We’ve declared June “Eat More Vegetables Month”. Each week, we’ll give you new ideas that will make you want to eat your veggies. Check out last week’s entry if you missed it.
Vegetables Are Boring
I hear this complaint a lot. People are stuck in a rut, eating the same veggies they always do. Let’s shake things up a bit and introduce a couple of new ones to your routine.
Everyone knows the old stand-bys: lettuce, tomato, carrots, celery, corn, potatoes. Each has their nutritional value and should be included in your diet. But if you’re bored with the same-old same-old, give these a try:
- leeks
- fennel
- fiddlehead ferns
- lentils (surprise! these are seeds rather than beans)
- jicama
- chard
- kale
- collards
- cauliflower (try this roasted rather than boiled – it’s a totally different flavor)
If you have a Farmers Market in your town, ask one of the vendors to recommend something new. And try this recipe for Braised Leeks. It’s an easy technique that you can use for so many types of vegetables.
Bad Vegetables
Every so often, clients will tell me that they don’t eat certain vegetables because they’re bad for you. White potatoes and corn tend to fall into this group. There are no bad vegetables, just bad cooking techniques or toppings.
Take regular white potatoes: they are good sources of fiber, Vitamins C and B plus potassium. Cooked simply, they’re fantastic for you. It’s when we deep-fat fry them or cover them with high-fat toppings that we run into trouble. Try making baked fries by spraying potato slices with a little olive oil and sprinkling with salt & pepper. Roast at 450° and you’ll have nice crispy fries without the guilt.
Cookbooks
One of my favorite vegetable cookbooks is Vegetables on the Side by Sallie Y. Willams. It’s well-organized and packed with easy-to-read information and recipes about every kind of vegetable.
A Year In a Vegetarian Kitchen by Jack Bishop is a little more sophisticated. What I especially like about this book is that it’s organized by seasons so you learn what’s available throughout the year.
The Coming Weeks
Sneaking Vegetables Into Your Meal
Recipes
Tags: Recipes, vegetables
