veggies

Even the most healthy of eaters can't love every single veggie. You could cover the broccoli you despise with melted cheese to make those florets more palatable, but of course that's not a superhealthy option. Here's a healthy trick to help those unfavorite veggies go down: mix them with veggies you love.

If it's mashed potatoes you crave, add chopped kale to your bowl, or grill peppers or zucchini with your beloved onions. If you're a huge pasta fan, toss mushrooms into the tomato sauce, or mix steamed carrots with cubes of sweet potato. When you eat veggies you don't care for with ones you can't live without, you can just focus on the flavors you love while still reaping the nutritional benefits from those unwanted veggies.

Source: Flickr User VirtualErn

Veggies are one of the healthiest foods we can eat, but they can be a little boring on their own. If they're boring, we're less likely to eat them, so here are some ways to add some pizazz to those veggies.

• Dip them. Raw veggies aren't the most appealing, so experiment with making healthy dips such as creamy white bean dip or nonfat yogurt dill dip.
• Add heart-healthy olive oil, herbs, and spices. Just simply roasting veggies in a little oil and your favorite seasonings (I like rosemary and garlic) can bring out a robust flavor.
• Blanch 'em. Veggies like broccoli can have a strong flavor when raw, so try blanching them. Steam veggies for 30 to 60 seconds, then drop them in cold water.

For more great tips keep reading

Turns out the Easter bunny knows a thing or two about staying healthy. Here are five reasons why munching on this nutrient-packed veggie will give you a hop in your step.

1. Carrots contain various anti-cancer nutrients, which are maintained better when cooked whole.
2. Thanks to beta-carotene, carrots can help maintain your vision, especially your night vision.
3. The vitamin A in carrots is responsible for many of the vegetable's benefits, including growing bones and cells, regulating the immune system, and fighting off infections.
4. They are low-cal — a cup of raw carrots contains only 50 calories.
5. Carrots are a good source of soluble fiber, which can help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol levels, as well as lower your risk of heart disease, some types of cancer, and type 2 diabetes.

Are carrots your go-to healthy snack? Or do you prefer other veggies over this bunny-friendly food?
Source: Flickr User aussiegall

In our Healthy Recipe Group, FitSugar Community member Lauren shared this yummy recipe for a veggie stir-fry with tuna.

Once a week, my husband and I always make a stir-fry for dinner. Most of the time it is all vegetables since both of us often crave veggie dishes. But this last week, we opted to experiment with both fresh bamboo since I have only used canned and a half pound of tombo tuna. The bamboo shoots were much more tasty fresh than the canned counterpart and a wonderfully crunchy addition to my stir-fry. There was not a ton of tuna in the stir-fry but it was nice touch of protein for the dish. I love stir-frys since you can add whatever you have on hand!

See the recipe when you read more

When I first saw Evert-Fresh Bags, I thought they were a gimmick. The thought of a bag being able to keep produce fresh for up to a month seemed impossible. But one of my old colleagues said that they worked for her, which made me curious enough to try them myself.

The bag is supposed to keep produce fresh by slowing down the ripening process and keeping bacteria from forming. The claims are pretty impressive — it absorbs the harmful gases that fruits and veggies give off like ethylene and ammonia, controls humidity, and minimizes moisture. From a scientific standpoint I have no idea if that's what's really happening inside those bags, but I can say that they do work.

To hear how they worked for me, read more

Making veggies a big part of your daily diet is a must because they're low in calories, high in fiber, and contain so many beneficial nutrients. Unfortunately, we don't crave broccoli like we do a big bowl of ice cream, so here are some suggestions from FitSugar readers on ways to sneak veggies into your foods without your taste buds knowing.

• UrbanBohemian says, "I like to put my own veggies in marinara sauce when I eat pasta. Also, if I have a frozen pizza, I'll do the same for that. I like to put on frozen spinach or some mushrooms."
• "Sneak them in sandwiches." — fleurdelispink
• "I've added pureed beets and/or spinach to muffin batter or I bet you could to cake batter too — totally unnoticeable. I know someone who added pureed spinach to brownies, same deal." — Anonymous

For more ideas keep reading

Making vegetables a big part of your diet is a must because they're low in calories, high in fiber, and contain so many beneficial nutrients. Not everybody loves to eat their veggies though, so I'm wondering what ideas you have for sneaking them into your diet.

A while back, FitSugar reader andrennabird said she add greens to smoothies. If you have any other tips, please share them in the comment section bellow.