How to Trick Yourself into Eating More Veggies

It may be hard to admit, but vegetables don’t get the love they deserve. This can be especially true during the summer months, when savory barbeque entrees and delectable fireside sweets tend to hog the spotlight – and our plates.

If you find yourself struggling to get enough veggies in your life (guilty), here are some clever tips and tasty tricks to make them a bigger part of your diet – possibly without even realizing that you’re doing it!

Blend Them Up

What could be more refreshing than an icy-cold smoothie on a hot summer day? While fruits and juices are popular choices, vegetables like carrots, kale,and zucchini can be easily incorporated into your favorite blends, as well. If you think these healthy superfoods will throw off the taste, think again! Most veggies commonly used in a variety of beloved smoothie recipes can’t even be detected. In fact, they often complement their sweeter counterparts.

Add Delicious Dipping Options

Choosing veggies as a quick snack or appetizer doesn’t have to be difficult. While some avoid raw vegetables because they feel they are “bland” or “boring,” these obstacles can be easily overcome with the addition of some flavor-packed dipping sauces! Dressing raw veggies like carrot sticks, cucumbers, or pea pods with your favorite salad dressing, cheese dip, salsa, or even hot sauce can be a great way to spice up your healthy snacks. Dips and sauces can be made from just about anything – there’s more to life than guacamole and hummus – so don’t be afraid to experiment with your favorite flavors.

Get Creative with Your Cooking Style

Veggies commonly get a bad rap because they aren’t prepared properly. Getting creative with the way you prepare your veggies may lead you to discovering a new favorite dish. Fry them up in one of your favorite sauces, bring out their rich flavors by throwing them on the grill or allow them to marinate with other savory flavors in a slow cooker to bring out a side of vegetables that you might just be missing out on.

Hide Them in Your Favorite Baked Goods

If you really need to get crafty in order to sneak more health foods into your diet, baked goods are the master of disguise. In addition to a mouthwatering list of sweet breads that use vegetables as a primary ingredient, shaving some hearty greens into thin slices and baking them for 15-20 minutes can result in crunchy, tasty veggie chips that won’t disappoint. Sprinkle them with cinnamon, nutmeg, or yes, even sugar, to satisfy your sweet tooth and your recommended daily servings at the same time. A win-win.

Swap’em in!

We have to give them credit here, vegetables are incredibly versatile. Because they are so adaptable, veggies can be easily swapped in for common carbohydrates like pasta, rice, and even some of our favorite doughy items. Not only are these variations equally delicious, they also replace the empty calories found in almost all flour-based meal staples, meaning they’re good for your health and your summer bod.

 

Have you discovered a new veggie-heavy recipe that you just can’t get enough of? We’re all ears (not a corn joke)! Tell us about it in the comments below.