“Do your children eat their vegetables?”. I am happy to report in our house the answer is YES! Thankfully they love all vegetables. However, if you asked me if my husband eats enough vegetables, I would have to say the struggle is real! There were many things he had not tried in his life until we got married and I began cooking. Growing up for me we ate everything, this has turned out to be a blessing. This has allowed me to share so much goodness with my family.
Winter is an important time for you to be consistent with your intake of veggies. In Michigan, it is easy for us to fall off the veggie wagon during the winter. We are so blessed all summer and fall long with fresh veggie choices. How do we then keep this going into the winter months?
To me the answer is simple, FALL IN LOVE WITH WINTER VEGGIES! Winter veggies warm the body, keep it nourished, and are so tasty. Eating vegetables, especially in the winter helps you to maintain a healthy immune system, improve your overall bone strength, improve eye health, prevent cancer, and increase your metabolism, just to name a few. Just think about Popeye and his big muscles, he ate his spinach all year long! Winter vegetables are also great for improving brain function, conception, and boosting energy. Kale, broccoli, spinach, cabbage, and many other leafy greens all aide in providing long lasting benefits to your body and moods.
So how do you get your children, your spouse, and other family members to eat more vegetables? For those who have difficulty consuming spinach or other leafy greens, simply add these to protein shakes, salads, soups, and even pasta dishes. At breakfast, saute a little spinach and add it to your scrambled eggs.
At our house, I make minestrone soup once a week during the winter. This soup is full of carrots, celery, swiss chard, beans, zucchini, and tomatoes. Without even knowing it they have just consumed a bowl full of goodness! Cooking this in advance and refrigerating it offers a quick lunch option that you can eat at home or take to work and heat up!
We also add spinach and other leafy greens to our protein shakes. The kids don’t even see me adding this and therefore notice no change in taste. At dinner, we love roasted vegetables such as acorn squash, butternut squash, and sweet potatoes. The beauty of these vegetables is that they taste great without adding an additional flavor. Simply cook them at 350 degrees in the oven for a bit provides all the flavor you need!
Now, more than ever it is important for us to stay consistent with our eating habits. Eating a well-balanced diet, full of fruits vegetables and healthy grains will be the best protection you can have against winter colds and flu. Fuel your body with goodness and it will fuel you back!
So, this week I challenge you to grocery shop the produce department! Find the kale, spinach, broccoli, sweet potatoes, and squash. Find ways to incorporate these amazing treats into your breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Your body will thank you!
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