Shanon Hoffman, Publisher
In the summertime, when veggies are at their peak it is a bit easier to get closer to the recommended 5-8 servings of veggies a day.
But in the winter months, or when you're on the go, preparing veggies can be a bit of a chore. So many other snacks and meals are easier and at your fingertips.
So what can you do to bring the love of veggies back into your meals?
Our first tip ...
Try something new every week. The best diet is one that offers diversity, so if you're counting carrots and lettuce (ok tomatoes, too) as your daily veg you're sorely missing out on a ton of micronutrients.
How about kohlrabi? or even the more common kale? (We love this recipe from Martha Stewart Living.)
5 Ways To Be a Veg Head
Fruits are great and are really easy to add to your diet. But veggies aren't so easy. Unless you enjoy snacking on raw vegetables, it can be tough knowing how to add more veggies to your day and how to prepare them to boot. Here are our top 5 tips to eat more veggies.
1.You eat what you see. Just like at the grocery store where you need to stick to the perimeter of the store to get the good stuff, in the fridge you want to keep things visible. (Or on the counter!) Don't hide everything in crispers or you'll forget them until they're unedible.
2. Cook for ten. Yep, whether you have a family of 1 or 6, if you prepare large quantities on the weekend you're more likely to eat them during the week. This includes salad. Make a nice salad every few days and you're more likely to take salad to work or add it to your lunch at home.
3. Take a vegetable you're not certain about and spice it up. Brussels Sprouts get a bad rap for being bitter. Try them a different way. Instead of steaming them, try roasting them, and maybe even topping them with a bit pureed butternut squash. My recent run-in with the best Brussels Sprouts ever was at the Junction in Asheville, North Carolina. Send them an email and ask for the recipe!
4. Be creative and add more. Making a pizza? Add twice the veggies. Pasta, why not toss in some greens with your garlic and onions? Macaroni? How about broccoli (or if you want to be sneakier- try pureed cauliflower.)
5. Blend it in. At Healing Lifestyles we're big fans of smoothies. Try this one on for size. We love this recipe from Maya Moon Healing Arts - Recipe
Spinach & Peach Smoothie2 cups spinach or kale or chard
1 cup frozen peaches
1 cup apple juice
2 inch piece of ginger
1 banana
Blend until smooth. Add water if desired.
Makes 4 servings.
For more tips and articles like these, visit HealingLifestyles.com.
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