Eat more vegetables.
This post isn’t meant to convince you or explain why eating vegetables is good for you, I think we all know that.
If you always seem to be setting this as one of your goals, here are a few tips to help you succeed on finally doing what your parents always told you.
Step 1: Buy the vegetables
This may seem obvious, but you can’t eat what you don’t buy (or grow yourself)
Buying vegetables that are in season can be the cheapest option when looking for fresh veggies.
However, frozen vegetables have just as much nutrients in them as fresh – so frozen is always a good option if you find you fresh veggies going to waste.
When buying fresh, you may need to stop by the grocery store more often, but it can take only a few minutes to pop in and get a few days worth for under $10.
Step 2: Prep some of the veggies
I like to prep vegetables by roasting them. This allows me to add a little olive oil, garlic and some other seasonings – which also can increase how long they last.
Spread the veggies out on a sheet pan, and roast at 400 degrees for 30-40 minutes depending on how thick they are.
Some of the best veggies to roast and prep in advance are:
- Brussels sprouts
- Brocoli
- Cauliflower
- Carrots
- Potatoes (yes, they count more as carbs – but are still a whole foods source to make in bulk)
Another way to prep is just to dice up a bunch of peppers, onions, etc. – dry them off, and throw them in a freezer bag for later use. This is clutch when you are trying to save time on stir fries and omelets/egg scrambles.
For fresh vegetables like spinach, dry them off – and then keep a paper towel in the container – this helps keep them fresh a little bit longer.
Step 3: Final prep before eating.
If you have roasted veggies, just throw them in the microwave and heat – or add to a pan with some oil to crisp them up again.
With frozen veggies – steaming works best. This can be done on the stove top as seen below, or done in the microwave (use a glass or ceramic container).
If you diced up some veggies for omelets or stir fries, just throw them in the pan for a little bit before everything else to thaw them out.
Step 4: Eat the vegetables
Use them as a stand alone side dish, make a salad with raw veggies, or in a last ditch effort blend them up into a smoothie with some protein powder and fruit. The fruit will usually hide the flavor of a vegetable like spinach – so this is my go-to for smoothies.
That’s it, short and sweet – but eat your veggies and your body will thank you.