6 Ways to Up Your Veggies without Going Crazy!

I'm avoiding the obvious ideas in this post, like eating a big salad once per day or  gnawing on celery instead of chips. You know this already. I want to help you find ways to include veggies in your diet that you may not have thought of..

We all know veggies are important right? But do you really get enough every single day? It can be tough if you are just getting in the habit, but I tell you...once you do, you will miss your veggies if you don't get them! 

Not sure how much is right for you? Check out CDC's calculator for your recommended fruit and veggie intake based on your age, gender and activity level.


Here are the top 6 ways I have used to increase my fruits and veggies: 

1. Buy veggies! I know this seems obvious, but seriously...have you ever filled up your basket without going through the produce section? Start in the produce section and pick simple veggies to prepare or eat, like green or red peppers, broccoli crowns, baby carrots, baby spinach, or tomatoes. If you're not into veggies, buy something to dip them in, like hummus or a low-calorie dressing.

Frozen veggies are a-ok too. Next time you make a soup or chili, throw in some edamame, spinach, okra, or frozen peppers and onions. When making pasta or rice, throw in a handful of veggies.

2. Make smoothies! Now if you don't like veggies, I know the idea of a green smoothie sounds nasty, but trust me, you can't taste the veggies if you mix in the right stuff.

Start with 1 handful of any greens and a handful of shredded carrots and a 1/2-3/4 cup water in the blender. Blend! Then add in strawberries, blueberries, or pineapple, along with a scoop of yogurt or 1/4 of an avocado. Add in a smidge of your favorite extract like vanilla, almond or orange. Blend and enjoy!

3. Make pasta sauce! I find that veggie "haters" are often pasta lovers! Make your sauce into a 1-3 servings of veggies, without sacrificing your pasta. Using your trusty blender, combine 1 tomato, 1 handful or spinach or kale, 1 handful of fresh parsley and the juice from 1 lemon, along with garlic, 2T parmesan cheese, and pepper. Blend until chunky or smooth and serve over pasta!

4. Get it through juice! A good friend and colleague of mine,  happens to be the Registered Dietitian for BluePrint Cleanse, a rockin' company that purely manufactures juices from raw and organic ingredients. It's ridiculous. She has been giving me all sorts of positive info on the benefits of juice, and while I was once a skeptic, I am now a believer in the benefits! Their green juice contains 6 pounds of produce and it feels like you are committing food sin when you drink it! It's delicious. If you truly hate fruits and veggies, try drinking 1 green juice a day. You can get BluePrint at your local Whole Foods.

5. Snack on 'em!  Seriously, it's so easy to snack on veggies! You just have to buy them at the grocery store! These days, even if you hate chopping, you can buy pre-cut veggies at your local supermarket...there are no excuses! My favorite ways to sneak veggies in is: carrots or sliced peppers with hummus, a quick saute of spinach and olive oil, or a quickly blended gazpacho made with tomatoes, tomatillos, cukes, vinegar, oil and spices.

6. Supplement! Now a fruit and veggie supplement is just that...it augments your healthy diet. I do not recommend taking a fruit and veggie supplement and not eating vegetables. This is a way to ensure that you are getting all the nutrients you need, as you consume a healthy diet. This is the one I recommend!