Fend off weight gain with your dieting secret weapon – vegetables! Vegetables are essential to your diet not only for the nutrients they pack, but also because they can easily replace less healthy foods and still satisfy. Here are four reasons why you should stop sneaking your green beans into your napkin at dinner and start including them as part of your regular diet:
1) Vegetables fill you up. Vegetables are high in fiber to keep you feeling full longer. Best of all, veggies are low in calories and fat, so you can eat more of them and get the energy you need. Replace potato chips and other salty, fattier snacks with fresh-cut vegetables that you can nosh on throughout the day. For a balanced meal, try to fill half your plate with vegetables, one fourth with lean protein, and one fourth with whole grains.
2) Vegetables really can taste decent. If you’re worried that you have to say goodbye to flavor when you eat veggies, don’t be! Whether you’re putting together a salad or you’re just munching on vegetables by themselves, one of the easiest ways to jazz up your plate is to toss your fresh veggies with a bit of olive oil and lemon juice. This helps bring out the natural flavor of the vegetables and is a lot healthier than rich, high-calorie creamy dressings. Be adventurous when cooking your vegetables by adding different spices like basil, garlic, chili powder, or ginger!
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3) Vegetables bring color to your meals. Consume a rainbow of different vegetables to get a full spectrum of various nutrients! Choose darker green veggies like romaine lettuce or spinach instead of iceberg for added folic acid and vitamin B2. Bright red vegetables like tomatoes and red bell peppers pack extra nutrients like Vitamin C to help your body absorb iron. Choose orange veggies like carrots and sweet potatoes for beta-carotene to strengthen the immune system.
4) Vegetables go beyond salad. Don’t limit your vegetable intake to just salads! Keep your tongue entertained by cooking vegetables in new ways. Make a colorful stir-fry with all your favorite chopped vegetables and spices. Coat your veggies with a bit of olive oil and roast them in the oven for mouth-watering flavor! Try a combination of red bell peppers, zucchini, mushrooms, grape tomatoes and a sprinkling of basil and pine nuts (for added protein). Simply delicious!
Battle your way through the Weight Loss Challenge with a balanced diet that includes lots of vegetables. The benefits and variety of vegetables will keep you satisfied, energized, and motivated about healthy eating. Have fun with different combinations of vegetables and you’ll be unstoppable on your journey to dieting success! |
