Remember when you were a kid and you used to make a fuss over eating your veggies at the dinner table before you were allowed to be excused?? Well, let’s just say some people never grow out of that stage! According to the CDC only 1 out of 10 adults are getting the recommended amount of vegetables in their diet!
Today I want to offer those of us who are picky eaters some different ways you can try sneaking those veggies into your diet, because (yes!) it is important!
Let’s start with spinach. Spinach is packed with vitamins and minerals like iron, vitamin K, vitamin A, and vitamin C.
It’s a great veggie to cook with because even a giant bag of the stuff will wilt down into practically nothing, making it super easy to tuck into dishes. Try folding some sauteed spinach with cheese and herbs and toss it into your morning scrambled eggs or with a little butter or pesto and veggie noodles (zuchini noodles are my favorite). Speaking of pesto, you can also pulse spinach in a food processor (instead of basil leaves) and use it as an ingredient to make a pesto sauce!
Cauliflower has quickly become a favorite in the gluten-free and keto community because of its ability to transform into anything from pizza crust to english muffins to rice. On top of its versatility, cauliflower is an excellent source of vitamin C, K, and B6 as well as choline, fiber, omega-3, and biotin!
Cauliflower has quickly become a favorite in the gluten-free and keto community because of its ability to transform into anything from pizza crust to english muffins to rice! Click To Tweet
Some people prefer raw broccoli florets with a creamy dip, others like their broccoli cooked/steamed. Mince up broccoli by hand or in a food processor, sprinkle some salt and pepper, and add to any dish. I swear you will barely taste it!
Onions are a necessary base ingredient in most dishes, so they’re hard to escape if you don’t like the taste of them! If you’re looking for a way to introduce them to your palate in a yummy way, try them caramelized! Slow cook thinly sliced onions on low until they reach a deep brown color. This could take up to an hour depending on your stove, but it’s worth the wait to enjoy the deep and sweet flavor.
Aside from a great delivery mechanism for peanut butter, cream cheese, or your favorite dip, celery is excellent for adding crunch to lots of dishes. Chop some up and add it to your egg salad, tuna salad, chicken salad, or bean salad! Same with bell peppers. Grill, saute or roast them and throw them in a lettuce wrap or in your morning omelet.
There’s a lot we didn’t touch on, like tomatoes… asparagus…mushrooms… the list goes on. But these are all excellent low-carb veggies to get you started. Once you develop a taste for these, you can venture out into the vast world of veggies and explore more options!