Fitting in Fruits and Veggies
Our body needs the vitamins and nutrients found in fruits and veggies. They are the source of newly researched compounds called phytochemicals that have major disease fighting and immune protecting properties. Yet despite the benefits, only a small percentage of people actually eat the recommended amounts of fruits and veggies each day. Some people feel that it’s hard to work them into their normal eating schedule. Others may be turned off by the taste. Whatever the reason, I want to help you make produce a part of your everyday eating!
Here are 10 ways to fit fruits and veggies into your day!
- Serve raw veggies at every meal. Who can resist the crunch of carrots and celery, and the juiciness of tomatoes and cucumbers?! By making it a point to have available fresh raw vegetables at every meal, you will be surprised to find how filling and delicious they can make your meal.
- Sneak fruits and veggies into breakfast and lunch. Add veggies to your eggs and fruits to your cereal or oatmeal for added fiber and a natural flavor boost.
- Build a sandwich with more veggies than meat. You will be surprised to find how much more filling your lunch will be by adding more veggies, such as roasted pepper, sliced onions, and greens.
- Serve your chili, soup, pasta, stew or rice in a scooped out tomato or red pepper. A healthier version of a “bread-bowl”!
- Roast your veggies. This is a great side dish to any meal. Make a big batch at the beginning of the week. They taste just as great the next day. Experiment with various seasonings for different flavors!
- Take a trip to the local farmer’s market. Make it a family trip! Take the kids out to the local farmers market and have them contribute to picking out the week’s fruits and veggies. This is a healthy and fun way to get the kids excited to eat what they picked out. It also may introduce you to new produce you wouldn’t normally try. Click here to read my article Fun at the Farmers Market.
- Start a garden. Whether it’s a few window plants or a large plot of land, making a garden is a great way to appreciate fresh food. You can grow your own herbs, spices, vegetables and fruits and watch as your own garden sprouts!
- Grill it! With summer just around the corner, grilled fruits and veggies are another way to make sure you’re eating right. They make a great side dish; grilled fruits are a delish way to add flavor to burgers, chicken or fish.
- Move it to the top of the fridge. As long as they are sealed, keep your fruits and veggies out in plain sight instead of hiding them in the crisper of the refrigerator. If you see it, you’re more likely to eat it!
- Explore and try something new! Whether it’s picking up a new color vegetable in the produce aisle or investigating the more exotic fruits and veggies, you never know what you might like!
Your turn to take action: Use any one of these 10 tips to get your 5 servings of fruits and veggies a day! Let me know what you choose!
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Good ideas, except how to you grilled fruit. That sounds strange to me.
Debbie, it sounded strange to me at first too. Try this recipe for Grilled Pineapple: Remove the top of the pineapple and peel away outer skin. Cut pineapple lengthwise into four wedges. Remove any “eye” and cut away the tough inner core. Cut each wedge into several long thin slices. Sprinkle with ginger and place on grill for 4 minutes each side. Let me know how you like it!
Hmmmm….I like the “bread bowl” idea. Any other vegetables you could use?
Jean, try using a zucchini and make a zucchini boat, or even a baked white or sweet potato. Scoop out the insides and add the chili, etc.
I’m determined to eat more fruits and vegetables. The problem is that they go bad in a few days, and I don’t like to go to the grocery store more than once a week. Maybe I should try growing my own vegetables again…
Susan, growing your own veggies is a great way to eat more! They are readily available and taste great. keep in mind, frozen veggies are also a great choice if you can’t get fresh often. Frozen vegetables retain their nutrients longer than fresh veggies that sit in the fridge for days exposed to air and light.
LOve my veggies!~ In fact my post today is all about playing with them. Was it kissmit? Great ideas here. Thanks!
Will check out your post..
Perfect timing for me to read this awesome article! Thank you for jogging my memory with these great healthy ideas, and for showing me some I hadn’t ever thought of.
My pleasure! Enjoy!