The health benefits of veggies are well-known. They’re low in calories and filling while also providing tons of vitamins and minerals.
However, getting your recommended daily serving can prove difficult––especially when you’re short on time or just not that into vegetables or you are feeding a family on a budget!
If you want to know how to eat more veggies without adding TOO much extra work onto your already very full plate, then here are some great ways to make it easier to eat more vegetables, even when you don’t like them!
Luckily for you, there are quite a few ways to sneak vegetables into your diet without having to resort to making a huge salad or chopping up veggies for a stir-fry every night. So here are some super simple ways you can get more veggies in your diet without breaking the bank!
1. Switch to Vegetable Chips
Have you thought of this one? We all love a good crunchy snack, so why not switch to veggie chips? Chips are delicious and one of the easiest ways to eat more veggies. You can make them yourself or just buy store-bought versions––just be sure not to go overboard!
Always check labels for clean ingredients and serving sizes. Most brands have around 150 calories per serving, so keep that in mind when you’re noshing away on your favorite vegetable chips.
2. Keep Frozen Vegetables in Your Freezer
Stock up on frozen vegetables instead of buying fresh ones each week. They last much longer in the freezer––about a year for most veggies––and are just as nutritious. This drastically cuts down on your prep time and allows you to add your veggies to almost any meal, even at the last minute.
Frozen vegetables are great in a pinch, but just a word of caution: they’re not all made equal. Some brands add unhealthy preservatives and salt, so it’s best to read the ingredients before picking up a bag from the grocery store. Then, use them in your soups, stews, quick stir-fry meals, and casseroles.
3. Keep Veggies on Hand at All Times
Make it a point always to have a bag or two of carrots, baby corn, cherry tomatoes, snap peas, sugar snap peas, bell peppers, broccoli florets, cauliflower, mushrooms, and cucumbers in your fridge at all times. Chopped and ready, they’ll make it easy to add some extra nutrients to your lunch or dinner. Also, if they are accessible, then you are more likely to eat more vegetables, so make sure always to have them at hand!
If you don’t like any of these veggies or if you grow tired of them quickly, feel free to switch them out for others. Either way, rotating your veggies is a good idea, as you can rotate the nutrients you’re regularly eating.
4. Make Creamy Dressings With Veggies!
Skip the creamy ranch or Italian dressing or even your favorite pasta sauce, and use your favorite vegetables for an interesting twist! Homemade dressings add flavor while also providing the health benefits of veggies. For example, you can blend up steamed cauliflower or butternut squash with garlic, olive oil, salt, pepper, and low-fat Greek yogurt to make a creamy sauce that’s delicious on top of pasta or chicken.
This is so much healthier than a store-bought dressing or sauce that’s probably loaded with fat and unhealthy seed oils.
5. Make Smoothies & Juice
You don’t need to stick to fruits when you’re making smoothies! Instead, you can use vegetables like carrots, beets, or squash––they’ll provide an excellent source of vitamins and nutrients to your favorite blends.
Try juicing them too! Blend up some celery, pumpkin, or kale, strain the liquid through a cheesecloth, and add it to your morning juice.
When your fresh fruits and vegetables are going a little bad, quickly chop them up and put them in the freezer- you can then use them for smoothies without having to waste any food or spend money on even more fruits and vegetables!
6. Eat Veggies as Sides
Veggies like cauliflower, broccoli, and cabbage taste great when they’re cooked. When you cook veggies, it softens them up, which makes them easier to chew and digest. It also allows the natural flavors of the vegetables to come through, plus you get a chance to season them up to your liking, enhancing their flavor even further.
Use these as sides to your favorite protein instead of rice, pasta, and potatoes all the time. You’ll load up on nutrients while lowering your calorie count for a waist-friendly meal.
To make this easier to do in a flash, steam your veggies while you’re cooking other things by using double burner stovetop steamers or microwave steam them for quick service.
This is also a great way to save money on food! Eating more vegetables and cutting down on meat will help you rack up those savings super quickly!
7. Add Veggies to Your Pasta and Casserole Dishes
Adding veggies to pasta and casserole dishes is much quicker than cooking them separately. This increases the vitamins and minerals in your favorite comfort foods. You won’t even notice that can of corn or shreds of broccoli in your mac and cheese.
We all know we should be eating more vegetables daily. Hopefully, these tips will help make it easier to follow through and encourage you to eat your veggies!
8. Make Huge Pots of Soup
You all know that I love soup! Soups are usually pretty cheap, and you can make them with any seasonal vegetable that is on sale. So load them up with vegetables and enjoy! Make and freeze pots of soup, have them ready to go as a quick dinner idea, and take away that pesky “what’s for dinner tonight” question!
20 Food to Stockpile (For the Best Chance of Survival)
A well-stocked pantry can provide peace of mind and empower you to handle any situation. Whether it’s a natural disaster, economic instability, or simply unexpected guests, having a stash of versatile essential foods can make all the difference.
Here’s a list of 20 of the best foods to stockpile, ensuring you’re ready for whatever comes your way.
20 Food to Stockpile (For the Best Chance of Survival)
12 Everyday Foods Some People Just Can’t Stand
When it comes to their foods, some people are just picky eaters. It’s surprising how certain popular foods can be so divisive. While many people love them, others can’t stand the taste, texture, or even the idea of eating them. Here are some surprising foods that some people just can’t stand.
Leave a Reply