I must pat myself on the back for doing really well with regularly eating tons of vegetables so far this year. I’m really planning on keeping it as a habit throughout Lean in 2014.
My “secret” to doing so is pretty simple – I’ve learned how to make vegetables taste as good as possible. And I’m not just talking about salads (because – let’s be real – you can make anything good by covering it in salad dressing).
In the past I would just force myself to eat veggies in any form because I knew it was good for me, but that never lasted. So instead of making vegetables just bearable, I’ve realized what a difference it makes to have vegetables taste delicious - something I actually want to eat!
Here are my 5 tips for making vegetables tasty (and not hate eating them).
1. roast them.
Roasting vegetables is hands down my favorite way to cook them. Here’s a great guide to roasting vegetables:
My favorite roasted vegetable is definitely butternut squash with a bit of salt and cinnamon. It gets all caramelized and sweet!
2. add avocado.
I love adding avocado to just about everything. It adds great flavor, a buttery texture, and healthy fats. I actually prefer avocado over salad dressing – if you use a really ripe avocado you can mash it up into a “guacamole dressing” of sorts.
3. add butter.
Butter seems to have gotten a really bad rep, but I’m a huge fan of it. First of all, just a little bit of butter goes a LONG way and can add incredible flavor to vegetables. Secondly, I fall in the camp that believes saturated fat is not bad for you. Not to mention that fat helps your body absorb nutrients, and you want to get the most out of those veggies, right?
4. “pizza-fied.”
One of my favorite ways to enjoy vegetables is to PIZZAFY them. Simply add:
* marinara sauce
* Italian seasoning
* parmesan cheese
This works especially well with steamed greens, roasted broccoli, brussels sprouts, and spaghetti squash. Obviously this is no replacement for real pizza, but it’s still delicious!
5. in soup.
Most soups already have vegetables in them, but I like to take it up a notch by adding my favorite greens (spinach or kale) in the mix. I actually prefer chunky over thin/watery soup, so extra vegetables help bulk it up while adding nutrients at the same time.
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What’s your favorite way to eat vegetables?
I love roasting vegetables with olive oil and oregano! or coconut oil. So delicious!
Another important and super easy trick is adding spices! Seriously, grab some green beens and after you boil them, add a little butter, a decent amount of Thyme and Basil, and then a little bit of garlic powder.
SO simple and SO delicious!
LOVE this! I am a huge veggie fan (making asparagus for dinner tonight actually!) and often make soups and roast veggies. Never tried the pizzafy method - LOVE.
xo!
Andi
Smoothies are a great way to eat both fruits and vegetables!
I love using avocado instead of salad dressing! I’m pretty sure avocado goes with everything.
Sauteed in olive oil and chopped garlic~
Roasted! I can eat an entire giant bowl full of roasted brussels sprouts!!
I do the same thing with butternut squash, cinnamon & salt, but I add some curry powder to it as well. Its so good, and I could eat it really often and never get sick of it.
I’m also into roasting cauliflower right now with a bit of olive oil & curry powder.
I actually love vegetables in [almost] any form but I haven’t always been that way! Growing up, my mom would roast them with olive oil, salt & pepper, and various different spices to get my sister and I to eat them. It worked!
Lately I’ve actually been loving them raw with hummus or sautéed with olive oil, garlic, and a little white or red vinegar. So delicious!
Love your tips here! When I learned about roasting vegetables (thanks to blogs), it seriously changed vegetables for me. They went from a necessary side dish, to something I actually looked forward to eating.
Other than roasting, I also love vegetables in stir fries!
In smoothies!!!
in the winter, I have a REALLY hard time eating enough veggies. I mean, how could I want to eat a salad when it’s -15* outside? thankfully, I’ve started the habit of eating soup at lunch, and almost always opt for one that’s packed with vegetables as opposed to cream (although I think that broccoli cheddar soup counts as a health food).