We found a great site that can help us get
more fruits and vegetables into our diet with little effort. Here are some of their tips on how to sneak the good stuff in:
1. Want a quick and easy lunch idea? Combine leftover cooked rice with your favorite frozen mixed vegetable combination and some seasonings.
2. Looking for a quick, healthy snack? Try adding fresh or frozen edamame (green soybeans found in the fresh produce or frozen section of supermarkets) to a Glad® SimplyCooking™ Microwave Steam Bag.
3. Want to speed up roasting veggies on the grill or in the oven? Just partially cook an assortment of colorful veggies together in the microwave using Glad® SimplyCooking™ Microwave Steam Bag. Cook for only half the time suggested on the bag. Finish cooking on the grill or in the oven for the wonderful roasted flavor.
4. Blueberries are great plain, just as they are. Or add a little bit of vanilla yogurt. Another option is to add them to a fruit smoothie, made from frozen bananas and orange juice.
5. Steam your vegetables, then add low-calorie or low-fat dressings, and herbs and spices to add flavor. Some cooking techniques, such as breading and frying, or using high-fat dressings or sauces will greatly increase the calories and fat in the dish.
6. To your favorite lasagna recipe, try adding different combinations of your favorite vegetables between the layers: mushrooms, spinach, broccoli, carrots, zucchini, onions, or eggplant. Be creative.
7. For a quick travel breakfast, stir low-fat or fat-free granola into a cup of yogurt. Top with sliced apples or berries.
8. Add low fat cream cheese to celery stalks. Top with raisins for “ants on a log.”
9. Combine frozen 100% juice and berries, then freeze to make popsicles (add only ½ as much water).
10. Mix frozen spinach or frozen broccoli into your pasta dish.
11. Use a fork to pierce whole, unpeeled vegetables such as potatoes or yams to keep them from bursting while cooking.
12. For even grilling, cut vegetables into small same-size pieces.
13. Try adding diced tomatoes, cucumbers and onions to your hotdogs.
14. Slice, marinate (try balsamic vinegar) and grill a variety of vegetables including zucchini, asparagus, green onions, eggplant, and mushrooms. They’re delicious!
15. Pizza for dinner! Pizza can be a healthy choice (whether you cook in or take-out) when loaded with your favorite veggies. For a real treat, grill dough ‘til on the crisp side, add toppings, wrap in foil, and continue cooking—check for donesness so you don’t burn it.
16. Dress up a salad for your main meal. Add slices of grilled chicken or fish. Top with Mandarin oranges.
17. Make potatoes the star of the show. Top hot, split, baked potatoes with 3-bean chili, broccoli and cheese, or grilled onions and mushrooms for a quick and filling meal.
18. Grill a berry-filled dessert - slice a ripe peach in half, remove pit, and fill peach with blueberries. Sprinkle each half with brown sugar and lemon juice, wrap in aluminum foil, and place on the grill for 15 minutes, turning only once.
19. Grill your dessert - sprinkle bananas with cinnamon and brown sugar, place on aluminum foil, and let it sizzle. Or get creative, and try grilled bananas for your banana split!
20. Grill your own potato bites: dice potatoes, drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with seasoning, wrap in aluminum foil, and place on the grill.
21. Grilled tropical fruit such as papaya and mango are lovely accompaniments to grilled fish.
22. Substitute ½ cup of applesauce for a ½ of cup oil when baking.
23. Cut strawberries into heart shapes for an attractive garnish.
24. All-fruit kabobs are an easy and fun alternative to a traditional fruit salad; pineapple, banana, papaya, and pear chunks work well.
(If YOU have a smart idea, won't you share it? Life is so much easier and we accomplish so much more when we pool our resources. And after all, we're all in this together. So email
patty@dvo.com or
alice@dvo.com with YOUR Smart Ideas!)
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