Top Ten Ways to Add More Fruits and Veggies to Your Day
One of the best ways to manage your weight more successfully and increase your overall nutritional profile is to add more fruits and veggies to your diet. But in today’s challenging food culture, that’s certainly easier said than done!
Here are our top ten ways to eat at least 5 full-cup servings of fruits and veggies every day:
1. Start tracking. Use an HMR record keeping form. Keep your tracking form or book handy, so you can update it throughout the day. The best way to change behavior is to keep track, set goals and be accountable!
2. Shop and chop. Instead of just putting all your fruits and veggies in the fridge when you come home, take the time to wash and cut veggies. Some ideas: make a fruit salad, peel bananas and freeze them for smoothies, cut up veggies for snacking.
3. An apple a day... Try adding a piece of fruit, such as an apple, to your HMR Multigrain Hot Cereal. Develop a routine with a meal replacement and veggie or fruit combination.
4. Four before 4:00. Try a smoothie with fruit, followed by mid-morning melon, and a chopped Mexican salad at noon. Or, try making a veggie scramble with HMR Mushroom Risotto and potato wedges for breakfast, followed by a fruit salad. Sooner is better!
5. One-pot meals. Veggie soups, stews, and chili. Easy to make and lots of leftovers. Keep it simple!
6. Be an artist. Each meal and snack should have a variety of colors. No beige plates!
7. Try meatless Mondays (or any other day of the week). Try a new vegetarian recipe for dinner. Search online or purchase a vegetarian cookbook.
8. Buy fresh and local. Join a CSA and get your produce fresh from the farm or shop at your local farmers’ market.
9. Eat 3 out. When choosing from a menu, start with the salads and sides, then add appetizers. Build your meal from the veggies up and aim for 3 full servings every time.
10. Be adventurous and try new things! Explore different vegetables and fruits and share them with friends and family. Be creative. Have some fun!
Treat yourself to the healthiest foods on the planet – foods that will help you manage your weight and your health. When it comes to fruits and veggies – More is always Better!
About the Author
The HMRdiet site was launched in the summer of 2011 as a support resource for HMR dieters, friends, and family. HMR staff from across the country, along with thousands of dieters, past, present, and future, visit the site every month to connect and share ideas, recipes, hope, and inspiration.
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