Ever wonder how to eat more vegetables without trying? Today I'm giving you my best tips for sneaking more of the good stuff! Before my weight loss, I NEVER ate vegetables. People don't believe me when I tell them that because they see the recipes I make now, but it's true! I didn't grow up eating vegetables so as an adult I didn't eat them. It took years of trial and error to figure out what I liked and how to sneak them into my diet.
Healthy Food Tastes Bad
When you're not used to eating healthy food, it tastes bad. Vegetables are the perfect example of a healthy food that doesn't taste appealing when you're not used to eating it. I like to think of eating them like eating sushi, it's an acquired taste.
I don't know anyone who liked sushi the first time they tried it. The flavors and textures take some getting used to. Many of us grew up not eating enough vegetables and are only just now introducing them in our diets. It makes sense they're gonna taste weird like sushi.
Why Eat More of The Green Stuff?
Eating veggies is important for good health and weight management. Not only do they contain phytochemicals, antioxidants and immune boosting vitamins and minerals that prevent the development of disease, they're full of fiber which supports a healthy digestive system, keeps you feeling full longer and supports the body in its natural detox process.
How Do You Start Eating More Vegetables?
Lucky for you, I have a few tricks up my sleeve to help you eat more of the green stuff!
Eat Veggies For Breakfast
Pack veggies into your morning eats. Eggs are the best trick for sneaking in veggies. They're a magical food, versatile and anything tastes good in them. Go nuts add spinach, bell pepper, zucchini, butternut squash and broccoli. Those are some of my personal favs. If you're not an egg person, try adding shredded zucchini into your morning oatmeal or serve yourself a side of steamed veggies on the side. Eating veggies first thing in the morning will give you fiber keeping you fuller, longer.
Easy Egg Muffins
Cauliflower Egg Muffins
Butternut Squash Spinach Breakfast Bake
Cauliflower Kale Frittata
Zucchini Cinnamon Oatless "Oatmeal"
Drink Your Veggies
Nothing better than a smoothie or green juice to sneak in the green stuff. Pack a smoothie or juice with 1-2 cups of spinach or kale. I promise you won't even know it's in there.
Blueberry Zucchini Protein Smoothie
Classic Green Juice
Blueberry Cabbage Juice
Soup's On!
Soup's a great way to get more vegetables in your diet. Pack as many as you can into a pot of steaming hot soup. Almost always, more yields delicious returns when it comes to soup. I don't know a soup I've never liked with veggies.
Lentil Sweet Potato Soup
Vegan Split Pea Soup
Chicken Noodle-less Soup
Crockpot Chicken Zoodle Pho
Go Skinny Dipping
I like to test new veggies raw with hummus. This way you experience the flavor with the safety of a healthy dip you know you already like. Sometimes when you pair a new food with something you already love, you realize how much you really enjoy it.
White Bean Beet Hummus with Pumpkin
Zucchini Hummus
Herby Edamame Hummus
Sweet Potato Hummus with Peanut Butter
Mash Them!
Veggies can taste completely different depending on how they're prepared. You can roast, boil, steam, grill, bake or sauté. Experiment with different styles and find what makes your taste buds happy. For me, roasting, grilling and turning them into mashes are always wins.
Roasted Garlic Cauliflower Mash
Parsnip Carrot Mash
Make Them The Star
Instead of thinking about eating a protein with a veggie for dinner, think about making veggies the star of the meal or secret ingredient. Meatballs and casseroles are a great way to do this. You can add tons of veggies without knowing they're there. They pack serious flavor while keeping the meat incredibly moist.
Turkey Veggie Meatball "Pasta"
One Pan Baked Salmon Asparagus & Sweet Potato
Turkey Spinach Spaghetti Zoodles
Cashew Chicken Bake
Bake With 'Em!
Healthify your muffins and cookies by stashing squash in them. The veggies adds flavor, texture, moisture and of course all the added health benefits.
Low Fat Chocolate Zucchini Bread
Carrot Apple Flax Muffins
Carrot Cake Cookies
Zucchini Chocolate Espresso Brownies
Or Don't Bake With 'Em!
Pumpkin Pie Cookie Dough Protein Bites
Paleo Raw Carrot Cake
Zucchini Chocolate Oatmeal Bites
It is SOOOOOOOO beyond easy for me to eat veggies- cuz I love them SOOOO much! My dinner typically looks like that ONE PAN Salmon & Sweet Potato deliciousness up there!
It is a pan of awesomeness like you!
Loving all of these delicious recipes! I eat veggies without a battle BUT I can always eat more so those hummus recipes are a def try for me! Thanks for sharing!
Courtney Bentley || http://www.courtneyvioletbentley.com
That's great Courtney!
you didn't eat veggies before that? I can't even imagine. But you are sure making up for it now! Love these ideas! SO MUCH goodness
p.s. did you update this post and republish? i got so confused at how I had commented already. LOL!
Yes! Sprucing up a really old, but good post. And yes, I used to never eat veggies. Crazy right?