Be a rebel. Eat your veggies!
Carrots, purple cauliflower, yellow carrots, broccolini, purple carrots, asparagus, red carrots.
We live in a world of diets and diet trends, and somehow we keep missing the mark on health. While everyone focuses on eating enough protein, adding healthy fats, and hating on carbs, no one is really talking about the importance of fiber, veggies, food diversity and color.
Don't worry! I am here to say it over and over again:
Eat your veggies! Eat the rainbow!
This blog post is me giving you some ideas on how to prep and eat more veggies. The easiest way to cook more veggies is to make them visually appealing. So enjoy the pictures, and hopefully, you will create some combinations of your own with your favorite veggies.
Broccolini, carrots, and purple cauliflower.
Maybe fiber isn't sexy enough for the nutrition world, but fiber is one of the forgotten heroes of a balanced diet and rarely gets the admiration that probiotics, Vitamin D, omega 3’s, turmeric, or olive oil might get.
I recommend 30-40 grams per day, which is easy to get to if you focus on eating a plant-based, pescatarian or paleo diet. Make sure that at least 50% of your plate is full of veggies, eat your daily fruits, nuts, seeds, fermented foods, and gluten-free grains.
Sweet potatoes, purple sweet potatoes, and purple Brussel sprouts.
Fiber feeds the good bacteria in your gut! There are trillions of microorganisms living in your digestive system. The healthy bacteria in your gut feed on fiber, so the more fiber you eat and the more diversity you eat, the happier your microbiome is.
Eating fiber helps the production of short-chain fatty acids. While your gut bacteria snack on fiber they produce short-chain fatty acids. Short-chain fatty acids are absorbed into your body modulating all biological systems.
Fiber helps regulate estrogen levels in the body, so it is crucial for women's health and hormone balance.
Fiber helps fight inflammation, promotes healthy bowel movements, and balances blood sugar.
Romanesco cauliflower and purple broccolini.
RECIPE
Buy your desired veggies- make sure you have at least 3 to 4 different types of veggies and colors.
Cut your veggies approximately in the same size to ensure even cooking times.
Get a baking tray, layer with parchment paper, and add your veggies.
Add some avocado or olive oil to the veggies, sprinkle salt, pepper, and spices of choice.
Cook the veggies until crisp or your desired consistency.
Enjoy with protein of choice and some healthy fat like avocado!
Red cabbage, golden beets, green cabbage, and orange cauliflower.
As usual, these are my thoughts and ideas, not medical advice. You are encouraged to create your own recipes or search for some suited to your needs. I am just sharing my opinions, hoping that I can inspire some of you to make healthier food choices.
Please remember that we all have different nutritional needs and that food affects us differently. If you are not sure which foods are best for you, reach out for a free phone consultation.
In good health,
Ioana