Whether you’re as busy as bee and don’t have much time on your hands to cook or simply want to include more vegetables in your diet, there are many strategies that can help you reach your goals. Make your life easier! There’s no need to rack your brain to prepare each meal: vegetables can be eaten many ways! Plus, you don’t need the freshest vegetables, nor do you necessarily need biological ones. And they don’t have to be cooked perfectly either. Simply focus on including them as much as possible in your diet instead of trying to reach the “perfect” diet. To those who enjoy quick, healthy, and delicious meals, here are 5 tips to eat more vegetables! GOOD TO KNOW: BPT has another list of tips for you: 10 tips to eat more vegetables! 5 Ways to Increase Your Vegetable Consumption 1. Skip the cutting step Many vegetables are ready to use and do not need additional manipulations before you cook or eat them. Think of baby carrots, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, spinach… These are super easy to include in your meals and are delicious when grilled or oven roasted. They also make great snacks. Some vegetables can even be cooked whole. A great way to save time and promote your health! Otherwise, instead of cutting your vegetables every evening, take a few minutes whenever you feel like it to cut your cauliflower or broccoli into florets or your squash and pepper into pieces. This way you’ll save time later in the week! 2. Buy frozen vegetables Looking for convenience but don’t want to pay more? Frozen vegetables are the perfect option for you! Even canned vegetables can do the job! Indeed, frozen vegetables are just as nutritious as fresh ones. They are harvested when fully ripe and immediately frozen. Frozen vegetables can be a kept a long time, are inexpensive (look for weekly discounts!), and require little preparation. Plus, there is a wide variety of products available, and there are even mixed ready-to-cook vegetables that are super handy to include in dishes such as soups, sautés, spaghetti sauces, minestrone, etc. 3. Eat vegetables as snacks Always famished when the clock strikes 3 but never know what to eat? Perhaps you need to need to adjust your meals, so they meet your needs. Indeed, your precedent meal might not have contained enough protein to be truly filling. That being said, snacks aren’t necessarily bad… You simply have to choose the right ones! As you may have guessed, we suggest you eat vegetables: cucumber slices, baby carrots, bell peppers, or any vegetable of your choice really. And why not dip them in hummus or tofu spread (or peanut butter for the more adventurous among you)? 4. Put more vegetables in your slow cooker When we think of slow cooker recipes, the image of large meat cubes often comes to mind. It might be a cliché, but it’s a true one! However, there are so many delicious recipes you can cook this way. Plus, increasing your vegetable consumption is a piece of cake with this appliance. Since you’ve chopped your vegetables early this week, why not incorporate them in your favourite slow cooker recipe? Besides, it’s the perfect occasion to try a vegetarian recipe. Make veggies the centerpiece of your dish instead of a side! Yum! 5. Don’t fear meal salads Forget the misconception that salads are not filling enough. Many combinations each more delicious than the precedent exist, and they make the perfect quick lunch or dinner! A meal salad, a meal bowl, a salad side… All options are good! Of course, you can use pre-cut, frozen, or ready-to-eat vegetables to make your salads! You can also prepare a vegetable stew using a slow cooker and mix it with quinoa and a protein to create a delicious meal bowl. Don’t forget to choose a healthy dressing to complete your dish!
