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When you have to deal with a busy schedule, it can be hard to prioritise eating right and often fresh vegetables are forgotten by the wayside in favour of convenience and speed. But getting your five a day doesn’t have to be a chore when you have some quick hacks on hand to ensure your vegetable intake stays high.
Stop The Chop
Often the preparation part of cooking is what slows down the process the most, and the idea of having to chop stacks of veggies every night can be offputting. Instead try to opt for vegetables that require little or no extra prep – baby carrots in place of regular ones, cherry tomatoes or baby corn and baby potatoes. There are also a lot of options in pre-cut veggies to explore, but these often come at a premium price and with the drawback of excess packaging.
Soup-er Solutions
If your little ones have an aversion to anything green, then a small white lie might be in order. But by blending roasted veggies into a simple soup, you can hide the stuff they don’t like in with the things that they do. For example, a rich tomato soup is just as good with a handful of spinach blended in. Shh, we won’t tell them if you don’t.
Have A Can Do Attitude
Canned and frozen vegetables are an absolute lifesaver when it comes to cooking. They’re always on hand, don’t spoil and are ready to go at a moment’s notice. There’s always been a myth that frozen vegetables aren’t as nutritious as fresh ones, but that’s actually false. In fact, since frozen vegetables are harvested and frozen at peak ripeness, they could actually be more nutritious.
Snack Smarter
Satisfying snacks are all about texture. The reason most people feel more satiated by a bag of chips is because of the crunch factor. But vegetables can do that too. Prep a selection of veggie sticks – carrots, cucumbers, bell peppers, whatever your preference – and have them in the fridge with some dips like hummus or peanut butter for an easy route to health.
Get Saucy
Store-bought sauces often get a lot of flak for the number of sugars and preservatives they contain. But opt for large jars of organic sauces like pesto and salsa for an easy pasta topping even on the busiest night.
