So, another year has passed and this time your New Year’s resolution of eating healthier is going to stick! Or that’s how it starts, at least. It doesn’t take long to default to your old habits and grab a bag of chips instead of an apple.
What you need are tips and tricks to make sure you’re grabbing the right food. But what tricks can you use?
Well, worry no longer! We’re here to give you our guide to the top 14 life hacks on how to eat more fruits and vegetables!
But enough preamble! Let’s get right into the good stuff!
1. Want to Know How to Eat More Fruits and Vegetables? Try Green Juice
One great way to get more fruits and vegetables into your diet is to swap out your coffee or soda with some green juice. A smoothie-like drink created from crushed leafy-green vegetables, green juice is perfect for getting a high dose of vitamins without all the prep work of slicing and cooking! Among the many benefits of green juice are healthier skin and a buffed immune system.
2. Soup’s On
If eating raw veggies seems like too tall a task, try making your favorite soup and throwing some carrots or peas in! Plus, you can reheat the soup leftovers super fast to have a meal ready to go whenever you like.
3. Sandwich Stacker
The next time you’re throwing a ham and cheese sandwich together for lunch, try throwing on some vegetables. It’s another great way to add veggies into a meal you already enjoy without much effort.
4. Lettuce Wrap
If you’re feeling adventurous, you can also swap the bread or pita wrap out for some lettuce leaves! Not only does this get leafy greens into your diet, but it also reduces the caloric intake the sandwich would have had with bread.
5. Buy Frozen
Another great way to make fruits and vegetables easy to access is to buy frozen ones. This removes the need to cut and clean them before you eat, which makes them better candidates for a quick snack.
6. Swap Desserts for Fruit
If you can, try to get into the habit of grabbing a fruit instead of a pastry if you need something sweet after a meal. It will still give you the sugary taste without the additives and high level of calories.
7. Spice Up Your Breakfast
Yet another great way to add some veggies to your diet is by throwing them in with your breakfast. Onions or peas with an omelet, strawberries in your oatmeal…the sky’s the limit!
8. Make Salads
Got a bunch of spare fruits and vegetables you’re not using? Cut them up and toss them into a salad! These fit alongside any meal in small portions.
9. All About Storage
One key way to make sure you eat more fruits and vegetables is all about where they’re located. Move your usual snack options more out of reach and replace them with fruits or vegetables. If they are less convenient to reach, chances are you’ll opt for the closer (and now healthier) snack option.
10. Meatloaf? More Like Veggieloaf
Is meatloaf for dinner becoming too stale an option? Start adding different vegetables into the mixture before you cook it to add some extra flavor and nutrients.
11. Veggies and Pizza
The same rules apply to pizza! Adding peppers or onions as toppings help give your pizza some extra kick, and swapping a dough crust for a cauliflower one will also help get you vegetables in your diet.
12. Get Grilling
If you want to add a little kick to your vegetables, try cooking them on the grill next time you get a chance. You can also cook vegetable chunks and eat them as kabobs.
13. Zoodles Are The Answer
Zoodles (or zucchini noodles) are great pasta substitutes for those who want more nutrients and fewer calories. Adding vegetables to your pasta sauce is also a great way to up your vegetable intake.
14. Use Farmer’s Markets
Finally, try to purchase your fruits and vegetables from farmer’s markets if possible. Not only will you get top-quality produce, but you’re more likely to eat these foods if you dedicate time to picking them out separate from a regular grocery run.
Destination? Nutrition
So, now that you have our top 14 hacks on how to eat more fruits and vegetables, what’s next? Well, if you want to learn more about maintaining a healthy lifestyle, make sure to check out the other articles on our blog!