Are you eating enough vegetables
FOOD

Are you eating enough vegetables?

Eating your vegies is the key to a healthy balanced, vegetarian diet. Try some of these fun ways to add more vegies today.

How to add more vegetables into your day

 

According to the latest Australian Health Survey, most of us aren't eating 5 serves/day. (But if you are, good on you!) Sadly most of us aren’t getting anywhere close. “Eating vegetables is important for a longer healthier life and protection against conditions such as cardiovascular disease and certain cancers. With an additional serving of vegetables per day (up to five serves) the risk of death from lifestyle diseases is decreased by five per cent,” says Program & Nutrition Manager, Nour Nazha.

 

9 Ways to enjoy vegies every day

 

1. Make a frittata

Fresh baked or cold as a snack, a slice of frittata is a great way to get more vegies in your diet. Try sweet potato, zucchini, cauliflower, broccoli or any other vegie you have on hand.

 

2. Load up your eggs

Fill your omelette with mushrooms, asparagus, leek and capsicum.

 

3. Make a fritter

Chickpeas are the ideal base for a vegie-filled fritter. Drain a can of chickpeas then blend with grated carrot, asparagus, spinach, corn and parsley and shape into patties before lightly pan-frying. (Good for kids, too!).

 

4. Experiment

Make it a rule to buy a new vegie every time you go to the supermarket. Variety is the spice of life!

 

5. Try vegie spread

Roast some pumpkin then mash and use instead of butter as a sandwich spread.

 

6. Bring back bubble and squeak

It might sound old-fashioned, but pan-frying some leftover vegies from last night’s dinner and using it as a side for today’s lunch or dinner means more veg and less waste.

 

6. Whip up cauliflower steaks

Cut cauliflower into thick slices and cook like ‘steak’.

 

7. Pasta and lentils

Add a can of lentils to your pasta dish to stretch the serving (yay, leftovers), and boost your fibre intake.

 

8. Prep trick

As soon as you get your groceries home, cut up raw vegies into sticks that you can eat as a healthy snack when hunger strikes.

 

9. Cook with more greens

A small serve of broccoli just won’t cut it. Double your greens at dinner time by adding steamed green beans, brussels sprouts or sautéed kale or spinach.

 

Aim to eat at least five serves of vegetables each day.