5 Great Ways to Add Vegetables to Your Diet

It’s no secret that a lot of us in the United States don’t get the daily recommended intake of vegetables on a regular basis. However, studies have shown that eating a diet rich in vegetables can help lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke, prevent certain types of cancer, lower the risk of eye problems and reduce the risk of digestive issues. It can also have a positive effect on your blood sugar, which helps keep your appetite on a more even keel.

It’s important to eat a variety of types and colors of vegetables in order to give your body the mix of nutrients it needs. Try dark leafy greens along with brightly colored red, yellow, orange and green vegetables. The American Heart Association recommends an average of 4 servings of vegetables per day. So here are five ways you can add more vegetables to your diet.

1.  Add vegetable toppings to your pizza.

Pizza is great for adding all types of toppings. So why not choose to load up on healthy ones? You can focus on adding a variety of textures and colors. Some great options you might want to try include:

• Broccoli
• Spinach
• Green, red and yellow peppers
• Mushrooms
• Zucchini
• Eggplant

2.  Use roasted vegetables to make a veggie wrap.

You can get a whole-wheat tortilla and make a veggie wrap with roasted vegetables and low-fat cheese. This makes a great on-the-go snack too.

3. Grill vegetable kabobs.

Kabobs are perfect for grilling a variety of vegetables that are tasty and nutritious. Make these into colorful and appetizing meals by packing them with green and red peppers, mushrooms, zucchini, squash, onions and anything else that pleases your taste buds.

4. Eat vegetables with low-fat dressing as dip instead of having chips.

Instead of having chips and salsa or chips and queso, make a healthier choice by trying crunchy vegetables like carrots, celery or broccoli with your favorite low-fat dressing. You’ll enjoy a guilt-free snack and get your serving of veggies at the same time.

5. Keep cut vegetables in snack bags or sandwich bags for easy and quick eating.

Keeping some of your favorite veggies as ready-to-eat portions is a great way to have them as snacks, use them as additions to your lunch, or as a quick way to create a side dish to one of your meals.

There’s definitely more than these 5 ways to add more vegetables to your diet, but hopefully this list can serve as a catalyst for sparking other ideas and creative ways for you to increase your intake of vegetables on a daily basis.