fruits & veggies. I need to eat more.

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gramacanada
gramacanada Posts: 557 Member
in Motivation and Support
for no real reason I don't eat enough of these. I do not know why. Too lazy to cut and chop maybe. I like them but..... Any one else? I can't eat , onions, garlic, herbs, spices, seasonings or flavorings if any kind. So adding things to them doesn't help. Well cheese does. :laugh: Ideas? Thoughts?
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Replies

  • lisabinco
    lisabinco Posts: 1,016 Member
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    Try some of the recipes from Eat to Live (Dr Joel Fuhrman); lots of good ideas for how to get your veggies. Website: http://www.drfuhrman.com/
    Another good recipe book is America's Test Kitchen The Best Light Recipe book -- super book for a mediocre cook like me.
    I love that I can eat huge servings of most veggies and fruits and still lose weight. My taste buds have become much more attuned to vegetables and nowadays I crave spinach or a big green salad or even cauliflower instead of sweets. Weird but okay by me.

    I do spend time one day a week cutting and chopping and storing my veggies so I can make a salad or stir-fry or saute or rice dish very quickly any time (because everything is already chopped/diced/sliced and ready to throw into anything).
    I also have been taking the time to learn to cook better. That's the only way I can control what I put into my mouth and know what's in the food I eat. (I have to watch the salt.) I'm learning to really like it. I've gotten way more creative about vegetables and have learned to use endive, kale, bok choy, all sorts of veggies I never tasted before.

    Good luck! You're on the right track. Veggies are your friends!
  • lisabinco
    lisabinco Posts: 1,016 Member
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    Another good recipe book is America's Test Kitchen The Best Light Recipe book

    I forgot to mention the other excellent publication from America's Test Kitchen: The Best Vegetable Recipes book. Outstanding and fool-proof instructions and pictures.
  • gramacanada
    gramacanada Posts: 557 Member
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    Great Thanks I'll check those out. I generally skip recipe books, because of all the things i can't eat. Always looking for new sources.:bigsmile:
  • 20shan08
    20shan08 Posts: 219 Member
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    I have that problem too. I'm not a big cooker, at all! So basically what I've done recently is for snacks now, I only eat fruits or veggies. I bring strawberrys, apples, bananas grapes or cherries to work. Ad for lunch and supper, I just boil up some freezer veggies (better than nothing), or I have some carrots or mushrooms with a low cal ranch. That's the best I can do lol
  • AReasor
    AReasor Posts: 355 Member
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    I am sneaky with veggies. I have been known to dice carrots, squash, celery, etc. really fine and add to foods. It adds some flavor to spaghetti sauces, meat loaf, chicken soup and gets everyone eating those nutrients.
  • tripitena
    tripitena Posts: 554 Member
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    I do spend time one day a week cutting and chopping and storing my veggies so I can make a salad or stir-fry or saute or rice dish very quickly any time (because everything is already chopped/diced/sliced and ready to throw into anything).
    I also have been taking the time to learn to cook better. That's the only way I can control what I put into my mouth and know what's in the food I eat. (I have to watch the salt.) I'm learning to really like it. I've gotten way more creative about vegetables and have learned to use endive, kale, bok choy, all sorts of veggies I never tasted before.

    This^^^^ Spending a little time doing several meals worth of veggies makes it much easier. I also keep bits and pieces of various veggies to steam, blend and freeze in cubes. Then I drop a couple of cubes into whatever I can such as pasta sauces, casseroles, soups and beans.
  • ProTFitness
    ProTFitness Posts: 1,379 Member
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    Fruits can be One of the best fast foods you can eat. Peel and eat or just eat. Veggies well you need those too but its not that much added work.

    Cheese is so bad for you
  • last1turtle
    last1turtle Posts: 1 Member
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    Lisa, After you chop and dice your veggies, how do you store them? In the frig or freezer? How long can they be stored in the refrigerator after they'v e been chopped? My husband buys vegetables every week, forgets about them, and next we see them in the refrigerator they are spoiled already. How can we remember we have vegetables to eat in the frig? Any tips ? Alice
  • cersela
    cersela Posts: 160 Member
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    The way I started eating more vegetables was to buy a rice cooker with a steamer basket. I just throw in 2-3 vegetables in the basket while my rice or quinoa is cooking. I don't spend much time chopping them, just wash them and remove the parts that need to be removed.
  • lisabinco
    lisabinco Posts: 1,016 Member
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    Lisa, After you chop and dice your veggies, how do you store them? In the frig or freezer? How long can they be stored in the refrigerator after they'v e been chopped? My husband buys vegetables every week, forgets about them, and next we see them in the refrigerator they are spoiled already. How can we remember we have vegetables to eat in the frig? Any tips ? Alice
    I had that same problem until I started the chopping/cutting/slicing ahead of time. I store them in the frig in clear containers and I set them all at eye level or where I can clearly see them. You can store them in your crisper in their containers, too. I have some containers from Rubbermaid and Tupperware that store veggies very well, for over a week, without any spoilage. Plus now it is a habit to check the veggie containers to see what I can toss together. I always plan my veggie dish (or dishes) first, then plan everything else around that. To make sure I get a veggie at every meal.
  • lisabinco
    lisabinco Posts: 1,016 Member
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    The way I started eating more vegetables was to buy a rice cooker with a steamer basket. I just throw in 2-3 vegetables in the basket while my rice or quinoa is cooking. I don't spend much time chopping them, just wash them and remove the parts that need to be removed.
    Good idea. I actually steam a whole head of cauliflower in my rice cooker (shorter time than rice) and I use it to steam fresh green beans and asparagus, too. Once veggies like this are cooked, they will store for a week in the frig in a see-through container. Already cooked and ready to eat as a snack or to toss in a sauce or whatever. You can just nuke 'em to reheat them.
  • skonly
    skonly Posts: 371
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    Smoothies. I started making them everyday to get more fruit. Now I'm hooked. I was using almond milk but used green tea the other day when I was out. It was great and very sweet. I buy frozen fruit or freeze fresh fruit when it's in season. Blenders are easy to clean and there is no chopping or preparing. Just toss in what you like and hit a button.
  • IsisRosa
    IsisRosa Posts: 57 Member
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    I am also a smoothie drinker. Every morning I drink a green smoothie.

    1cup frozen mixed fruit
    1 handful spinach
    1 banana
    4 baby carrots
    Water

    Blend and drink.
  • Jesse_Hunter
    Jesse_Hunter Posts: 162 Member
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    Fruit is nature's fast food.

    With none of the ammonia or cholesterol.
  • thelovelyLIZ
    thelovelyLIZ Posts: 1,227 Member
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    Frozen vegetables are awesome, and often just as nutritious as fresh. I always keep a few bags in my freezer. Toss them in the microwave a you have a quick side dish in about two minutes.

    I also drastically reduced my meat intake in an effort to get more vegetables in my diet, since I ate a ton of veggies back when I was vegetarian. It worked fairly well and I feel much better these days, but it's certainly not an option for everyone, and you can easily start replacing those calories from meat with carbs instead of fruits and veggies. But it's been good for me!
  • themedalist
    themedalist Posts: 3,213 Member
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    I used to eat a modest amount of fresh vegetables and fruits every day and my weight loss was fairly steady and respectable. But with the influx of seasonal produce and farmer's markets, I decided to significantly increase my intake, just to see what would happen. I've lost 7 pounds in 7 weeks and am now at my goal weight. Coincidence? I doubt it.

    One of the few "rules" I have is a daily salad. Fresh spinach as the base, then whatever strikes my mood: tomatoes, peppers, avocados, mushrooms, carrots etc...all good candidates. I make sure I add at least 4 veggies to my salad. That way, with the spinach, I know I've gotten at least 5 servings of fresh veggies. Salads are magical.

    If you'd like to eat more veggies, how about a month long challenge? The Vegetables ROCK group (http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/7149-vegetables-rock) is sponsoring "Veggie August" where many of us will be aiming to get 6+ vegetables a day. We'd love to have you join us!
  • skonly
    skonly Posts: 371
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    Do you use a regular blender? I have been thinking about trying some green smoothies but only have a blender.
  • IsisRosa
    IsisRosa Posts: 57 Member
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    No, I have a blendtec. Before I bought my Blendtec, I used a regular blender for about a month. The trick with a regular blender is to blend the greens first with juice/milk/water. Blend until u have green juice, then add the fresh/frozen fruit. U are going to have to stop a lot and stir the smoothie until its well blended. And more liquid will help it blend smoother.
  • miss_ally08
    miss_ally08 Posts: 167 Member
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    An easy way to incorporate a serving of fruits & veggies is to drink a V8 fusion - one glass has one serving of each and it tastes great! Just a suggestion if there are things you can't eat, that might be an option for ya.
  • dono1323
    dono1323 Posts: 5 Member
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    The way I started eating more vegetables was to buy a rice cooker with a steamer basket. I just throw in 2-3 vegetables in the basket while my rice or quinoa is cooking. I don't spend much time chopping them, just wash them and remove the parts that need to be removed.
    Good idea. I actually steam a whole head of cauliflower in my rice cooker (shorter time than rice) and I use it to steam fresh green beans and asparagus, too. Once veggies like this are cooked, they will store for a week in the frig in a see-through container. Already cooked and ready to eat as a snack or to toss in a sauce or whatever. You can just nuke 'em to reheat them.

    I do the same thing and is so quick and easy! I also keep an arsenal of Mrs. Dash in my cupboards because of the healthy and yumm factor of them. My favorite meal is squash, asparagus, and a salmon fillet with lemon pepper Mrs. Dash!

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