Simple Ways to Eat More Veggies

I grew up as a SUPER picky eater. I’m talking plain-noodles, chicken-tenders-with-no-dipping-sauce, cheese-pizza-level picky. I think baby carrots (raw, not cooked) were about the only vegetable I liked until high school.

When I started my journey into creating healthy habits for myself, figuring out how to like more veggies was at the top of my list. Now, I’m at a point where I eat all kinds of them all day long. This list is some of my tips and tricks to getting there, too.

Okay, but why?

It’s common knowledge that vegetables are “good” for us. But why? They have a bazillion micronutrients, for one. Many veggies are also a great source of fiber and water, which fill us up and helps our guts. Then why is it that most people eat far less than the recommended amount? On a societal level, most experts point to cost, education, and availability. It’s also just hard to get out of the mindset of vegetables being a chore! Like they’re a necessary evil you have to include to have a heathy diet. That’s so sad! I’m here to show you some tricks to flip that mindset and get past your days of feeling like a rabbit munching on your boring salad. Let’s get to it!

Tip #1: Start your day with veggies at breakfast

I was always a sweet breakfast girl. I grew up with cereal and milk, graduating to overnight oats and peanut butter toast. But you’re missing out on an entire meal as an opportunity to get all that veggie goodness! Throw some onions and peppers into an omelet, add spinach to scrambled eggs, or hide kale in your green smoothie. Inspired by a fave brunch spot, First Watch, I’ve been including a side of lightly dressed greens with my breakfast for a few months now. A handful of mixed greens or arugula, a squeeze of lemon, a drizzle of olive oil, a crack of black pepper and voilà! Kickstarting the day with micronutrients and fiber.

Tip #2: Figure out which raw vegetables you like as snacks

Another opportunity to eat more veggies is snacks! My favorites lately are cherry tomatoes, mini cucumbers, sugar snap peas, and baby carrots. Sliced or mini peppers are also a yummy, crunchy option! If you’re at a point where munching on a bag of sliced cucumbers sounds dreadful, have them with hummus or a Greek yogurt-based dip. You could even do half crackers and half veggies with that hummus. Baby steps count.

Tip #3: Learn how to cook them

Isn’t this applicable to most food choices? One preparation gets old REAL fast if you have it every day (or week or whatever). There are so many methods that work for vegetables! My go-to in the colder months is roasting with oil and a seasoning. Marinaded and grilled or just grilled with some avocado oil and S&P is a summertime staple. Stir frying is an easy way to pack a variety into one meal. Start with recipes from Google or Pinterest and learn as you go! You can also play around with seasonings. I’ve found that S&P and garlic powder go with almost everything. Trader Joe’s has some really interesting pre-mixed seasonings, too.

Tip #4: Try new ones

Don’t be afraid to pick up a vegetable you’ve never had before! Or maybe you order one at a restaurant first to see if you like it and get inspired by how they prepare it. Explore the produce section of the grocery store or hit up a farmers’ market and see what catches your eye. I really like switching things up with uniquely colored versions of veggies I already know I like. Orange cauliflower? Rainbow carrots? Purple sweet potato? I’m in (for different vitamins and minerals than their common colored cousins, too!).

Tip #5: Stop making boring salads

Salads are a cliché diet food. Many people think of a salad as a lame alternative to a burger or something. I’m here to argue that a salad can be a delicious, exciting, filling meal full of flavors and textures if you build it right! Kendra from The Lazy Genius explains it much better in her episode about salads (linked here), but I totally agree with her salad rules. You gotta make everything bite-sized and you need to mix it in a much bigger bowl than you’re going to eat it out of. Check out her podcast for a lot more ways to say goodbye to boring salads.

Tip #6: Buy frozen

If you’re roasting, stir frying, or steaming them, frozen veggies are a budget-friendly option. For one, they are often actually lower priced than the fresh version. But also, they prevent waste. We’ve all been there. You’re at the grocery store and you get pumped to start your healthy eating habits and buy all the things and stock your fridge full of fresh produce. By the end of the week, you’re throwing out the wilted asparagus and mushy zucchini. Anyone else? Just me?

Okay so there you have it! My six tips for adding more vegetables into your diet. Remember, baby steps are okay! Even if you only up your veggie intake by one serving per week, it’s progress.

What’s your least favorite veggie?

I’d love to hear what vegetable you can’t stand! I would venture to say you just haven’t had it prepared the right way yet!