If you’re trying to lose weight and eat healthy, it can be hard to get enough vegetables (and fruit) into your diet. There are plenty of creative ways to sneak veggies into your meals without even noticing them! Read on for 10 fun ideas.
Juicing
Juicing is one of my favorite fat loss tips, not only for its delicious taste, but also because it’s incredibly effective. You can make all sorts of great concoctions with fruits and vegetables that are packed with vitamins and nutrients that are just being wasted in your body. And juicing really doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing thing. Adding just one juice a day can really improve your overall health and start you on an effective small daily habit, helping you reach your major goal.
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Spicy Broth
If you’re sick of eating plain old vegetables, add some spice to your broth. Adding a pinch of cayenne pepper or crushed red pepper will spice up your life and bring out flavor that isn’t quite there when you’re just boiling broccoli. Experiment with different peppers (and amount) to find what fits your tastes best.
Have Salads At Every Meal
At every meal, have a salad with as many varieties of vegetables in it as possible. Don’t go overboard on dressings and croutons, though; have them on hand for when you want them. The more vegetables you add to your diet, the more weight you will lose! At every meal, start with a salad! Yes, that means breakfast too! A simple salad of cucumbers, tomatoes, avocado, onion, and lime juice with some salt and pepper is a great breakfast side salad.
Smoothies With Veggies
Smoothies are a quick and easy way to get your daily dose of veggies. If you’re looking for a healthy breakfast or lunch, try throwing some spinach, kale, carrots or broccoli into your blender with frozen fruit and a small amount of water or milk. You’ll be full longer because of high volume and will avoid starchy after-lunch carb cravings. (Click here to get $10 off the smoothie diet that helped me avoid the holiday gain last year)
Snack On Veggies
Many people tend to neglect their vegetable intake, but snacking on low-calorie veggies can help you keep your hunger cravings in check throughout the day. The fiber and water content of vegetables fill you up without adding many calories. Add carrots, celery and cucumber slices, or fresh fruit such as strawberries, apples or oranges to your desk drawer for a healthy snack when you need it most.
Add Green Powder To Drinks And Baking
Green powders are made from a variety of leafy green vegetables and add vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and chlorophyll to your diet. Chlorophyll is nature’s natural blood purifier. Adding it to your coffee or fruit smoothies is a great way to detoxify your body naturally in an easy way! I recommend adding 1 scoop of green powder daily for those wanting extra health benefits. If adding powder to coffee seems weird, try adding it into oatmeal, pancakes or baked goods instead!
Try New Seasonings
This is an easy way to mix up your favorite vegetables, and you may discover a new favorite! There are endless combinations of herbs and spices that can be added to your veggies, so feel free to experiment.
Bake Amazing Treats With Veggies
Baking vegetables into your favorite treats will add a healthy twist without compromising on taste. Try adding steamed broccoli, zucchini, spinach or carrots for extra nutrients and fiber. For example, you can use a veggie puree in place of all or part of oil in brownies. For veggie-filled muffins, try replacing butter with mashed squash or avocado and baking in mini muffin tins so they’re easy to grab on-the-go.
Chop Them Up In Pasta Dishes
Cook your favorite pasta dish, but instead of using all white pasta, use whole wheat or a healthier option. This will add both volume and flavor, so you can eat a smaller portion but feel just as satisfied. If you want even more veggies, add in some chopped broccoli florets or diced bell peppers with your sauce! Steam Them: You don’t have to eat them raw! Steam veggies and toss them with a few teaspoons of extra virgin olive oil. It only takes about 5 minutes on medium heat.
Start Mashing
One of my favorite vegetables is cauliflower. Not only does it taste delicious, but it’s versatile and can be used in place of many other foods. It’s a great base for a low-carb pizza crust, for example. That said, you can mash cauliflower just like potatoes! Just add some cream cheese (low-fat works) and butter (or olive oil), salt and pepper, and voila! Instant mashed potatoes that are way healthier than their carb-laden counterparts.