The Benefits of Eating More Veggies
Eating vegetables provides many health benefits. They are packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants that can help reduce your risk of chronic diseases and help you maintain a healthy weight. Despite this, most people do not eat the recommended amount of vegetables each day. Here are some tips for adding more veggies into your diet:
- Try new vegetables. Many people get stuck eating the same few veggies over and over again. Branch out and buy some you've never tried before like kale, swiss chard, bok choy, artichokes, or eggplant. Roasting or sautéing them with olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper can make them taste great.
- Eat veggies at every meal. Include veggies in dishes like omelets, pastas, stir-fries, soups, and salads. The possibilities are endless!
- Snack on raw veggies. Baby carrots, celery sticks, bell pepper strips, and broccoli florets all make for crunchy, satisfying snacks. Dip them in hummus, salsa, or guacamole for extra flavor.
- Add veggies to dishes you already make. Put spinach in your smoothies, onions and peppers on your pizza, and mushrooms and peas in your pasta sauce. Extra vegetables can go unnoticed but boost the fiber.
- Make vegetables the star. Try vegetarian meals where veggies take center stage rather than playing a side dish. Ideas include vegetable curry over rice, black bean and sweet potato tacos, or a hearty minestrone soup.
Adding more vegetables to your meals and snacks can take some extra effort at first. But with creativity and commitment to health, it is easy to pack more nutrient-dense veggies into your day. Increased vegetable consumption can increase your energy, lower your risk of disease, and help you maintain a healthy weight.
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