Veggies. The one inarguable golden child of health, longevity, and weight loss. And so help me god if you utter the word ‘lectins’ I will turn this car around. There isn’t a human study on the planet that doesn’t confirm veggies to be one of the most nutrient-dense, beneficial foods on the planet. Full stop. They’re packed with fiber that feeds beneficial bacteria in our gut responsible for helping us maintain a healthy weight, producing happiness hormones, reducing depression/anxiety, increasing energy, optimizing hormones, the list goes on and on. The phytonutrients and antioxidants in veggies can help us fight cancer, reduce inflammation, improve immune function, and support a healthy heart and brain. But in a culture that considers tomato sauce on pizza to be a “serving of vegetables” we have a long way to go to reach the 30 recommended grams of fiber, and the 8-9 servings of produce per day. This actually ended up being the main topic of conversation in our live coaching call inside of The Club last week… how to get more *actual* veggies in. One of the easiest entry points is to make yourself one big-ass salad per day. But I’m not talking your typical iceberg lettuce, croutons, and caesar dressing salad. Make that bitch as colorful, diverse, and flavorful as possible. Add bell peppers, banana peppers, olives, cucumber, onion, celery, radishes. You could try interesting combos like adding orange slices and mint. Or toss in some fresh cilantro, dill, basil, or parsley (my personal favorite). I also am a big fan of incorporating some dry roasted chickpeas as a healthy crouton alternative. And for the dressing? Stick with homemade vinaigrettes, olive oil and lemon, or Primal Kitchen to avoid the added sugar, dairy, and seed oils found in many other options. Do you have a trick that’s helped you get more veggies in? Share it in the comments!
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