Eating healthy can be a challenge, especially when empty calories and highly processed foods are so tasty and easy to find. Unfortunately, snacking on nutrient-poor foods can cause your health to take a nosedive and can lead to a variety of unwanted side effects such as fatigue and weight gain.
The good news is that it’s easier than you might think to sneak vegetables into your diet. Even if you don’t particularly like the taste of vegetables, there are things you can do to mask their flavor so you don’t even notice you’re eating them. Here are some of the easiest ways to sneak more vegetables into your daily meals.
Put Them in Smoothies
Who doesn’t like a refreshing, invigorating smoothie? The nice thing about putting vegetables into your smoothies is that you can do it while still achieving a delicious flavor. The key is to select vegetables with mild flavor (such as spinach or riced cauliflower) and put them in a smoothie with berries or fruits. The fruit masks the flavor of the veggies and adds another layer of nutrition. Try a few different fruit and vegetable combinations until you discover your favorite.
Try Eating More Soups
If you don’t like the consistency or flavor of raw vegetables, you may have more success adding them to soups. Potatoes, carrots, celery, rutabaga and other vegetables are often more palatable when added to cream-or water-based soups. They’re also much easier to chew when they’ve been cooked for a while. Adding at least one vegetable soup to your weekly menu can boost your health.
Add Veggies to Dishes You Love
If you already have a few recipes you know you love, you can sneak veggies into them without even noticing a change in flavor! Don’t believe it? Give it a try and see for yourself how easy it is to tuck mild-flavor veggies into some of your favorite meals. For example, try adding thinly sliced zucchini to your weekly lasagna dish, or add a little bit of diced broccoli florets to your mac and cheese. You can also toss a few spinach leaves into your morning omelet. Experiment a little bit to discover which veggie and meal combinations complement each other the best. Pretty soon, adding veggies to your favorite meals will become a habit.
Have a Little Fun!
Vegetables can be a lot of fun to consume. Try eating new varieties or serving familiar varieties in fun, new ways. For example, you can fill celery sticks with peanut butter or stuff bell peppers with a deliciously cooked high quality beef or turkey filling. Look for recipes that incorporate vegetables in fun and interesting ways so you don’t get bored.
Whether you’re looking for weight loss benefits, improved health, or both, eating more veggies is important. If you need a little extra help to improve your diet overall, consider meeting with a nurse practitioner at Newport Medical and Wellness Center. You can receive a personalized weight loss program that includes both healthy meal replacement options and personal training. Sometimes it helps to receive some guidance and support when you embark on your journey to a healthier you.
