4 Ways To Sneak Veggies Into Your Day

Do you believe that eating healthy requires a lot of work? Meal planning, grocery shopping, cutting, chopping – sometimes it can seem like such an effort!  That effort is definitely worth it but it sometimes seems easier to avoid, right?
 
We all know that eating the right foods, especially vegetables, is essential to better health. But what if you're not a big fan of shopping, chopping, and prepping?  As it usually goes, the things that are the best at keeping us healthy and nourished aren't always the easiest path to follow.  It takes some practice and trial and error to find your sweet spot for infusing health into your day on a daily basis – and one great place to start is finding simple ways to add more veggies into your day.  Here are my four favorite ways to add veggies into your day:
 
Start your day with veggies.  Vegetables are not just for lunch and dinner.  Kick off every morning with veggies on your plate.  Throw a handful of kale into your morning smoothie or use last night's leftover veggies to whip up an omelet.  There are numerous ways to add veggies to your morning meal, and getting them in early means you’re well on your way to eating your daily serving of veggies by dinner time. 
 
Go for frozen. Fresh veggies are typically the better option, but chopping and preparing vegetables from scratch isn't always practical for many of us.  So, stock up on frozen veggies on your next grocery run.  Freezing vegetables is considered minimal processing, as many of the veggies will still retain much of their nutritional value.  Having frozen vegetables on hand at all times leaves you no room for excuses when you’re in a time pinch.

Double up. When you're preparing salads, soups, pasta sauce, or a healthy casserole, double the amount of vegetables that the recipe calls for.   Stir extra veggies into your soups or put an extra portion into your sauce.  You’ll only enhance the flavor and nutritional value, so it’s a win-win!

Join the Meatless Monday movement. Have you started going meatless on Mondays yet?  This is an excellent way to get more veggies onto your plate every week, and it's simple.  Just cut out meat on Mondays and dedicate your plate to more fruits and vegetables.  If Monday is not convenient, pick another day that works for you.  Not only will you be lowering your grocery bill and getting more nutrients by eating more veggies, but you're also trying something new, and variety is the spice of life!
 
Vegetables are a fabulous source of many beneficial nutrients for your body.  When you cut back on processed foods and "sneak" more vegetables into your day - you're making better choices that set you up for a lifetime of healthy habits.

Request your complimentary eGuide entitled Spring Detox: Spring Cleaning Your Life by e-mailing Sara at sarawolfsen@gmail.com.

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Sara Wolfsen is a Certified Health & Lifestyle Coach who specializes in helping people make their own healthy changes by providing private health coaching, nutrition education and wellness classes, and gentle weight-loss guidance and support.  Schedule your complimentary coaching session and learn more online at www.sarawolfsen.com.