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We all know eating healthy is important, but sometimes your body desperately craves a cheeseburger, that last slice of pizza, or a tub of ice cream, and all willpower goes out the window.
In fact, we often find ourselves going an entire day — and even sometimes two — without ever touching a vegetable. This is not only terrible for our overall health, but it’s preventing us from getting the necessary vitamins vegetables give us to stay healthy and strong.
Though eating vegetables isn’t always top of mind and isn’t necessarily the food we desperately crave, it’s important to find ways to incorporate more of them into our daily diet in order to ensure we continue living long and healthy lives.
When you get home from work or are in desperate need of a snack, it’s easy to just go for the thing that’s right there, like a bag of chips or candy. However, this can lead to mindless eating and won’t be beneficial in the long run.
To combat unhealthy snacking, pre-cut vegetables — like cucumbers, celery, zucchini, or squash — and keep it in your fridge ready to go. That way, when you’re hunger kicks in, your veggies will be an easy thing to grab. And, to make things taste even better, keep a tub of hummus in the fridge for delicious dipping!
A smoothie is a delicious and simple way to get a solid serving of vegetables in your diet. Just throwing a handful of ingredients into a blender, including peanut butter, bananas, and spinach — will give you a serving of both fruits and vegetables.
The beautiful thing about a smoothie is that you can truly add whatever you want and it will more than likely taste great. Smoothies are all about experimentation, so have fun and figure out what recipe you like best.
Plus, it tastes really good! This is a great solution for if you’re on the go and need something to bring with you into the car.
We understand sometimes you just want the real thing, but try every once and a while to substitute your favorite carb for its vegetable alternative.
For example, try making zucchini or squash noodles when making spaghetti, use a cauliflower crust when making a pizza, or wrap your hamburger in lettuce instead of using a bun.
These little substitutes not only make your meal healthier overall, but they also give you a good serving of vegetables. Not to mention, it tastes almost just as good!
