Vitamins A, C and K, potassium, magnesium, iron, folate,  lutein and phytochemicals. Very easy to grow. A little on the tough side - to soften, hit softly with mallet and add lemon juice, then add to salad.

[Eric Warwick]

Just eat it raw! I think that many root crops and herbs would also work.

Miguel Afonso said:

Kale 

Have wide array of available vitamins and minerals. They are particularly high in chlorophyl, Vitamins A, C and K, potassium, magnesium, iron, folate,  lutein and phytochemicals. Very easy to grow. A little on the tough side - to soften, hit softly with mallet and add lemon juice, then add to salad.

 

[Teresa N Florida]

One of my favorite sites for nutrient information is

http://www.healthalternatives2000.com/vegetables-nutrition-chart.html

 

But don't forget the extreme importance of vitamin B12 (can't get that from veggies and fruit)

Vitamin B12 is naturally found in animal products, including fish, meat, poultry, eggs, milk, and milk products. Vitamin B12 is generally not present in plant foods, but fortified breakfast cereals are a readily available source of vitamin B12 with high bioavailability for vegetarians. Some nutritional yeast products also contain vitamin B12. Fortified foods vary in formulation, so it is important to read product labels to determine which added nutrients they contain.

 

Vitamin B12 is required for proper red blood cell formation, neurological function, and DNA synthesis.

[Carey Ma]

I love to comment but get frustrated when the host of these topics can't be bothered with writing more than two words.

I assume you are talking about apocalyptic type self dependent food security. In that case Kale alone wold do little to stave off malnutrition. Then you need to replace those elements/ compounds that you withdrew from the system, therefore AP is not suitable/ sustainable as a sole source. It doesn't matter what you eat if you don't first put it in the feed source. Symbiotic companion systems have to be attached to make it sustainable.

In other words, our waste has to be included in the overall process of our nutrient cycle including AP as well as an external replenishing source. So our fish food has to contain all these elements/ compounds before we can absorb them to make use of.

I believe in bio diversity so I would not recommend any small list but as large a variety as possible. 

I'll write more later if anyone is really interested....

Cheers

[Scott W F]

Carey - I am interested. Are you saying that feeding fish the normal fish diet and then raising a balanced range of fruits and veggies would not work for the long term? I am new so I am not trying to be a pain but I really want to know. If the fish eat what we suspect is their normal wild diet - and we humans grow a variety that can cover our nutritional needs - well what are we lacking? I can't imagine that we would have to feed the fish 'fishfood' that is fortified with vitamins, etc. I would not necessarily advocate AP as the only source - I think the bigger the variety the better the chance for a well-rounded and sustainable food system. Maybe expound on your idea for me, the layperson - I really do appreciate it and am thirsty for this information.

Scott

Carey Ma said:

I love to comment but get frustrated when the host of these topics can't be bothered with writing more than two words.

I assume you are talking about apocalyptic type self dependent food security. In that case Kale alone wold do little to stave off malnutrition. Then you need to replace those elements/ compounds that you withdrew from the system, therefore AP is not suitable/ sustainable as a sole source. It doesn't matter what you eat if you don't first put it in the feed source. Symbiotic companion systems have to be attached to make it sustainable.

In other words, our waste has to be included in the overall process of our nutrient cycle including AP as well as an external replenishing source. So our fish food has to contain all these elements/ compounds before we can absorb them to make use of.

I believe in bio diversity so I would not recommend any small list but as large a variety as possible. 

I'll write more later if anyone is really interested....

Cheers