Monday, March 3, 2014

Tips for Getting Your Greens in



Increasing your vegetable consumption is essential for successful weight loss programs. However, we understand that not everyone likes vegetables—in fact, many members of our medical weight loss clinics complain that it’s very difficult to incorporate more veggies into their diet. Since greens are such a fundamental part of healthy weight loss, we’re sharing some tips for increasing your intake in delicious and creative ways.

At our medical weight loss clinics, we recommend that our members strive to eat between eight to10 servings of fruits and vegetables per day. Try some of the tips below for reaching that goal.

Start at breakfast. Since it’s the most important meals of the day, breakfast is an ideal time to get your greens in. Make your omelet or scramble more interesting with an array of your favorite veggies—they’ll increase your nutrient and antioxidant intake while adding flavor, crunch and texture. You’ve got so many great options to try—from spinach, mushrooms and tomatoes to onions, peppers and avocados.

Toss veggies into your soup or casserole. One of the best ways to enjoy your greens is to add them into your soup or one of your favorite low-carb casseroles. You’ll learn to love the taste of carrots, beans, tomatoes, peas, onions and whatever else you want to throw in when they’re in the mix with other foods.

Puree your greens. If the taste of greens makes it difficult for you to really go the distance with your diet, try pureeing some healthy greens like spinach or kale and mixing them into ground beef and turkey recipes, such as hamburgers and low-carb meatloaf.
Juice it up. When you’re working one of our weight loss programs, it’s an ideal time to jump on the juicing bandwagon. Use a juicer or powerful blender to create tasty concoctions with a base of apple or pear juice to disguise some of the “veggie” tastes and make it easier to up your intake.

image: andevidencelibrary.com

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