Let’s be honest: most of us kind of overdo it a bit during the holidays. In fact, it’s almost impossible not to. This tends to carry over to the new year, a new start when many of us commit to being healthier in various ways — whether what we eat, how we treat others, and maybe a bit of exercise thrown in there somewhere as well. We’re here to help with that first one: eating healthier in the new year.
Fortunately, setting yourself up for success with new diet habits can be accomplished simply by replacing less healthy snack options and surrounding yourself with healthier alternatives, especially tons of fresh vegetables — something most of us don’t get enough of in our daily diets.
So, to get you on the right track for this new year, we’re here to offer up some easy ways to cultivate healthier eating habits by dialing up the number of vegetables you eat on a regular basis throughout the day and in lots of great recipes.
But first, let’s talk about why.
The Benefits of Eating More Vegetables
Many people still aren’t getting their recommended amount of daily vegetables. That’s a shame, because when doing so, you can expect benefits such as:
- lower blood pressure
- lower risk of heart disease, stroke, and certain types of cancer
- lower risk of eye and digestive problems
- improved blood sugar levels (which can help keep appetite in check)
- healthier skin
- improved fiber intake
And that’s just the start. Plus, prioritizing vegetables over unhealthy foods cuts down on calories, carbs, additives, and unhealthy fats. Also, vegetables are delicious! (We’re obviously a bit biased, but it’s the truth.)
Easy Ways to Eat More Vegetables
It’s pretty easy to say that you need to eat more vegetables, but actually following through with it is not as simple as just filling your refrigerator expecting to grab the nearest celery stalk or carrot when you need a snack. Sure, it may work for a day or two, but there are many more options to folding vegetables into your diet.
So, unless you’re fine with eating like a rabbit all the time, here are some easy ways to incorporate more vegetables into your diet.
Soups with vegetables
Creating a soup base from pureed vegetables is a very practical way to increase your veggie intake. Tomatoes, broccoli, carrots, and spinach are just a few of the vegetables that can be used as soup bases, and they also work well with lots of other ingredients and proteins tossed in. You can always add more chopped vegetables into the actual soup once the base is ready. This is also a great way to use up any frozen veggies taking up space in your freezer. Try our Tomato, White Bean, and Kale Soup or the delicious Miso Ginger Broth Bowls recipe.
Veggie Noodles
Most of us are probably familiar with using veggie noodles in place of traditional noodles like spaghetti and linguine, but it’s certainly worth mentioning again. Zucchini, carrots, spaghetti squash, and even sweet potatoes are all excellent options for making veggie noodles. You can either purchase pre-spiralized veggie noodles at the grocery, or to make your own, all you need is a quality spiralizer and you’re set to enjoy your own delicious homemade veggie noodles. Toss in some sauteed Brussels sprouts and shredded parmesan and you’ve significantly reduced your carb count as an added bonus.
Smoothies with added vegetables
Smoothies are always a great method to get any number of foods crammed into a single serving. And while many are familiar with fruit smoothies, you can often add in certain choice vegetables to increase the vitamin and nutrient count without altering the flavor profile (and, in many cases, improving the overall flavor). Kale, spinach, avocado, frozen zucchini, pumpkin, beets, avocado, and sweet potatoes all work well when blended into smoothies. Give it a try!
Cauliflower Rice and Mashed Cauliflower
Cauliflower is easily one of the most versatile vegetables on the planet, as evidenced by the fact that it can even be used as a replacement for rice or even pizza crust. The cauliflower takes on whatever flavors and spices you add to it, whether you’re making cauliflower rice with some butter and salt or perhaps a bowl of fried cauliflower rice to serve alongside other stir-fried veggies like snap peas and broccoli.
If you want a handy shortcut, pick up a bag of our Cauliflower Rice, which are chopped fine and recipe ready.
Use these Cauliflower pearls for a healthier alternative to mashed potatoes, too: Garlic Mashed Cauliflower
Snacks with Fresh Vegetables on the go
Replacing your typical snacks with healthy veggie options can be as easy as picking up some of our veggie snack packs, such as our Veggies & Cheese Snack Pack or Veggies & Hummus Snack Pack. And if you need more to feed your family or a crowd, we also have plenty of veggie tray options that are ready to eat — no prep required!
Salads!
Oh yes, you knew this was coming. Centering a good portion of your meals on salads — whether it’s our numerous Chopped Salad Kit options, our standard Salad Kits, or our many Salad Blends — is an effective way to get your fill of veggies daily while still ensuring you’re eating something delicious. What’s nice about these options is that they’re ready to be used right out of the package, bringing you one step closer to your goal veggie intake.
You can make your salad even more filling by adding healthy proteins like grilled shrimp, salmon, chicken, and tofu, along with veggie protein options like sweet potatoes, chickpeas, and tofu.
We also have plenty of tasty (and innovative) recipes that use products like our Chopped Salad Kits to create bigger meals. Here are just a few of them that will fit in with your healthy resolutions for the new year:
Here’s to a happier and healthier you! We wish you the best of luck in the coming year and are happy to be a part of your healthier eating journey.