One short answer about how to eat more fruits and veggies is: preparation. If you want to know the details on how exactly to get more plants into your life, keep reading!
1. Wash and cut your produce when you get it home.
Even the berries. Yes, you’ll have to use them up. That’s the point! Now, when you are starting dinner or browsing the fridge for a snack, everything is ready to go.
2. Take advantage of the freezer.
I have had many contentious debates about frozen vegetables with my clients over the years. Like everything in life, you pretty much get what you pay for from frozen veggies, and I am picky about the ones I use. My go-tos:
- organic broccoli florets and asparagus spears from Trader Joe’s
- organic chopped spinach, french cut green beans, and peas & carrots from Whole Foods
I throw frozen spinach in almost every sauce, pot of rice, soup, and quesadilla I make. Broccoli is quickly heated and ready to be dipped into ranch, seasoned as a side, or chopped and added to any other dish. Let the shortcuts work for you with these pre-sorted and washed veggies!
3. Have a simple salad.
There is nothing wrong with adding bottled dressing to a handful of spring mix!
4. Include a fruit or veggie with your snacks.
Add a handful of blueberries, some baby carrots, a few cucumber slices, half a banana, mini peppers, a few pieces of dried mango, or so many other fruit and veggie options to every snack you have! (So many bonus points for planning ahead to balance your rainbow of foods for your day/week.)
I won’t serve you fruits and veggies, but I will get moving with you:
- NEW TIME: Wednesday 6:30pm Zumba at Jerabeck Athletic Center (free; second floor dance studio, street parking)
- Saturday 9:30am Zumba at Montrose Collective (free, meets at 888 Westheimer, street/garage parking, and make sure to use your Zumba discount at the Plant Project!)
- Sunday 9am Zumba (free, meets at Levy Park – 3801 Eastside)
- Monday 6:30pm Zumba (free, meets at Levy Park – 3801 Eastside)
