PRACTICAL WAYS TO EAT MORE VEGETABLES

There really is no way around fruits and vegetables for overall health and weight loss. So, what practical things can we do to get more of them into our body?

First, give your taste buds repeated exposure, and you will start to adapt to the taste. Once you unmask the taste buds from all the sugars, preservatives, artificial ingredients, toxins, etc., you start to taste the real flavor of foods – and will actually like them!

Another way to help you ease into veggies, is to dip them or cover them with sauce. Try one of our several dressing recipes. We have everything from Honey Mustard to 1000 Island to all kinds of vinaigrettes and creamy dressings. It makes your veggies special – cooked or raw.

I’m also a huge fan of grilling or roasting vegetables at 400˚F for 20-40 minutes, depending on the vegetable. It gives them an entirely different level of flavor and caramelization that is terrific. Drizzle some balsamic or red wine vinaigrette or Italian dressing on them, and it’s a totally different vegetable.

You can’t ever go wrong by flavoring your veggies in Kerry Gold butter, either. We also have a terrific Creamy Decadent Mushroom Sauce (unbelievable), Creamy Spinach Artichoke Sauce, Tzatziki, Teriyaki and Asian Sesame Almond Sauce in our Asian Zoodle recipe that can be used over any protein or veggie.

Stir frying your veggies is another option that adds another level of flavor. Try drizzling a little bit of toasted sesame oil, and you will have a delicious Asian dish. Stir-frys are great, too, because you can mix veggies you aren’t as fond of with ones you do like.

Another great way is to bury your veggies in a smoothie. We have plenty of recipes for smoothies and you can be creative yourself. Frozen riced cauliflower has become a favorite.

The Tomato Juice Smoothie also will help you drink your veggies down, as well. You can add hot sauce, squeeze some lime, add spices – anything to make it to your liking.

Another thing you might try is not overcooking your veggies. A veggie that is tender-crisp has much greater flavor and more nutrition, too.

Salads are also a great way to try a new veggie, as well. You can add a little bit of one veggie into a mix of lettuce with a dressing you love.

Give vegetables a try, and stop telling yourself how much you hate them, while you put them into your mouth. That’s a big part of the problem. As you think, so you will believe. Lie to yourself if you have to…  just do it. You’ll thank us when you look and feel better!