Tips for Increasing Your Vegetable Intake

Most people know that vegetable intake is vital, yet many are not eating enough. This guide may help turn things around.

The reality is that most people stick to overly processed foods and meat without eating enough vegetables. You probably grew up hearing your parents tell you to finish your vegetables. All you have to do is listen to their advice.

Why Is It Hard to Eat Vegetables?

There is no doubt that not eating enough vegetables can lead to all sorts of problems. For example, studies show a link between the lack of vegetables consumption and issues like heart disease or obesity. It is no secret that both ailments have been creating a major health crisis in the United States, making it important to change the culture.

Unfortunately, many obstacles make it hard for people to eat vegetables; for one, many veggies are bitter. The taste can be overwhelming, which makes them hard to eat.

Furthermore, some veggies are quite expensive compared to other foods. All you have to do is go to a grocery store and find a box of doughnuts you can buy for a buck or two and compare that to one small bag of vegetables that will only last one meal.

It should also be pointed out that many of the artificial foods in grocery stores have ingredients that are quite addictive. This means that a portion of the population cannot help but purchase bad foods.

Tips to Increase Your Vegetable Intake

Here are a few tips that you can follow to help increase your vegetable intake:

• Junk Be Gone – It would be a good idea to limit your junk food intake. Try to replace this food with home-baked or sautéed foods. You can control the ingredients this way and slowly allow your body to stop craving the other food.
• Get Bulk – Yes, the reality is that veggies can be expensive and may not last as long as other foods, but that can be fixed with a little ingenuity in the kitchen. For example, instead of sautéing your vegetables, make them into patties using cornmeal or flour. Now, what would have been one meal becomes several by simply changing the way you prepare your vegetables.
• Get Veggie Smart– Okay, so you know some vegetables are a little expensive, especially organic ones. Why not start paying attention to the specials and only buy the ones that are on special? Sure, this might mean you will get stuck with a vegetable you do not normally eat, but this allows you to experiment. You should also consider buying veggies in bulk or visiting local farms to see if you can find more deals.
• Grow Your Own– Those with a green thumb may want to consider growing their own vegetables at home. This can decrease your food expenses, and you get to eat all the vegetables you want. Of course, you can always join a community garden if you do not have your own. Some people may want to consider foraging vegetables and fruits as some states allow this practice. Be sure to learn this skill from someone with experience.
• Get Political– Several representatives of the U.S. know there is a health crisis that can be linked to lack of vegetables in people’s diets. This is the reason some are thinking of introducing policies that will help subsidize vegetables and fruits to make them a little more affordable. If you want those kinds of changes, be sure to get political so that you can enjoy these subsidies.

These are just some of the steps you can take to eat more vegetables and fruits because they are important. These are not the only tips you can consider; for example, you can also eliminate meat from the grocery list sometimes so that you are forced to eat vegetables during the week. Talk to your dietitian or healthcare provider to help you figure out how to stuff more veggies in your diet.