Most of us know that eating our recommended daily servings of vegetables is really important, but it can be tough to remember to get them all in. As I’ve followed my fitness journey, I’ve found that I feel better and recover from my workouts better when I’m eating my veggies. So, I wanted to share what I’ve found helps me eat more vegetables, even when I don’t feel like eating them. (Disclaimer: I’m not a nutritionist; I’m just sharing what works for me.)
1. I make green smoothies. This is the top way I make sure I’m getting in my veggies. What I absolutely love about green smoothies is that it’s so easy to get in some extra servings of those healthy dark, leafy greens like kale and spinach. You don’t even feel like you’re eating them! Adding some fruit like cherries or blueberries not only adds in extra antioxidants, but it also helps mask the flavor of the greens, if you’re not a huge fan of them to begin with.
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2. I load up my salads. If you’re not a fan of salads this can be tough, but if you don’t mind them, it’s an easy way to heap on lots of extra veggies. I like to try to make my salad look like a rainbow, adding in carrots, red cabbage, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, edamame, and whatever other veggies I might have laying around. I know when I’m eating a diversity of colors I’m getting in different nutrients, which helps me maintain a healthy diet.
3. I try to have at least one serving of vegetables at every meal. If I’m getting my veggie on during breakfast, I tend to default to the green smoothie, although you could just as easily mix some vegetables into your eggs for a yummy veggie omelette. It also helps to be prepared by thinking ahead when you’re grocery shopping. For example, I’m a huge fan of frozen vegetables because I don’t have to worry about them going bad before I eat them. As long as my freezer’s stocked, I know I’ll always have some vegetables available for every meal.
What tricks do you use to eat your veggies?
Are you a green smoothie fan?
I love to get my veggies in through salads! It helps keep them interesting..
I also load up on salads, eating them practically every lunch and dinner either before the main course or as the main course. I eat a weirdly large amount of fruit and veggies though – I think because I am constantly thirsty despite massive water intake, and they help quench too!
I use all these exact same tricks. I find when I have a green smoothie for breakfast it sets the tone for healthy eating the rest of my day.
Frozen veggies are a lifesaver! I’ll often microwave up the hugest bowl of them and eat them while I’m cooking the rest of my supper.
I LOVE my green smoothies!! I am currently doing the Simple Green Smoothies 30-day challenge and it has been awesome because they send you tons of recipes. Great post!
Great idea for a post! I”m always look to add veggies. I also throw them into my eggs : )
Great post! I definitely need more veggies, so I’ll probably start sneaking them into my smoothies!
I have at least a small salad at every meal. And it actually is really helpful to do that when you are trying to figure out what you want–I”m so routine/rote about it now that it gives me the chance to decide on everything else!
I’m, like, the queen of creative salads, even using thawed out frozen veggies and sautéed fresh veggies. Problem is, I put a ton of dressing, usually made with a base of either mayo or olive oil. I have to make my own dressings from scratch because of sensitivities, but making them low calorie without making them watery and gross is a challenge. There’s only one mayo that I’m not sensitive to, and it’s not “lite”. As for veggies in smoothies, I’m thrilled to finally have found a way to eat beets! lol Cuz I won’t eat them any other way (yuck). 🙂
Great post !!! Diet can help to reach and maintain a healthy weight, reduce your risk of chronic diseases.
Thanks, Mark! You’re absolutely right.