Sneaky Veggies
By Michelle Dunston
Do you want to get away with something? I know you like to be sneaky at times. You sneak a potato chip here or a piece of candy there. We all do it. How about trying to sneak some vegetables into your daily diet? No guilt necessary.
Many times people want to start eating healthier, but they just don’t like eating vegetables. This may be due to how vegetables were prepared while they were growing up. For a good number of American children, canned vegetables were the norm or fresh vegetables that were cooked well past their prime. If this is what you experienced, then yeah, vegetables are not going to seem appetizing. Farm fresh vegetables, roasted or skillfully prepared raw, oh my goodness, that is mind blowing and possibly the key to changing your view of this particular food group. For the longest time I didn’t think I liked tomatoes or green beans until I had them farm fresh and prepared right. Now that was really good eating.
What is the secret to sneaking vegetables into your diet and what are some methods to get more bang for your buck? More bang for your buck means eating more vegetables while consuming fewer calories. And guess what, you’ll save some literal bucks too. Plant based eating is generally less expensive. If you’re trying to lose weight you want your vegetable count to go up. Remember veggies first.
Veggies for Breakfast
Start your day with a green smoothie. A few greens you can use that don’t have an overpowering flavor are spinach and kale. Another option is use a protein powder blend that already contains vegetables. My personal favorite contains 4 different super greens plus vitamins, minerals, amino acids, prebiotics, probiotics, adaptogens and antioxidants. For me it saves time and money so I don’t have buy so many separate superfood ingredients. However, if you prefer to start from scratch, A simple formula for creating one is to use 1 cup of liquid, 2 cups of fruit and 1.5 cups of green (spinach or kale). Add some seeds or nuts for protein (hemp seeds packs a good protein punch). Blend with ice and enjoy. Of course you can add super foods such as chia seed, maca, or green tea just to name just a few. Here’s a little secret to create a milkshake like consistency – use frozen cauliflower or frozen cubed butternut squash as an added vegetable.
If you prefer a breakfast you can chew, such as pancakes and eggs, you can add veggies to those too. Add puréed butternut squash or pumpkin to your pancake batter. Include some spinach, mushrooms and onions to your eggs.
How’s that for being a sneak! Next up veggies for lunch. Want more ideas? Be sure to follow me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mdjazzfit.