This post is sponsored by Musselman’s new BIG CUP applesauce.
I’ve been loving the idea of adding 50% More to my life. Last month, I wrote about adding mindfulness back into my everyday regimen – especially the way that I parent. I am happy to report that I am still following all the principles outlined in the post, and I’ve been feeling SO much more balanced and relaxed as a result.
For this month’s post, I thought I’d focus my effort on eating 50% More veggies. Because who couldn’t use more plant power?!
Here are 17 Ways to Add 50% More Veggies to your life!Â
Add frozen spinach to brownies: Yes, really! I add 3/4 cup frozen chopped spinach to brownie mix and bake as usual. You can still see the chunks of spinach once it’s baked, and you can kind of taste it, but the chocolate overpowers the spinach taste. I couldn’t say this makes brownies HEALTHY, but it certainly packs a bigger nutrient punch.
Drink green juices: Fresh-pressed juices are an easy way to pack in veggies and fruit. My favorite foods to juice include: cucumber, kale, spinach, celery, green apples, lemons, oranges, and beets. I own an Omega juicer (<— review!). While pricey, I believe an Omega is worth the money, especially considering the ten-year warranty. Juicing removes the fiber of the produce, but many healthy nutrients remain in the juice. By drinking juice regularly, you pump up your overall intake of fruit and veggies in a way that would be difficult to do if you were eating the produces whole.
Add shredded carrots and chopped spinach to your scrambled eggs: I rarely have veggie-less scrambled eggs. Before you put your eggs in the frying pan, cook some shredded carrots and chopped spinach in a bit of oil. Then, add the eggs.
Make a Quiche Cornbread: This is one of my all-time favorite recipes, and then variations are endless! Here’s the original recipe, a zucchini version, and a Mexican-flavored variation.
Serve pasta over spinach:Â Plate your pasta on a bed of raw spinach. The heat from the pasta will wilt the spinach, no cooking is required!
Try veggies in lieu of French fries or chips: One of my favorite blogger recipes of all time is the parsnip fries from Oh She Glows. You can make a similar dish with sweet potatoes. I also love kale chips. Kath Eats is the master at preparing them; here’s her recipe.
Add chopped veggies to your favorite homemade burger: Try mixing in ingredients like bell peppers, tomatoes, carrots, squash, or tomato. This works for both veggie burgers and regular burgers, too!
Pump up pasta sauce:Â Add extra mushrooms, onions, peppers, tomatoes, zucchini, yellow squash to canned pasta sauce.
Keep snackables on hand: When you return from the grocery store, wash, cut and store carrots, celery, and zucchini spears in the fridge. You’ll snack on veggies more if they’re ready to go when you’re ready to eat!
Make spinach hummus: Here’s my super simple recipe.
Salads always:Â Have a small side salad with every dinner.
Doctor canned soups: Pump up the nutritional content of soup by adding fresh veggies. I like to add shredded carrots, frozen spinach, or stir-fried mushrooms.
Roast a week’s worth of veggies on Sunday night: Part of the trouble with eating veggies is that they can be time-consuming to prepare. There’s no reason to spend 45 minutes every evening chopping and roasting veggies – do a big batch once a week instead! I like to roast Brussel sprouts, sweet potato, broccoli, parsnips, and carrots. Chop the veggies into equal pieces, drizzle with olive oil and salt, and bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes or so.
Veggie smoothies: You can toss a handful of spinach into a fruit smoothie with very little impact on taste. Kale is another great mix-in, but it does have a stronger taste. You can also blend in sweet potato – it’s really good! Try this recipe of mine:
Wrap it up:Â Use raw collard greens as a ‘wrap’ for sandwiches.
Veggies for breakfast: Yes, really. I try to eat vegetables with breakfast, not fruit. I’m more likely to snack on fruit (apples and banans are so conveniant for on the go!), so I focus on veggies for breakfast. If you’re just getting started with savory breakfasts, here’s a yummy recipe: Millet Breakfast Scramble.
Have a fast dinner: My favorite go-to quick dinner is Sweet Potato with Baked Beans. Add that side salad, and you’ve got lots of healthy veggies in the mix!
Giveaway Time!
To celebrate the sentiment of “50% More,†here’s a giveaway from the awesome folks at Musselman’s…
I’m giving away a prize pack of Musselman’s BIG CUP Unsweetened Applesauce (so good!) and a $25 Nike gift card. I hope this inspires you to complete a 50% More challenge, too!
To enter: simply leave a comment describing what you wish you had more of – BUT let’s assume the traditional ones (time, money, sleep!) are obvious. What else could you use more of in your life? I’ll pick a winner next Wednesday.Â
(Side note: I know I need to announce winners for the Runner’s World book and the Ironman March giveaway {send me your completed training plans at caitlinjboyle@gmail.com} – I’ll do that ASAP!)
This post was sponsored by Musselman’s BIG CUP applesauce, which contains six ounces of delicious applesauce.
I could use more time with my family! They’re not too far away, but far enough that I don’t see them as much as I’d like.
Also, more inspiration for my dad’s birthday as I have NO idea what to do for him!