11 Fruits and Vegetables High in Vitamin K

Last updated: July 16, 2023

A guide with 11 of my favorite fruits and vegetables high in vitamin K, plus different ways to best prepare and serve them.

Vitamin K is essential for the body in different ways. It is best known as the vitamin that helps to form blood clots and prevent excessive bleeding. It is also suggested that vitamin K helps with the formation and repair of bones.

While vitamin K deficiency is extremely rare, it is important that we maintain a diet that provides us with enough of it. The recommended daily intake is 120 mcg for men over 19 years old and 90 mcg for women 19 years and older.

Consuming the below fruits and vegetables regularly will provide you with vitamin K and many other nutrients.

8 Vitamin K Rich Vegetables

Let’s kick off with my eight favorite vegetables high in vitamin K. It’s no surprise that they’re all green, because green veggies are known for their vitamin K content.

If you’d like to learn more about the nutritional profiles of certain fruits and vegetables, head over to the FoodData Central website where you can search for foods and get an overview of all their nutrients.

1. Kale

Fresh kale
Fresh kale

Kale is a delicious leafy vegetable that is rich in vitamin K and offers plenty of vitamin A, vitamin C, and manganese.

This power vegetable is available year-round and works well in salads and smoothies, or you could even make deliciously crunchy kale chips.

Check out my guide to blending kale for some practical tips if you’d like to include kale in your smoothies.

2. Asparagus

Asparagus
Asparagus

This summer vegetable is very rich in antioxidants, which helps us to stay healthy. Asparagus is also high in nutrients such as vitamins A, C, E, and K, and folate and fiber.

This may come as a surprise, but I’ve put asparagus at the top of my list of vegetables for picky eaters, because there are so many different ways you can prepare and serve asparagus to those who don’t like eating veggies.

Roasting asparagus with other vegetables is a good way to get kids excited. When cooking, it’s best not to overcook asparagus to retain most of its nutrients.

3. Collard Greens

Collard greens
Collard greens

Collard greens, or collards, are part of the Brassica Oleracea family, which is also home to vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, and Brussels sprouts.

Besides vitamin K, collards are an excellent source of vitamin A, vitamin C, and folate. They are mostly available in winter and have antibacterial and antiviral properties to help strengthen your immune system.

Before cooking, make sure to wash collard greens properly and remove the stems. Collards taste pretty bitter and generally work well in meat and soup recipes.

4. Brussels Sprouts

Brussels sprouts
Brussels sprouts

The bitter taste of Brussels sprouts may not please everyone, but they sure have unique nutritional benefits. Brussels sprouts are low in calories and rich in vitamin K, vitamin C, folate, and fiber.

Brussels sprouts are primarily available during the colder winter months. They can be sliced raw and added to salads, or roasted whole or halved.

Did you know there is also a purple version of Brussels sprouts? Read more about that in my guide with the most fascinating purple vegetables from around the world.

5. Celery

Celery
Celery

Celery has a unique flavor that is both sweet and salty, but many are somewhat turned off by its stringy texture. One way to get around that is by cutting off the outer layer, which contains most of those fibrous strings.

Whether you serve celery with or without strings, it can be helpful to pair it with a spread. Cream cheese also tastes remarkably well with a piece of celery.

Check out my list of healthy work snacks for some ideas for things to eat in the office, which also includes celery with hummus; yum!

6. Spring Onions

Spring onions
Spring onions

Spring onions are essentially young onions that are harvested before they’ve developed a whole bulb.

Also called green onions or scallions, spring onions are available all year round and are also very easy to grow in a vegetable garden at home.

They’re not only easy to grow, but spring onions are also an incredibly versatile ingredient in salads, salsas, soups, and various Asian recipes.

7. Broccoli

Broccoli
Broccoli

Some love it; others hate it. Broccoli certainly isn’t for everyone, but this recognizable green vegetable packs a punch when it comes to nutrition.

Broccoli is a true nutritional powerhouse, rich in potassium, zinc, calcium, vitamins C and K, and various other vitamins and minerals.

How do we best eat broccoli? Most people would cook or steam broccoli, but you can also eat it raw and add it to salads and pasta. You can also roast broccoli with a bit of oil for a crispier taste.

8. Nopales

Nopales
Nopales

Another vegetable that deserves a spot on this list is the nopal cactus. And you might be thinking, what on earth is nopal?

I discovered nopales a few years ago when I visited a Mexican grocery store not too far away from where I was living at the time.

Nopales are essentially the paddles of the nopal cactus, which is native to Mexico. They are incredibly versatile vegetables that taste a bit citrus-like and have a crunchy and squishy texture.

Check out my guide to nopales, and read everything about the nopal cactus, how to cook nopales, their nutritional profile, and so much more!

3 Vitamin K Rich Fruits

Here are my three favorite fruits with high vitamin K content.

1. Cucumber

Cucumber slices
Cucumber slices

I could have included the cucumber in the vegetable list above, but technically it is a fruit. Cheeky, I know.

This may come as a bit of a shock, but cucumbers are, in fact, 96% water. In addition, they also tend to have quite a neutral flavor. But don’t let those facts fool you because cucumbers are rich in vitamin K and plenty of other vitamins and minerals.

Cucumbers work great as a refreshing snack but are also often added to salads and smoothies or served as a side dish in Asian cuisine. For kids, maybe try peeling the skin off.

2. Cranberries

Cranberries
Cranberries

Cranberries are small and somewhat hard fruits that are often processed into commercial products such as juice, sauce, and dried cranberries, but they can also be consumed fresh.

These little red fruits are surprisingly low in calories and by many considered a super fruit because of their high nutrients and antioxidant content. They are particularly rich in manganese, vitamin C, and fiber.

3. Blueberries

Blueberries
Blueberries

Blueberries are close relatives of the cranberry and the huckleberry but are more popular as a fruit to eat fresh.

With their sweet flavors, fresh blueberries are a great summer treat and can be eaten freshly picked or added to smoothies and salads.

Other fruits with vitamin K to consider

Here is a short list of other popular fruits with vitamin K:

  • Plums (or dried prunes)
  • Kiwi fruit
  • Avocado
  • Grapes
  • Figs

Final Thoughts

This list of fruits and vegetables with high vitamin K content is certainly not exhaustive, but it will hopefully give you some inspiration on how to increase your regular vitamin K intake.

There are many more vegetables and other foods rich in vitamin K, such as parsley, cauliflower, spinach, cabbage, fish, meat, eggs, and even cereals.

 

Fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin K

 
Donna Harrison

My name is Donna Harrison, and I created this blog because I am passionate about discovering new foods and learning everything about them. I am also a bit of a smoothie fanatic, and I try to document all my favorite smoothies and other recipes here on Healthy Food Tribe, in addition to recommendations and reviews of my favorite kitchen tools.

2 Comments
Leave a Comment