3 Ways to Add Veggies to your Diet

Although accessible, vegetables can be a tough one to consume if you don't enjoy them.

Truly, I think that trying different forms of cooking until you find a way to like them works well, but that's not the case for everyone.

You could try roasting (my favorite), steaming, air frying, grilling, blanching, or boiling. But if those don't do it for ya, here are a few ways to consider:

1. Add veggies to a smoothie.

I will say, spinach and kale are probably the easiest vegetables to add to a fruit smoothie without making it taste too vegetable-y.

banana + strawberries + yogurt + milk of choice + avocado + spinach

banana + mango + apple juice + kale + spinach

pear + green apple + kale

2. Try veggie pasta.

No, I'm not suggesting this as a way to reduce calories. I fully believe in eating carb-loaded pasta (it's delicious). I'm only suggesting this if you're someone who's not tied to eating regular pasta, veggie pasta is an easy swap to get more vegetables into your diet. Zucchini, squash, and sweet potato pastas are the most common.

3. Add vegetables into sauces.

This is especially easy to add for pasta sauces in particular. Check out this recipe --

Ingredients:

1 Tbsp olive oil

1 onion, chopped

1/2 tsp minced garlic

1/2 tsp rosemary

1/2 tsp basil

1 celery stalk, trimmed and chopped

1 leek, trimmed and chopped

1 carrot, peeled and chopped

1 bell pepper, chopped

1/2 zucchini, chopped

2 cans chopped tomatoes

1/2 Tbsp tomato paste

1 cup chicken stock

Instructions:

1. Heat oil in a large sauce pan on medium heat. Add onion, garlic, and herbs for a couple minutes.

2. Add vegetables and cover while they cook for about 20 minutes. Stir regularly.

3. Add tomatoes, tomato paste, and chicken stock. Stir until combined.

4. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 20 minutes.

5. Allow to cool slightly then blend in a blender or food processor.

Enjoy!