Getting That Extra Veg In

Getting in the recommended daily intake of vegetables can be a challenge, especially when our meals tend to be based around carbs or meat. Time also seems to be another reason people seem to fall shy of a good amount of veg per day. But vegetables are so good for our bodies that we really should make it a priority not just to meet these recommendations, but to exceed them!
 
I know that our busy lives make this more than a challenge, but if you can even get just one or two extra serves of veg in a day, your body will love you for it. Here’s four easy ways to get in that extra veg.

1. Try swapping pasta for zucchini pasta/noodles/zoodles
   This not only gives you that extra boost of veggies, you also won’t feel so sluggish and bloated after all those carbs. Take a look at my Kangaroo Meatballs with Zucchini Pasta recipe for some inspiration.
   
2. Add a handful of spinach or rocket to whatever you’re eating
   You would be surprised how many things go with spinach and/or rocket and if you always have some in the fridge, it’s easy to chuck some extra green into your meal. Try sautéing some spinach in some coconut oil and fresh garlic until it is lightly wilted, goes so well with so many things!
3. Roast some veggies at the start of the week as a back up
   Spend some time on a Sunday roasting some pumpkin, sweet potato and carrots in some olive oil and a little salt so that during the week if you’re pressed for time you’ve got some veggies to go with a last-minute meal
4. Make individual servings of carrot/cucumber/celery sticks
   Cutting up veggie sticks to either have on their own in with some dip are a quick and easy snack that you can take out on the go or even keep at work so if you’re hungry at work you’ve got a healthy snack that doubles as an extra serve of vegetables

 
When you’re working out ‘serves’ of vegetables, use the following as a guide – ½ a cup of cooked vegetables or 1 cup of salad (taken from the Australian Dietary Guidelines, 2013).

Nourishing your body with the good stuff really is the best way to improve your health and although when we are young we feel like we’re invincible, it all catches up to us with age – trust me, I have seen some very sick people being a nurse, it’s not nice.
 
As always I am more than happy to chat about this further or answer any questions you may have so please feel free to comment or contact me here.
 
Do something today that future you will thank you for.
 
Georgia x