6 Simple Tips to Help Double Your Fruit and Veggies
Research out of Britain reveals that most adults, worldwide, need to double—you heard that right, double—their daily intake of fruits and veggies. This should come as no surprise. Fruits and veggies are the basis of any healthy diet plan, and they give you the vitamins, minerals, and hydration you need to get through the Curves Circuit with maximum stamina and strength. Eating a diet full of vegetables and fruits also helps control your blood pressure and cholesterol, strengthens your arteries and bones, and supports your eyes, digestive system, and pretty much every other part of your body. They are also a great addition to your diet if you’re wondering what to eat to lose weight—fruits and veggies are versatile, flavorful, and relatively low in calories. When it comes to upping your intake of vegetables and fruits, unfortunately, supersizing your fries does not count. But these ingenious increases absolutely do!
Plant kale – now
Depending on where you live, kale can be planted anywhere from spring into October. Kale super easy to grow and has a long growing season, so you’ll be able to grab five leaves off your very own plants every morning for five months and throw them in your smoothie, your juicer, or your omelet. Half the battle is simply having veggies around!
Add fruit to your greens
Fruit makes a tasty addition to green salads. You can’t go wrong with the classic pear and gorgonzola combination, but there are others that are more unusual and just as delicious. Try serving plums (de-stoned, cut in half, and dished up either raw or lightly oven roasted and topped with a hint of honey) over spinach with goat cheese, shallots, and herbs. Or, figs (also cut in half and served either raw or lightly roasted) over arugula with Parmesan and shallots. Also consider going savory with your dressing when your salad includes sweeter fruit.
Get creative – with cauliflower
Roast a head of cauliflower and puree it; you can do a million things with it then: Add it to your meatloaf for a sneaky extra veggie; eat it instead of mashed potatoes to get a real veggie instead of a starch; or even thin it with white wine or stock and use it as a pasta sauce for another sneaky veggie. Experiment!
Blend fruits and veggies into a tasty smoothie
Not a spinach eater? Throw a few fresh leaves into a blender together with ½ cup of frozen blueberries, strawberries, or raspberries, and you’ll never taste the greens. Add a banana, scoop of plain yogurt, pineapple juice, and a tablespoon ground flaxseed, and you’ll have a nutritious breakfast or lunch that makes a great part of a weight loss eating plan. You’ll also get lasting energy to get you through your full body workout at Curves. For some added flavor, add a dash of mint, cinnamon, vanilla, or cocoa.
Make your dishes “grate”
To beef up a pasta sauce, chili, lasagna, or meat loaf without the actual beef, add some grated carrots, zucchini, or squash. You’ll get an extra serving of vegetables and cut down on your red meat intake, both which will contribute to your healthy eating plan.
Get fancy with fruit
Berries, peaches, pears – they all make delicious purees. Instead of a sauce full of salt and fat, top grilled seafood or poultry with a sweet berry sauce. Or top pancakes, waffles or French toast with peach puree instead of sugary syrup. Fruits make a great alternative to traditional condiments as part of a weight loss eating plan.
A healthy eating plan full of fruits and veggies is a crucial part of your success at Curves. Aim for at least two cups of fruit and two and a half cups of vegetables per day, more if you can.
