With These Creative Meal Ideas, You Can Squeeze More Vegetables Into Your Diet And Make Sure You’re Getting Plenty Of Greens
It’s a brand new year, and with it come resolutions to live a healthier lifestyle. Whatever your wellness goals may be for the new year, one that most people seem to share is to try to incorporate more vegetables into their diets.
Most of us don’t eat enough veggies, even though they’re labeled as one of the most important food groups in the human diet. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only ten percent of American adults consume the daily recommended amount of produce.
So, if you’re in search of ways to eat more vegetables, look no further! Here are some creative meal ideas you can add to your diet that will help you maximize all the health benefits that vegetables have to offer. You’ll be gobbling up your greens in no time!
Drink Your Veggies
I may be biased, but the best way to get more veggies into your diet is to drink them as a smoothie! It’s an especially wonderful method if you find greens to be boring and bitter. This way, they go down in a few quick gulps, and you won’t be able to taste them at all.
Add leafy greens like spinach and kale to your concoction. Fruits like apples and pineapples will make it sweet and tangy. Then, throw in some flaxseed and your choice of milk for a smooth, creamy texture.
Whether you’re blending up your own smoothie at home or ordering one from a health-conscious chain restaurant, the addition of greens will definitely give you a boost in nutrition.
Try Out Veggie Pastas And Noodles
Many brands that sell pasta made out of vegetables are lined on store shelves. It’s a great way to sneak in some servings without having to eat raw veggies. You’ll be receiving loads of nutrients in a delicious bowl of pasta for not a lot of calories.
Mix and Match Studio – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only, not the actual person
So, for your next pasta night, opt for noodles made from squash, zucchini, sweet potato, carrots, or turnips. It will forever change your world!
Add A Side Salad To Every Meal
This may not be particularly exciting or revolutionary advice, but eating a salad at every meal is the way to go. Salads provide many opportunities to add veggies like carrots, cucumbers, spinach, arugula, and cabbage. Bags of pre-washed greens make preparation easy and fast, while dressings bring on the flavor.
But if you find lettuce leaves far too bland, even when they’re slathered with dressing, you can top your salad with a variety of ingredients. Some popular toppings include croutons, hard-boiled eggs, shredded cheese, sunflower seeds, and dried fruits, such as cranberries and raisins. Don’t be afraid to do a little experimentation and see what tastes best for you!
Eat Vegetables For Breakfast
I’m a big fan of vegetables for breakfast. Lots of breakfast dishes are just better when vegetables are in the picture. The vitamins are always a plus, but eating fresh produce in the morning can also help with maintaining a healthy weight.
The fiber in veggies will fill you up, so you won’t be hungry for a while. Whip up an omelet or egg scramble that’s chock-full of veggies! Add spinach, onions, peppers, broccoli, or mushrooms. A green smoothie is good for breakfast as well.
Snack On Veggies
Throughout the day, snack on greens that will fill your belly, helping you make it to your next meal and meet your vegetable quota. Munching on baby carrots or celery sticks can get old after a while, so switch things up by dunking them in various dips and dressings.
The addition of ranch or hummus can make your vegetable-eating experience more enjoyable. You can even try spreading peanut butter on pieces of celery for a sweet, nutty flavor.
Crunchy, homemade kale chips and sweet potato fries can also make eating veggies fun. You won’t be able to resist veggies when they’re served in the form of your favorite junk foods! If you have kids, you’ll probably find that they’ll flock toward these snacks like bees to honey.
Make Vegetable Soup
You simply can’t go wrong with soup. Whether it’s a cold winter’s day or a warm summer afternoon, there’s a vegetable soup out there that can fit the occasion. People also consume fewer calories when they’re slurping up soup.
Make a giant pot of soup to last you a whole week. It’s convenient, and you can just throw whatever you want in there.
Here’s to a new year of balanced meals!
Sign up for Chip Chick’s newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox.
More About:Health & Fitness
Read This Next
