When Saying, "Eat Your Vegetables" Isn't Enough
I realized that I am constantly telling Peyton, my friends, and anyone that will listen to eat more vegetables. Now, the reality is that I am a work in progress and have so much work to do to create the dietary lifestyle that I want but the area that I am not confused in, is the importance of eating plants. Food is medicine, and as a single mother with a young child, I know first hand how essential it is to create habits that will last a lifetime. I want my daughter to make the same smart food choices even when we aren't together and not be influenced by her surroundings.
Thinking about all of this made me realize that there are adults that don't even fully understand or see the importance of incorporating more vegetables into their daily diets and I think I finally understand why. People want to do better, this I am sure of which is why the first of each year is full of people pledging massive changes in both their diets and physical routines, but because of limitations people often find themselves stuck or in a rut. They'll load up on their favorite fruits, and veggies, prep their meals, and are genuinely ready for change only to hit a bump in the road because eventually, we all get bored of doing or in this case eating the same thing over and over again. The issue becomes being exposed to new vegetables and being equipped with the resources to understand how to prepare them and how to serve them. With more knowledge about what kinds of vegetables to select and how to cook them, I believe more people will comply with the suggestion that they need to eat more vegetables.
As a teacher in an urban school district, I have always had this dream to introduce a different vegetable to my students each week. If I could send them home with something they may have never experienced with instructions on how to prepare it then not only would I be able to impact that individual student but their entire household as well. While, this is still a dream at the moment, I do try to throw in some tips for any kid that reaches out to me about wanting to do better as it comes to their nutrition.
Simple Tips To Increase Veggie Intake
Snack with veggies and fruit. Instead of chips or cookies, have healthy alternatives around the house like baby carrots and hummus, celery and peanut butter or a piece of fruit and leave these healthy snacks in plain sight. You are more likely to snack on fruits and veggies if they are on the counter instead of tucked away in the cupboard.
Make soup. Homemade soups can be a great way to increase your vegetable intake.
New veggie of the week.Try to experiment with a new fruit or vegetable each week by finding interesting recipes for each week’s selection.
Vegetable Kabobs. Grill colorful vegetable kabobs packed with tomatoes, green and red peppers, mushrooms and onions.
The goal is simple-get more fruits and veggies in your diet. We have to realize that we are living in a new era of an under-educated and under-informed public when it comes to nutrition, so the more specific and creative we can be the better.
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