Eat More Greens!

By Donna Stark

The polls have closed and the results are in ... we aren't including enough green vegetables into our diets, even when everyone knows how important they are. But why is that? Why are so few people meeting the daily recommended quota of green vegetables? And before you start blaming those poll numbers on kids who refuse to eat their broccoli, think again. Adults aren't eating their vegetables either! Of course, the reasons for this may vary, but one thing is for sure. It's not as hard as you think it is to start adding more of them into your diet.

Eat Your Greens

From Vitamin C to magnesium to fiber, consuming a variety of green vegetables will provide you many of the nutrients your body needs to thrive. And never has it been so easy to incorporate them into your diet. Take a look at just a few suggestions below.

• Jazz them up - Whoever said you had to eat boring, bland vegetables didn't spend enough time in the kitchen! Try experimenting with different spices, lemon zest, and cheese to make them more interesting.  
• Buy prepared vegetables - Sure, you may end up spending a bit more by doing so, but if a lack of time is keeping you from buying green vegetables, this may be the best way to add them to your diet. Hit your produce section and look for those pre-washed and pre-cut vegetables in bags or head on over to the frozen section and make your selections there.
• Sneak them into dishes - Want some surefire ways to slip green vegetables into your meals? Well, you can add avocados and zucchini to your brownies, you can puree a variety of them into your soups, or you can add spinach and peppers to your spaghetti sauce and chili!
• Save them for breakfast - Whether you prefer scrambled eggs or a fancy omelet, the versatility of vegetables and eggs makes breakfast one of the easiest meals to up your green vegetable intake with. And don't forget those morning smoothies. The options are endless!
• Skip the fries - When the waiter asks which side you would like, skip the fries and add a green vegetable to the plate! You can double your vegetable benefits by choosing a salad for your appetizer instead of those potato skins too!

Variety Is Good

If you want to make sure you are getting all of the nutrients that green vegetables provide, you should make sure you eat a wide variety of them! So take the time to find some new recipes and start experimenting in the kitchen. Who knows? You may end up wishing you started on this healthy new path a long time ago!

To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Lakewood, Colo.