Let’s be real: most of us tend to overdo things just a little during the holidays. In fact, it’s practically impossible not to. This usually carries over to the new year, a new start when many of us make a commitment to being healthier in several ways — whether it’s what we eat, how we treat people, and maybe some exercise thrown in there at some point as well.
We’re here to help with that first one: eating healthier in the new year.
Good news: Setting yourself up for success with new diet habits can be done simply by replacing less healthy snack options and surrounding yourself with some healthier choices, especially lots of fresh vegetables — something many of us don’t get enough of in our daily diets in the first place.
So, to get you on the right track for this new year, we’re here show you some easy ways to encourage healthier eating habits by increasing the amount of vegetables you eat on a regular basis throughout the day (and plenty of great recipes).
But before we go into all that, we need to talk about why.
The Many Benefits of Eating More Vegetables
Many people still aren’t getting their recommended amount of daily vegetables. That’s a shame because when you do get that amount, you can expect some great 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 and cravings in check)
- healthier looking skin
- improved fiber intake
And that’s just the start. Choosing vegetables over unhealthy foods lowers the amount of calories, carbs, additives, and unhealthy fats in your diet. Plus, vegetables are delicious! (We’re clearly a little biased, but it’s still the truth.)
Easy Ways to Eat More Vegetables
It’s fairly easy to admit you need to eat more vegetables, but actually following through with it is not as simple as just filling up your refrigerator and expecting to grab the nearest celery stalk or carrot when you’re craving a snack. Yes, it may work for a few days, but there are plenty of other ways to keep vegetables in your diet.
So, unless you’re okay with eating like a rabbit all the time, here are some easy ways to implement more veggies in your eating routines.
Soups with vegetables
Making a soup base from pureed veggies is a very practical way to increase your intake. Tomatoes, broccoli, carrots, and spinach are just some of the vegetables that can easily be converted to soup bases, and they also work well with tons of other ingredients and proteins you can toss into the pot.
Once the base is ready, you can always add more chopped vegetables to the soup. This is also a great way to use up any frozen veggies that are taking up space in your freezer. Try our Tomato, White Bean, and Kale Soup, Roasted Cauliflower and Brussels Sprouts Soup, or our tasty 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 always worth recommending again. Zucchini, carrots, spaghetti squash, and even sweet potatoes are all great choices for making veggie noodles.
You can either buy pre-spiralized veggie noodles at the grocery store or make your own. All you need is a quality spiralizer, and you’ll be set to enjoy your delicious homemade veggie noodles that are way easier than you think. Throw in some sauteed Brussels sprouts and shredded parmesan, and you’ve significantly lowered your carb count as an added bonus.
Smoothies with added vegetables
Smoothies are always an excellent way to get any number of foods crammed into a single serving. While many are well-acquainted with fruit-based smoothies, you can often add 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 and find your favorite combination!
Cauliflower Rice and Mashed Cauliflower
Cauliflower is by far 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 any of the 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 is chopped fine and recipe-ready. It’s also an easy way to whip up this Garlic Mashed Cauliflower recipe, which will satisfy that comfort food craving with way fewer carbs.
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, like 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 like our Radish & Carrot Chips and Buffalo Bleu Dip that are ready to open and enjoy — no prep required!
Salads!
Yep, you knew this was coming. Centering a large portion of your meals on salads — whether it’s our many Chopped Salad Kit options, our standard Salad Kits, or our many Salad Blends — is a fool-proof 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 immediately, bringing you one step closer to your veggie intake goals.
You can make your salad even more satisfying 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:
- Roasted Garlic Beets & Broccoli Salad
- Everyday Ranch Protein Salad
- Avocado Ranch Grilled Steak Salad
- Roasted Cauliflower Green Goddess Salad
- Salmon Apple Feta Salad
- Hot Honey Chicken Caesar Salad
- Mediterranean Wellness Salad
Here’s to a happier and healthier you! We wish you the best of luck in the coming year and are delighted to be a part of your healthier eating journey. If you’re looking for a particular product, you can use our product finder to see the nearest locations with it in stock.