We all remember being stuck at the dinner table until we finished our vegetables as a little kid. It felt like hours, like torture at times to force down those veggies.
Our parents did it for a reason though. Vegetables are filled with nutrients and vitamins that our bodies need. Most vegetables are low calorie and filled with fiber to help keep you full.
Some people cannot stand the taste or texture of vegetables but that does not mean you cannot get any of the benefits from them.
Today I want to share with you a few secrets of how to get in vegetables if you do not enjoy the taste.
Home Made Shakes
Shakes are great when you are super busy and on the run. They can be filled with protein to help keep you full and satisfied. They also can be filled with veggies to provide you with the nutrients you need. If you truly don’t like the taste or texture of vegetables shakes are probably your best bet. If you add vegetables to a blender with other healthy ingredients you like you will barely taste the vegetables.
Spinach, greens, broccoli, carrots and other vegetables are great in shakes. Be aware if you are adding a vegetable that contains a lot of water you may want to reduce the amount of liquid you add in the shake to keep it thick.
Supplements
If you do not have time to make your own shake with vegetables, powder supplements may be the choice for you. You can buy plant base protein powders that will provide you with protein and nutrients from vegetables. Or you can buy certain green powders that are only greens and vegetables. Be careful when buying any bottle “Green” or “Super Juice” as they generally are high in calories and loaded with sugar.
For a plant-based protein powder I personally enjoy Vega and for a greens powder Green Vibrance is a good choice. There are others out there just be sure to check the label to see what is actually in them.
Seasoning/Cooking
Many people do not eat vegetables because they do not like the taste. Now while I agree certain vegetables plain do not taste great that is not an excuse to not eat them at all. There are plenty of different ways to cook and flavor your vegetables.
A few of my favorite ways to cook vegetables are sautéed in a pan, roasted in the oven, and grilled. They each provide a different texture and different flavor that I enjoy.
To season your vegetables look for healthy options. You can sauté them in some olive oil with a little garlic, throw some soy sauce on them for an Asian flavor. Roasting them you can add any seasonings you would like. Add some garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne paprika, cumin, whatever you would like.
Salads
Last but not least salads are a great way to get in your nutrients. They are super simple, easy to take on the go, and do not take a lot of time to prepare. If you do not want to cook some vegetables just grab some greens and throw a quick salad together. Be careful of what you put in your salad, try to keep it to vegetables, possibly some protein and a healthy fat. Not all salads are created equally as some can contain more than 1000 calories.
You do not have to LOVE vegetables but in order to live a healthy life, but you do need to eat them one way or another. These are just a few of my favorite ways to make sure I get my veggies in.
Try them out and get creative. There are so many different vegetables out there you are guaranteed to like some.
-Coach Pat
