Brad and I decided recently we need to incorporate more fruits and vegetables into our diet. Personally, I enjoy both (thanks to mom and her "veggie" cravings) but the husband has a bit harder of a time with some of my personal favorites (asparagus and squash for example).
There is just the two of us to cook for so sometimes it seems harder (for me anyway) to find ways to incorporate vegetables into our usually simple (and quick) meals. So what is a newlywed couple with very few ideas of how to eat healthier to do? Any ideas? Any favorite recipes?
Friday, January 25, 2008
Yummy?
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4 comments:
Here's something that has been working for us this past week. I cut up some celery, carrots, jicama, and green peppers into strips and put them in a plastic container in the fridge. We just pulled them out for lunches and "munches". It helped having them ready-to-eat. I just need to remember to do it again this week. :)
Kathy is right. We'll eat a whole bunch of celery in one week if it's already cut up, otherwise it just sits in the bottoms drawer in the fridge and wilts.
We always try this:
-A fruit for breakfast (be it our "yucky" vegetable juice, fruit juice, fruit in our cereal, or fruit topping for pancakes - applesauce is good)
-A fruit and a veggie for lunch. This is as simple as your cut up veggies and an apple, or lettuce on your sandwich and a fruit cup, or a really huge, yummy salad for lunch.
-Two vegetables for dinner. I count potatoes and corn as veggies. So a baked potato and green beans, for example, would be two veggies. Or throw in a small salad with your dinner.
With kids, I have learned to sneak in veggies. When I make jello, instead of adding water, I make it with fruit juice. Then I add cut up bananas or a can of mandarin oranges. The kids never know I add juice to it. Another idea is to buy baby food (I know it sounds crazy), and add it to everyday food. My kids love mac-n-cheese. Add a jar of squash to it and NOBODY will ever know. I add baby food to cakes, muffins, scrambled eggs, anything you can think of. My favorite is the squash, because it is light colored and has a mild flavor.
Whew! Sorry about the novel. But I'm not done yet! We love stir-fry. Buy a frozen stir-fry mix and it takes 7 minutes to cook it up. Throw some garlic in with it, add some soy sauce at the end, mix it up with already cooked and seasoned ramen noodles, and you've got a cheap, healthy meal in less than 10 minutes. I serve it with jello or a fruit salad (which is a mixture of mandarin oranges, pineapple, and a banana). Or, save all your leftover veggies for the week, and at the end of the week, make soup: a can of chicken broth, a can of petite diced tomatoes, all of your leftover veggies, some seasonings (parsley, whatever) and PRESTO! Homemade soup in 10 minutes. Add some crackers, biscuits made from a mix, or bread and you've got dinner. Or make a pot pie with them: mix them with cream of chicken or gravy made from a mix, put it in a frozen pie crust and add a crust on top, and bake. OR, make a frittata with them: put all your leftover veggies in a pie pan, add some shredded cheese on top, and 5 or 6 eggs mixed with S&P, a dash of milk and any seasoning you want. Put it in the oven and bake until it's set. And FINALLY...roasted vegetables are the BEST! Put your veggies in a greased pan, drizzle with a tiny bit of oil, salt and pepper, and cook them in a 400 degree oven until tender. Broccoli takes about 10 minutes, so do green beans. Carrots and zucchini take a little bit longer. You must use fresh veggies, but oh my, are they good! Roast up a whole bunch and have them one night as a side dish, the next night mixed with pasta and a vinegar and oil salad dressing, and the next day for lunch with melted cheese on toast or pita bread.
I better stop. I must stop. I NEED TO STOP! Somebody - hold me back! I've written enough! Hope it all helps.
Great ideas Maren! (You sneakie girl, you.) :)
It's amazing how a taste for veggies (and healthy food) can be developed even if a person does not start out with one.
I also serve fruits and/or veggies at mealtimes. They're not always accepted, but they are there for the choosing.
Good luck! Love ya!!!
try the foodnetwork.com website. They have tons of healthy recipes including unique ways to prepare vegetables. very cool.
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