Ways To Keep Including More Fruits and Vegetables in Your Diet
Now that the August Health Challenge has drawn to a close, let's look at some great ways to keep these items as a staple of your diet. You've come this far right? So read on to discover 5 tips to keep this challenge going!
1. Make It More Available
This may sound like a no brainer but it's true that the more available veggies and fruits are as choices in the home and office the more likely you are to nosh on them. Make a fruit bowl a part of your counter, move those vegetables out of your crisper and give them some prime real estate in your refrigerator on the center or top shelves. The more you see it the more you will eat it!
2. Substitute Vegetables for Carbs
Open your pantry and take a look inside. I bet you will find any number of chips, crackers, croutons and any number of refined carbs on your shelves. Instead of reaching for those pita or tortillas chips try to use fresh chopped vegetables for dipping. As well you can get pretty amazing results with making baked zucchini breadsticks in place of traditional, or use cauliflower for your next pizza crust.
3. Pay Attention to Your Breakfast Intake
Breakfast has long been a pretty standard set-up: Eggs, Meats, Yogurts, and Grains make themselves a home here and have for decades. But try to increase and include more fresh fruit, like melon, blueberries, strawberries, and pineapple. Also don't leave out those vegetables! You can include spinach in your eggs, broccoli as well tastes great scrambled, and maybe include fresh sliced tomato on the side!
4. Get to Mincing!
There are some ways you can be pretty sneaky in order to get vegetables in traditional foods. Try mincing and putting carrots into your next spaghetti sauce or using celery to add even more flavor to your meatloaf. Vegetables when used this way can add vitamins and nutrients to your whole plate versus just a portion. The aforementioned cauliflower is also a dinner time chameleon and spaghetti squash pairs perfectly with your sauce in place of noodles for a light summertime treat!
5. Vegetables Are More Than Salad
Whether you like them steamed, raw or blanched vegetables really can take on so many roles in your diet. While dark leafy green salads are the icon of fresh produce at the dinner table don't shy away from including fresh asparagus, eggplant, sweet peppers or mushrooms. Add some differed sources to keep your diet well varied and help you broaden your horizons.