Eating vegetables is an essential part of living a healthy lifestyle. Yet, vegetable consumption can become discouraging for a variety of reasons:

• Getting the ideal number of vegetable servings every day may pose a challenge to meal planning.
• The growing issues of GMO crops and heavy pesticide use lead people to question the nutritional value of their vegetables.
• Finally, vegetables tend to be expensive and stretch the food budget.

Well, whatever you do, do not give up on vegetables! There are a number of easy and inexpensive ways to get more out of your vegetables while providing a solution to all your concerns.

Planning meals with Vegetables

A common misconception about eating vegetables is that they must be consumed during your regular meals. Although that is an option, there are many other ways to increase your vegetable intake:

• Eat vegetables as a snack between meals—broccoli, carrots, celery, and snowpeas are great
• Prepare vegetable portions ahead of time
• Store portions at eye level in the refrigerator so that you eat them first
• Add vegetables to your favorite smoothies, soups, sauces, and even desserts

Maximising Vegetable nutrition

We have discussed before the importance of seeking non-GMO and organic produce. However, there are additional steps you can take to maximise the amount of nutrients you get out of your vegetables. For instance:

• Consume vegetables raw as much as possible to ensure their nutrients are intact
• Avoid eating wilted vegetables which have lost most if not all of their nutrients
• Always select the most vibrant vegetables since those are usually the most nutritious
• Eat vegetables while they are in season to guarantee their peak nutrition
• Consider incorporating microgreens into your diet

You can also try fermenting, juicing, or sprouting your vegetables for even more benefit.

Eating Vegetables without breaking the bank

It is possible to eat vegetables both daily and regularly without spending a great deal of money—you just have to know how. Here are some tips:

• In-season vegetables not only offer great nutrition, but also a cheaper price tag
• Grow a garden at home for a free supply of sprouts, microgreens, or fully mature vegetables
• Do not overlook affordable frozen vegetables which are frozen at their peak of freshness
• ‘Ask a Naturopath’ for more advice or just some help getting started… or
• Book in for a full Nutritional Consultation at the MrVitamins Clinic