Vegetables are a great source of nutrients and provide multiple health benefits. Adding vegetables to your diet may reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke. Also, a diet high in vegetables helps you to lose weight and maintain weight loss.
Nutrients and Health Benefits
- Most vegetables are naturally low in calories and are nutrient dense. Also, vegetables have no cholesterol.
- Vegetables are high in fiber. Fiber keeps you feeling full and therefore prevents you from overeating.
- Vegetables are rich in multiple vitamins and minerals that are essential for normal body function. Vegetables are rich in vitamin A, C, folate, potassium and dietary fiber.
Ways To Incoporate Vegetables
Vegetables can be brought fresh, frozen or canned. Also, vegetables are versatile. They can be grilled, baked or stemmed. Vegetables can be easily added to your diet in the following ways:
- In a smoothie. Make a mixed green smoothie for breakfast.
- Have a mixed green salad and pair it with lean protein for lunch or dinner.
- As part of a hearty soup.
- As a healthy snack
Quick simple recipe to follow
With my busy schedule, its important for me to have something that can be prepared quickly and taken on the go. So my-go-to breakfast meal in the morning is a green-vegetable-protein-fruit smoothie. For time saving measures, I make my smoothie the night before. Follow my recipe below:
1 – 2 cups of kale or spinach
3/4 cup blueberries
1/2 a medium banana or one whole banana
2 tbs of Organic Hemp Seeds(you can substitute that for your favorite protein powder)
1 tbs chia seeds
2 tbs flax seeds
1/2 tsp of vanilla
10 oz of water
Instructions: Mix all ingredients in a blender and enjoy.
Photo: Bigstock
