No, celery doesn’t count. We are talking about leafy green vegetables like kale, broccoli, cabbage, spinach, chard, collards, or even lettuce. Some people only eat green vegetables 2-3 times a week; and it is usually a small serving. Maybe you aren’t the biggest fan of kale salads or sautéed spinach, but there are other ways for you to eat these vegetables.
Your mother was right when she told you to eat your veggies because green vegetables are loaded with nutrients that can lower your risk of cancer, heart disease, and obesity. They are great for weight loss assistance because of the vitamins, minerals, and low calorie content. Here are some great ideas to help you get more greens in your daily diet.
#1: Get Creative
Often times, people don’t know how to prepare greens other than sautéing them in a little olive oil. Try putting them in mashed potatoes! Boil some broccoli or peas, along with the potatoes, and then mash the ingredients together with a little homemade almond milk and lemon juice. You can also make wraps using collards or make kale chips!
#2: Spinach In Your Smoothie
Spinach has an array of minerals, antioxidants, and vitamins. While spinach may turn your smoothie green, it often does not take over the taste of other fruits. Blend a banana, a cup of pineapple, 1 apple, 2 cups of spinach, and a cup of distilled water for a delicious and refreshing detox smoothie.
#3: Make Them Into Pasta
This applies to zucchini and cucumber (but we know these are both technically in the fruit category). Using a vegetable spiralizer, you can make zucchini or cucumber noodles and dress them with homemade pesto or and Asian-inspired sauce. If you don’t want to make veggie noodles, try using quinoa noodles and adding kale or spinach to pasta sauces.
#4: Get Your Stir-Fry On
Making stir-fry is one of the easiest ways to incorporate more vegetables in your diet. You can add sliced cabbage, which is great for lowering cholesterol, or bok choy, which has powerful phytonutrients. You can also throw in broccoli, leeks, zucchini, green beans, and more! Everything tastes good when you splash fresh minced garlic and liquid aminos in the pan.
#5: Make Greens the Star of Your Plate
We are used to making fish, chicken, or beef the center of attention on the plate. The meal may consist of a piece of meat and a little bit of vegetables. Change up the game and make green vegetables the larger portion on the plate. Try to avoid meat and eat healthy, filling alternatives like quinoa, brown rice, or legumes.
Vincent Stevens is the senior content writer at Dherbs. As a fitness and health and wellness enthusiast, he enjoys covering a variety of topics, including the latest health, fitness, beauty, and lifestyle trends. His goal is to inform people of different ways they can improve their overall health, which aligns with Dherbs’ core values. He received his bachelor’s degree in creative writing from the University of Redlands, graduating summa cum laude. He lives in Los Angeles, CA.
