FitSugar

Which Should You Eat More of: Fruits or Veggies?

FitSugar — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 04:30:33 PDT

The farmers market by my house is bursting with garden goodness. From juicy strawberries and blueberries to baby greens and broccoli, I'm stocking my fridge full. I have to say, though, the hot sunshiny weather definitely makes me crave refreshing fruits, so I have to make an effort to get my fill of veggies. What about you?

Produce: Keeping It Fresh

FitSugar — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 03:00:37 PDT

I am a big fan of fruit and veggies. Both are low in calories and packed with vitamins, minerals, and fiber, but your fresh produce won't do your body any good if it's growing penicillin cultures. Keep the mold at bay and protect your healthy food investment by storing your fruits and veggies with these tips.

Some fruits and veggies produce a gas called ethylene as they ripen. This gas can prematurely ripen foods that are sensitive to it. So keep ethylene-producing foods away from ethylene-sensitive foods. Avocados, bananas, cantaloupes, kiwis, mangoes, nectarines, pears, plums, and tomatoes should be stored in a difference place than your apples, broccoli, carrots, leafy greens, and watermelon.
Keep potatoes, onions, and tomatoes in a cool, dry place, but not in the fridge. The cold will ruin their flavor.
Store unripe fruits and veggies like pears, peaches, plums, kiwis, mangoes, apricots, avocados, melons, and bananas on the counter. Once they're ripe, move them to the fridge. Banana peels will turn dark brown, but it won't affect the flesh.

Curious about how to prevent your oranges from turning green and fuzzy? Then

Smarter Eats: Mix Veggies You Hate With Ones You Love

FitSugar — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 10:00:43 PDT

Ugh - broccoli again? My husband hates this tree-like veggie, but I'm a huge fan so I make it at least twice a week. I've discovered a healthy trick to get him to eat it, since dousing it in melted cheddar cheese isn't really the most nutritious option (although it is tasty!)

Since he loves mashed potatoes, I mix the two together. It's not sneaky at all since he can see the florets, and I think it's helping him to find a new appreciation for this green food. Little by little, I've been increasing the broccoli to mashed potato ratio, so it's definitely more broc than 'tater.

If you or someone you cook for hates certain veggies, try this little tip. Grill peppers or zucchini with onions, toss mushrooms in 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. If you have any other veggie combinations, share them in the comment section below.

Jazz Up Your Veggies With These Tips

FitSugar — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 11:00:13 PDT

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

5 Reasons Carrots Aren't Just For Bunnies

FitSugar — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 03:30:00 PDT

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.

Carrots contain various anti-cancer nutrients, which are maintained better when cooked whole.
Thanks to beta-carotene, carrots can help maintain your vision, especially your night vision.
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.
They are low-cal - a cup of raw carrots contains only 50 calories.
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

Healthy Recipe: Veggie Stir-Fry With Tuna

Fit Community — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 07:00:31 PST

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

Evert-Fresh Bags

FitSugar — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 13:30:58 PDT

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,

How to Sneak More Veggies Into Your Diet

FitSugar — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 05:50:29 PDT

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

Speak Up: Ways to Sneak Veggies Into Your Diet

FitSugar — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 12:15:15 PDT

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.

Healthy Eating Tip: Plate Your Veggies First

FitSugar — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 03:30:00 PDT

No matter the health issue, from losing weight to preventing cancer, we all should be eating more veggies. One simple way to accomplish this task is to stop thinking of veggies as garnish and plate them first.

Try to cover at least half of your plate with healthful side dishes featuring produce. I like to think of the meat as a side dish and my salad and steamed broccoli as the main dish. This mindset helps keep the portions in check and increases the amount of vegetables I eat daily. Ultimately, I find a well-balanced plate - 25 percent meat or protein, 25 percent whole grain carb, 50 percent veggies - leads to a well-balanced diet. Try it and see what you think.

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