Blog
Eating Green Vegetables Daily

Is it because you find it hard to incorporate them into your meals often or do you feel you lack variety? Do you feel that green vegetables are not tasty? Whether it is difficulty incorporating green vegetables often or not liking the taste, variety is the spice of life. If you find that you do not like a specific green vegetable, do not be discouraged from trying other green vegetables. Although they are grouped by color, all green vegetables do not necessarily taste the same.

Below are some pointers that I hope will help you increase the number of servings of green vegetables you consume daily.

• Eat green vegetables at breakfast.
• Eat a mixed green salad as a side item instead of single type of lettuce.
• Even when eating a mixed green salad at mealtime, eat an additional green vegetable with the main meal as a side item.
• Incorporate green vegetables into your snacks.
• Meal prep hearty salads with mixed greens for the week.
• Use lettuce as wraps in place of grains and tortillas for some dishes.

Do you find that you get stuck on when to eat green vegetables or which green vegetables you should eat? Below are some ways you can have greens throughout the day.

Greens for breakfast:

• Asparagus – There are some delicious asparagus and egg recipes out there.
• Cabbage – One of my personal favorites is cabbage hashbrowns.

Greens for lunch:

• Broccoli – Whole grain pasta with broccoli. Add a sauteed green and you’ll get two in one dish.
• Stir fry – Broccoli, bell pepper, cabbage, snap peas, and zucchini. Loading an easy to cook stir fry with multiple green vegetables is a win-win situation.

Greens for dinner:

• Collard greens and roasted chicken
• Braised collards as a side item with additional vegetable items creating a vegetable plate.
• Kale and salmon

Snack:

• Raw vegetables like green bell peppers and broccoli with a healthy tahini dip.
• Raw vegetables like brussel sprouts or cabbage shredded or leafy greens with a simple, acidic dressing. Yes, a small salad can serve as a snack.
• Roasted snap peas. Cook in batches and season them just the way you like them.

Below are some delish green vegetables to consider eating more often:

• Arugula isn’t just for layering on chef inspired sandwiches. It makes a great addition to savory salad recipes and gives a kick to some homemade pesto. I like squeezing fresh lemon over a small plate of arugula and enjoying as a sort of appetizer before my meal.
• Brussel sprouts. Brussel sprouts can be eaten raw and shredded to make a salad or roasted with oil and spices.
• Fresh herbs such as basil, cilantro, coriander, and parsley can be a quick way to easily add a nutritious green to your meal.
• Leafy greens. Bok choy, chard, dandelion, mustard, and turnip are all greens, but they do not taste the same. Traits they share include they can be eaten raw or cooked, simplicity in preparation (usually sautéing with pepper flakes), and they add a delicious nutritious boost of micronutrients to any meal.
• I enjoy okra often because it is one of my favorite foods. Okra can be braised, roasted, and cooked in a variety of soups. Nutritionally and in terms of taste, okra is a superstar in my opinion.

Whatever the reason you have not been able to consume multiple servings of green vegetables daily, I hope that now you have some ideas on how you can get that changed asap.