Learn to Love Your Vegetables
By Sara Butler
Many people don’t get enough vegetables in their diets. In fact, up to 87 percent of people don’t eat enough vegetables according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Vegetables need to have a starring role on your plate at each and every meal. Here are a few tips to help you learn to love your veggies and get enough of them each and every day.
Don’t Eat Them Plain
You don’t have to resign yourself to eating plain vegetables and fruits. Jazz them up with a little imagination! Put your vegetables into things you normally eat, such as adding broccoli or peas to your macaroni and cheese or throwing chopped carrots into rice. You can even throw some frozen spinach into your favorite soup! This is a great strategy for working more vegetables into your life because it allows the flavor of the vegetables to be covered up by foods you do like to eat. As your taste buds adapt to the taste, you can then add even more vegetables.
Mix it Up
If you’re a person who likes to separate the food they eat on the plate, then this idea may not be for you. A great way to add more vegetables to your meals is to mix them up! If there are certain vegetables you don’t like the flavor of, then mix them into the stuff you do like and eat up.
Go to Flavortown
When you cook vegetables you may need to add some flavor to make it a bit more palatable. You can add flavor to raw vegetables with dips such as hummus or even your favorite salad dressing (just beware of added fat and sugar!). Even making a dip with Greek yogurt can be a great strategy to spice up the raw vegetables in your life.
When you’re cooking, don’t go too heavy on the salt. Instead, experiment with spices in order to add flavor. Garlic and the juice from citrus fruits such as lemons or limes can also add a punch and elevate the flavor of vegetables that may not be your favorite.
Get Cookin’
This suggestion may not appeal to everyone, but you should at least give it a try -- learn how to cook! Many people don’t experiment in the kitchen because they’re not sure how, but getting your hands dirty and trying things out is one of the best ways to eat healthier. If you don’t know how to cook, then watch some videos online or take a class. You’ll be happy you did!
Don't be afraid to try new things or to approach your diet in a new way no matter how old you are! You need fruits and vegetables to stay healthy, so do what you must to make sure you're getting enough!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Monroe, La.