One of the most worrying things about the way a lot of us eat today is that as soon as we leave home we tend to not eat our veggies, we forget about what’s good for us, and end up eating only the things we ‘like’ or are easiest to prepare, i.e. a bowl of cereal.
It’s time to step up and start looking after yourself. You may not have liked broccoli when you were five years old, but I guarantee that your tastes have changed since then. PLUS you’re an adult now so you can cook it how YOU want it done. It doesn’t have to be a soggy, tasteless, grey mess on your plate. Broccoli (and other ‘hated’ veg) can actually be delicious AND nutritious if you cook it properly.
5 Veggies you need to add to your diet
1. Broccoli
Broccoli is full of fibre, vitamin C (and others), potassium, protein and carbohydrates (energy). The dark green veggies are among the most important, and of those, broccoli is possibly the best.
It also happens to be the childhood nightmare food of many people because mom used to boil it into a mushy mess.
To make it tasty, try a drizzle of balsamic vinegar or olive oil, some salt and pepper, and a little parmesan cheese and then roast for a few minutes. It’ll still have its crunch, but also be full of flavour.
2. Corn
Corn is a wonderful vegetable. My favourite way to enjoy corn is to grill it or braai it for a while, then, once cooked, cut it off the cob and drizzle with A LITTLE melted coconut oil or butter and Marmite. Trust me on this one… it’s AMAZING!
SEE ALSO: Spicy Sweetcorn
3. Sweet potato
Sweet potato is a great substitute vegetable, as it can take the place of regular potatoes (which are not a problem unless one eats them after they have been deep-fried).
Sweet potatoes are rich in fibre, vitamin C, potassium, calcium and carbohydrates, so they are a great energy source.
Slice them thinly, add a little salt, rosemary and olive oil and bake in the oven. Eat as a tasty side dish with almost any meal.
4. Brussels sprouts
Yes, you read that correctly! Brussels sprouts are among the healthiest and tastiest, veggies out there. They are seriously high in fibre (which we can all use), vitamins, minerals and carbohydrates, plus they actually have a really great texture and taste if you cook them right.
To do so, mix them in a pan with some salt and pepper, and then fry them gently or roast in the oven (for twenty minutes or so) with coconut oil or butter and olive oil. You won’t believe you ever thought they tasted horrible! For extra taste credit chuck in some onions and mushrooms with the sprouts.
SEE ALSO: Spinach and bacon gratin
5. Spinach
Yes! Popeye’s favourite food should be on your grocery list. Spinach has carbs, protein, iron, vitamins A, C, E, K and B6, plus a ton of fibre.
For best preparation, sauté fresh spinach in garlic and olive oil and serve as a side, or add a little feta cheese and put it in an omelette, casserole or pie as a filling.
This post first appeared on All4Women.
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