Get Your Greens : Tips to Get More Fruits and Veggies in Your Day
Do you have the best intentions but ultimately struggle to get the recommended 5-9 savings?
Do you have the best intentions but ultimately struggle to get the recommended 5-9 savings?
Don’t worry, you are not alone. In fact, very few people get them most days! Set a realistic goal, like increasing your intake by one-two servings each day from wherever your average is right now. Every few weeks up the amount until your are getting 9 or 10 everyday. Small changes repeated created the most lasting lifestyle change.
Wash and cut fresh veggies up after your purchase them or on a quiet day, Sunday afternoon or something. This makes it easier to grab and go during the week. And PS if you have teenagers like I do, they will eat them if they are there, they are all about convenience.
Store fresh, frozen, canned and dried fruits in easy to see places in the refrigerator and pantry, on easy to reach shelves and countertops. Easier, more convenient is going to be more likely.
Ditch the candy and cookie jar, keep a bowl of washed apples, oranges, bananas and other ready to eat fruits on the table.
Have a sweet tooth? Try eating fruit with plain greek yogurt (or dairy alternative yogurt) instead. The protein helps stabilize your blood sugar, reducing the sugar cravings.
Include a veggie tray with dip for a healthy before dinner snack. We like Hummus and Baby Carrots.
Make a habit of including a side salad with a mix of leafy greens with lunch and/or dinner. If it is there your family will eat it. Throw all kinds of interesting things on top to change it up and make it look more interesting.
Experiment with different dressings. A good dressing makes that salad so much better. Homemade is always going to be the best, but there are lots of pre-made ones out there too.
Add veggies to your pizza, your chili, your soups. We LOVE Broccoli on pizza, not just tomatoes, peppers, mushrooms, change it up. We put spinach, kale, broccoli and all kinds of things in our Chilli. Chop it up little if you have fussy eaters. Our youngest thinks there are no mushrooms if we dice it up enough! Try bananas and pineapple too!
Make fruit smoothies for breakfast or for a snack. Throw in Kale or spinach, beets, berries, bananas, fresh or frozen. Yum
Add veggies to your sandwiches like lettuce, sprouts, tomatoes, peppers, avocados.
Add salsa to your meals, it’s pickled but still full of vegetables and nutrients.