Loaded with vitamins, minerals, fibre and antioxidants, vegetables are a must in any healthy diet.
Why are vegetables are good for you?
They’re packed with certain benefits you can’t get from any other food groups, so it’s essential to add as many in as possible to your diet.
The National Health Service lists the following as reasons why veggies are just so good for you:
- Vegetables are a fantastic source of great vitamins and minerals, including folate, vitamin C and potassium to name a few.
- Vegetables are also an excellent source of dietary fibre, which can help to maintain a healthy gut and prevent digestion problems.
- Vegetables can help to reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke and some types of cancer.
- Vegetables contribute to a healthy, balanced diet.
A fifth and crucial point is that vegetables are also filling and flavoursome, although some may struggle with the taste. Luckily there are some hacks to get around this and make Veg taste great.
Tips for getting vegetables in your diet
Quite often, those who struggle to eat vegetables may also struggle to cook them correctly. Vegetables are far from bland when prepared and cooked in the right way. Don’t be afraid to try cooking them differently to how you usually would and never neglect your seasoning as this can go a long way to making your vegetables more appealing. Here are our tips:
- Supplement with a super green or reds drink.
- Start off with vegetables like sweetcorn or peas before moving on to other types.
- Add more vegetables to sauces or mash. For example, add carrot, courgette, red pepper to Bolognese sauce or parsnip and swede to your mashed potato.
- Flavour your food! Use salt, pepper, spices, oils and more (in moderation) to make your veg tasty.
The asparagus trick
Add salt, pepper and a generous amount of olive oil to asparagus and cook in the oven for 40 minutes which makes it tasty and crispy. You can also try this with long stem broccoli.
Other veg to try
After trying sweetcorn, peas and asparagus, make your way down this list:
- Roasted peppers
- Long stem broccoli
- Mixed salads
- Corn on the cob
