"Eat Your Vegetables!"
Do you hear that tone, like it was coming from mom?
Unfortunately way too many of us have memories of soggy green beans. Or the same veggie served over and over until we were seeing them in our dreams. Many of us are still hanging on to those memories as an excuse to not eat vegetables to this day. Cut it out!
Now I am not blaming mom, because when I was young the grocery stores weren’t packed with all the choices we can get now. There wasn’t the plethora of fresh options, while most people had a garden they only produced so much. Farmers markets and CSA’s were nowhere in sight.
We have no such excuses.
In fact even when fresh isn’t available frozen vegetables are extremely high quality, inexpensive and can taste really, really good. Last night for dinner I made a favorite, and it is super easy. Roasted Vegetables from a bag of frozen mixed veggies (broccoli, cauliflower and carrots), a little salt, pepper and olive oil. Mix it all together and roast in a 350 oven for 45 minutes to an hour. The vegetables natural sugars start to caramelize – delicious!
Roasted Vegetables: from Freezer to Oven to the Table
Vegetables and Your Health
“Eating higher levels of veggies and fruits are associated with a lower incidence of:
Cardiovascular disease
Colon, prostate, cervical, lung, ovarian, pancreatic, thyroid, and breast cancer
High blood cholesterol
High blood pressure
Type 2 diabetes
Obesity
Stroke
Osteoporosis
and a lot more that aren’t on this list…” – Dr. John Berardi
There is no magic pill, potion, or lotion that is going to do all that. Now if that list doesn’t speak to you, do vitamins, minerals and fiber? PLUS you get to try an amazing variety of incredible tastes from all over the world – right from your very own kitchen!
Did You Know? Vegetables (and fruits) provide an alkaline load to the blood. Both proteins and grains present acid loads. Too much acid can cause loss of bone strength and muscle mass – not cool. Osteoporosis is not just about calcium. Stay balanced by getting enough veggies.
The Good News? Vegetables are good to eat and good for you!
Eating vegetables will enhance our nutritional quality and they come in such a variety of ways to eat and enjoy. Its recommended to eat at least 2 servings of vegetables every time we eat. 1 counts, but at least 2 is way gooder!
What’s a serving?
1/2 cup raw chopped veggies
1 cup raw leafy vegetables
Here’s are some other (non-measuring cup) examples:
5 broccoli florets
10 baby carrots
1 tomato
4 slices of onion
1 cup of leafy greens (spring mix)
15 cherry tomatoes
0.5 bell pepper
1 cup of spinach
“But” you whine “I don’t like any of those!”
Lucky for you there are hundreds of vegetables in this great big wide world. Check out this list.
Help everyone out and post your favorite way to eat your veggies.
To your best health,
Coach Nancy