What are 3 aims of cooking vegetables?

Here are 3 aims of cooking vegetables, focusing on the practical benefits:

1. To make them more digestible: Cooking softens the tough fibers in many vegetables, making them easier to chew and digest. This is especially important for young children and older adults.

2. To enhance their flavor: Cooking can bring out the natural sweetness, depth, and complexity of flavors in vegetables. This can make them more appealing and enjoyable to eat.

3. To kill harmful bacteria: Cooking vegetables thoroughly kills any bacteria that may be present, making them safe to eat. This is particularly important for raw vegetables that are grown in soil or water.