Veggies and summer go together, don’t you agree? Farmer markets are bustling with baskets of fresh vegetables from local farmers. I have to restrain myself from overbuying so I don’t end up throwing them out because I wasn’t able to use them. UGH!
Vegetables are so good for you and the fresher the better.
If you’re like most people, you might believe that eating healthy requires a lot of work. From planning out meals to grocery shopping to buying quality ingredients – it can seem like a mass effort sometimes. That’s not to say the effort’s not worth it — but a big effort that sometimes seems easier to simply avoid, right?
We all know that eating the right foods, especially vegetables, is essential to better health. But what if you’re not a huge fan of shopping, chopping, and prepping? As it usually goes, the things that are the best at keeping us healthy and nourished aren’t always the easiest path to take. It takes some practice and trial and error to find your sweet spot for infusing health into your day on a daily basis – and one great place to start is finding some simple ways to add more veggies into your day.
Here’s my 4 favorite ways to add veggies to your day…
Jumpstart Your Day With Veggies
I know, who eats vegetables for breakfast? I do!
Vegetables are not just for lunch and dinner. Kick off every morning with veggies on your plate. Throw a handful of kale into your morning smoothie or use last night’s leftover veggies to whip up an omelet – my favorite.
There are numerous ways to add veggies to your morning meal, and getting them in early means you’re well on your way to eating your daily servings of veggies by dinner time.
During strawberry season I enjoy a strawberry spinach salad, sprinkled with blueberries, for breakfast.
Get creative and share your ideas with our member’s group at Healthy Living for Life.
Buy Frozen for Convenience
Fresh veggies are typically the better option, but chopping and preparing vegetables from scratch isn’t always practical for many of us. So, stock up on frozen veggies on your next supermarket run.
Freezing vegetables is considered minimal processing, as many of the veggies will still retain a lot of their nutritional value. Having frozen vegetables on hand at all times leaves you no room for excuses when you’re in a time pinch.
I purchase organic frozen super greens, collards, butternut squash, beets, and more to have on hand when I know I’m not going to have time to prep for the week. Plus, frozen vegetables will cut down on your waste. There’s been too many times when I’ve purchased fresh vegetables, with the best intentions, and then wasn’t able to cook them before they went bad – Ugh.
Double Up
When you’re preparing salads, soups, pasta sauce, or a healthy casserole, double the amount of vegetables that the recipe calls for. Stir extra veggies into your soups or put an extra portion into your sauce. You’ll only enhance the flavor and nutritional value, so it’s a win-win!
Meatless Monday or Any Day of the Week
If you’re a meat eater, have you started going meatless on Mondays yet?
This is an excellent way to get more veggies onto your plate every week, and it’s simple. Just cut out meat on Mondays and dedicate your plate to more fruits and vegetables. If Monday is not convenient, pick another day that works for you. Not only will you be lowering your grocery bill and getting more nutrients by eating more veggies, but you’re also trying something new, and variety is the spice of life!
Vegetables are a fabulous source of many beneficial nutrients for your body. When you cut back on processed foods and “sneak” more vegetables into your day – you’re making better choices that set you up for a lifetime of healthy habits.
Hopefully I’ve given you some ideas on adding more veggies to your day. Share your plans for increasing your veggie intake in our member’s Facebook Group Healthy Living for Life. We’d love to hear from you.
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