We all need 5 servings of vegetables a day, that's right I said it 5. In all honesty, hardly any of us are actually eating all five of those servings. I read that teenager's typically only eat 2 servings a day and one of those servings is french fries. As adults we do about the same, maybe a serving better. What do we tend to eat instead of vegetables? Processed foods, aka junk foods.
These foods are high in fat and sugars but low in protein, vitamins and minerals. The high fat/sugar count makes it HIGH in calories and hardly fills us up. So why don't we eat more vegetables? There seems to be a stigma against healthy foods, either they are too hard to cook or too expensive. Both couldn't be farther from the truth. When shopping I tend to spend less when I am buy fresh produce vs. buying processed foods. There are also plenty of quick recipes you can make involving fresh vegetables.
To get more veggies in your breakfast try making an omelet and stuffing it with tons peppers, onions, mushrooms, spinach and tomatoes. Want to spice it up a little? Add some salsa and red pepper flakes to the top! For lunch have a salad sandwich. Instead of making your sandwich on bread, place all your toppings on top of a bed of lettuce or spinach. For dinner you could make a fresh vegetable stir fry, or try having squash as your side starch instead of pasta. Carrots, celery, peppers and cucumbers are great for snacking on raw through out the day.
If you really want to get more vegetables in your diet you just need to try! This week add more vegetables to your grocery list. Look up a few new recipes and maybe even try a few new vegetables out! Once you start adding more to your diet you will feel fuller and healthier! An added bonus is that you will spend less on your groceries per month!
