Need help with nutritional eating...

[candice]

Hi,

I hope I don't sound too dumb here, but when people say to "eat more fruits & vegetables", I'm not sure exactly how to do this. I can handle eating fruit but I really don't know how to prepare a good veggie dish(other than salad which I get tired of). Can you just heat up veggies in the microwave? I guess I need tips on healthy snacks and how to prepare vegetables. What do you guys eat for snacks & meals? I have a 2 yr. old and a 1 yr. old so I also don't have too much time!!! Are there any good websites on this topic? Thanks!

Candice

 

[saralh]

HEY! Well, be proud of yourself that you want to eat more healthfully! It's not hard to incorporate more fruits and veggies into your day, all it takes is a little planning. Keep cut up veggies and tasty, low fat dips in your fridge to grab when you're hungry. Keep fresh fruit around, and try a new fruit every week... mangos and kiwi, pineapple, good old oranges and apples, grapefruit...the list is endless! I buy prepackaged mixed greens for salad and precut veggies and make a nice salad to go with my lunch, usually a sandwhich with beans or tuna or canned salmon mixed with avocado, or a Boca burger with soy cheese. And I buy frozen veggies for dinners, which are as nutritious as fresh. Keep a variety in your freezer. Asparagus, artichokes, okra, carrots, peas, snap peas, spinach, broccoli... you can easily cook them in the microwave, drizzle with a bit of olive oil and sprinkle with herbs, mrs dash, etc... try thyme, garlic, seasoned pepper, oregano... herbs can really jazz up a plain old side of veggies with no calories! I also buy chicken and fish, and cook them all at once and freeze them. When I need to eat dinner, I have a variety of veggies to choose from and lean protein that can easily be heated in the micro. Add a baked sweet potato topped with salsa or cinnamon and ginger, and you've got a complete meal! I snack on cottage cheese, berries, soy nuts, trail mix, apples, yogurt. I hope this helps! Some good web sites for meals are ivillage.com and foodfit.com. Let me know if this helps! Good luck!

 

[Marnie]

Well, sarah gave you some SUPER GREAT advice!! I do the same things as she suggested. I add veggies to everything. Egg whites & veggies, soups & veggies, beans & veggies... you get the idea. I also love oatmeal w/berries, and you can't go wrong with fresh or frozen fruit smoothies. Lo-sodium veggie-bean soups are terrific. Veggie burgers w/greens & tomatoes and sweet potatoes w/salsa are my favorite lunches

Just follow Sarah's advice... you can't go wrong!!

marnie

 

[candice]

Wow, thanks for all the great suggestions! I'm going to print your responses and take them to the grocery store!

Candice