June 17th is National Eat Your Vegetables Day! What better time to up your veggie intake?
I hated vegetables most of my life. Peas were about the only vegetable I could tolerate. So when I first went vegan, the big joke was that I was a vegan that didn’t eat vegetables. Well, no wonder I didn’t reap the health benefits of a vegan lifestyle while eating processed foods and pastas all the time. I still felt tired all the time, heavy, bloated, self-conscious, plain old miserable.
Luckily, my kids seem to like most vegetables, but it’s taken some work for all of us.
How did I start? I discovered that the best way to trick myself into tolerating, then learning to love veggies, was to start by hiding them… and this works great for kids too!
What happened when I learned how to eat healthy plant-based? My digestion improved, I lost weight, the cloud I was walking in dissipated, I had more energy. Best of all… I gained confidence in my body, pride in my accomplishment, and power in my food choices!
So, how do you hide veggies in your and your kids’ food?
Here are some easy tips:
- Smoothies
These are like the holy grail of healthy eating. Healthy breakfast? Try a smoothie. Need a filling snack? Try a smoothie. Lunchtime, short on time? Pour a smoothie. Thirsty? Well, you get the idea. You can easily hide greens in here. Kale, Spinach, Beet greens, avocado, even broccoli stalks! Just have some sweet fruits and nuts in there and don’t even taste them. My kids LOVE my smoothies. - Popsicles
Just make extra smoothie and freeze them into popsicles. Kids think they’re getting a treat and you don’t have to feel guilty when you give it to them in the morning, afternoon, or at night.
- Riced veggies
I love to put riced cauliflower or broccoli in my marinara sauce. Takes on the consistency of a ground meat. Add a few drops of Liquid Smoke and make it even “meatier.” - Soups and Stews
Cut up those veggies into teeny tiny pieces and throw them in your soup or stew. Works great with broccoli and spinach. You and your kids will never know they are there.
- Sauces
Try making a sauce out of the veggie you or your kids don’t like, particularly if it’s a texture issue. I’ve done this with cauliflower and beets and have learned to really love both of them this way. Just google “healthy easy vegan ___ sauce” and voila!
Once you’ve gotten used to the taste when you hide it, try slowly increasing the size and amounts.
Train those taste buds… if I can learn to love broccoli and beets, then truly, anything is possible!
Stop Dieting. Feel empowered.
Want more personalized support to incorporate more plant-based foods into your lifestyle? I can help. My Healthy Jumpstart one-on-one coaching plan is perfect for women that want to stop feeling powerless against their food choices and start feeling powerful because of them! I’ll give you personalized, sustainable action steps to get you going on the path to empowerment.
