Eating More Fruits & Veggies
Easy Ways to Eat More Fruits and Veggies Every Day. Say Yes!
Yes, it seems everywhere you turn health and wellness experts are telling you to eat more fruits and vegetables. You totally get it!
Yes, they’re full of nutrition (vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, fiber, etc.).
Yes, people who eat more fruits and vegetables live longer, healthier lives, not to mention protecting their bodies and minds from just about every chronic disease out there.
Yes, eating more vegetables can help you maintain a healthy body weight, and even lose some fat (as long as you don’t bread and fry them, or cover them with cream sauce).
Your question is not “Should I eat more fruits and vegetables?” but “How can I actually do it?”
Believe me, as a health coach I’ve seen and have amazing, creative and delicious ways to help you eat more fruits and veggies.
And before we dive in, always start from where you are. If you’re not used to eating any fruits or veggies, give it a try for just two per day. Build up from there and don’t get overwhelmed thinking you need to overhaul your entire diet in one day. Wherever you are right now, I challenge you to increase it by two per day.
Now, let’s dive into my helpful ideas on exactly HOW to add more fruits and vegetables to your diet!
ADD THEM INTO OTHER DISHES
OK, this one may be, shall we say, “sneaky,” but I’m all about your health, so hear me out.
Some dishes are super-easy to enhance with a bit of strategically placed produce. What do you think of these ideas?
Add ½ apple, a small handful of spinach, or extra berries into your smoothie.
Dice or shred up an extra bit of carrot, broccoli, zucchini or pepper into your soup; this is one I do personally. There are days I fall short and make it up by adding veggies to a soup.
Love sandwiches? Why not add an extra slice of tomato,dark leaf lettuce or cucumber to it?
How about chicken, tuna, or salmon salad? Dice up a stalk of celery and throw it in.
Love to bake? How about substituting ¼ cup of the sugar for ¼ cup of unsweetened applesauce?
Used to having a small salad? Why not try a larger one? Just don’t add more pre-made dressing; I use avocado with a little lemon juice or apple cider vinegar as a yummy dressing.
Making tomato sauce? Add in some extra mushrooms or peppers.
MAKE THEM TASTE MORE DELICIOUS WITH A MEAL
Steam some frozen corn and add a touch of olive oil and your favorite herb or spice.
Use veggies as your sandwich “bread” by making a lettuce wrap, sweet potato slices baked slightly firm.
Don’t be afraid to spice up your veggies! Try sauteing them for 10 minutes with a drizzle of oil and flavor them with pepper, garlic, ginger or cumin.
Try baking a pan full of your favorite veggies in one pan and season to your taste; don’t be shy to add sliced yams and apples to your mix.
OPTING FOR VEGGIES AS SNACKS
Why not throw a banana, apple or a couple of clementines into your lunch bag?
Ditch the chips and dip - Instead try some carrot, celery, broccoli, cucumber or cauliflower with a dip like hummus, guacamole, or even your favorite salad dressing?
Love sweetened yogurt? Buy plain, and immerse it with fresh or frozen berries.
YOUR CHALLENGE
Take two of these suggestions and try them starting tomorrow. Just add two more fruits and veggies to the number you’re at today. Two more.
And if you’re not an instant fan, well, try again with more creative ideas. Research shows that sometimes it takes our taste buds several tries before actually beginning to like a new flavor. You got this, take what you already love and try a new way to prepare it, you might find some new favs.
Let me know your favorite ideas in the comments below.
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