This 3-step hack will cure produce boredom

“Eat your fruits and vegetables or you won’t get dessert.” Raise your hand if just reading that sentence is giving you a mild case of childhood flashbacks... Happily, the days of being forced to finish a pathetic plate of peas or boring broccoli are over. The variety of produce available at grocery stores has never been more exciting, and the prep options? Nearly endless.

We know that balanced eating starts with the whole spectrum of fruits and veggies, which is why they’re the cornerstone of a healthy pattern of eating. And your ZeroPoint™ food list is full of ‘em. But when was the last time you tried a new one? (Jicama or celery root anyone?) Changing up produce keeps everyday eating interesting, delicious, and colourful. Let your app lead the way with the steps below.

Step 1: Pick, then explore.

Choose the fruit or veg you want to try. It could be totally new or something you haven’t eaten in a while. (Need ideas? Walk the produce aisle at your grocery store.) Then scroll down the My Day screen in your WW app and tap “Explore recipes.”

Step 2: Browse around.

Type your new fruit or veg into the search bar to bring up a whole bunch of simple, scrumptious ways to cook with it. Scroll down to see all your options. Narrow it down and click on the winner you want to make.

Step 3: Pretrack.

Tap “track recipe” to pretrack the meal or snack you’ve chosen. Pretracking acts like a placeholder you can return to easily when you’re ready to get cooking. Once you make your masterpiece, enjoy it mindfully, and then post a picture on Connect!

Fast facts

• Most adults should be eating double the amount of fruits and veggies they’re already eating.

• Fruits and veggies are loaded with vitamins, minerals and fibre—meaning you’ll stay satisfied longer.

• Produce isn’t magically calorie-free just because most fruits and veggies are zero SmartPoints®. That means they aren’t fair game to act like you’re at an “all you can eat” buffet. If you’re eating more fruits and vegetables than you used to, but you’re using them for healthy snacks, to bulk up your meals, or as a tide-me-over when you’re down to the last few SmartPoints values for the day or week, then great! If you’re overeating bananas because they’re “free,” you might want to pull back a bit.

• When eaten as is, most fruits and veggies are zero SmartPoints. Blend them into a smoothie and your eating experience—and SmartPoints value—changes.

• Not all fruits and veggies are ZeroPoints. Keep an eye out for dried fruit or fruit cups that have added sugar, which will have SmartPoints values.