The truth is that most people’s diets don’t contain enough healthy fruits and vegetables. Trying as we might, it can be challenging to strike the right balance, and unhealthy meals are so appealing that, when paired with a general lack of time, we often pick something we shouldn’t, and the good stuff gets left out. However, since eating more fruits and veggies is so crucial for everyone’s health, here are some terrific strategies to make sure you have more of them.
Breakfast Time
If you’re having difficulties eating your prescribed five servings of fruits and vegetables per day, it’s easy to sneak some more into your day during breakfast. Plus, it will taste great. Breakfast is crucial since it kick starts your metabolism for the day, keeps your mind focused, and helps you manage your weight, so including some fruit into it is a fantastic idea. For example, you could blend fresh or frozen berries, banana slices, or dried fruit in a bowl of yogurt, cereal, or oatmeal, or you could make a fruit smoothie (ideal if you have to have breakfast on the go). If you have some more time, make an omelet with additional mushrooms, peppers, and tomatoes. Don’t forget the fresh fruit juice.
Take Two
A decent rule of thumb for getting enough vegetables in your diet is to double any quantity listed in a dish. It doesn’t matter what the recipe is or which vegetables you use; doubling up ensures that you receive adequate nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. So if you want to know how to make mofongo and you see the amount of plantain needed, add some more and you’ll have found an easy way to add vegetables into your diet without having to think very hard about it at all.
Purchase In Bulk And Freeze
If you like buying fresh fruits and veggies but only have time to go to the market once a week or so, you might discover that you waste a lot of the food you purchase because it spoils before you can use it. There is a workaround for this. Buy as much healthy food as you can the next time you go shopping. You can freeze anything that you aren’t going to be able to use right away, and that way, you’ll save money, always have healthy food available, and not have so much wastage either.
Take Advantage Of Meatless Monday
‘Meatless Monday’ is an international initiative that is gaining traction. It’s all about limiting your meat consumption on at least one day each week. If you adopt this idea, you can fill your plate with vegetables on that particular day instead of the meat you would usually prepare. Of course, it doesn’t have to be done on a Monday; just choose the most suitable day for you. If you’re out of ideas, just browse online for hundreds of meat-free recipes.
Take Chances
Being experimental with your vegetables and fruits might be particularly beneficial if you have children who are picky about trying new foods. Each week, take turns selecting a new fruit or vegetable and incorporating it into a recipe. You can talk about what you thought, and if you liked it, you could decide to use it more often in your cuisine.
