How to Smuggle More Vegetables Into Your Meals? We Know the Answer!

A topic that has been discussed for generations - vegetables! After all, each of us has heard since childhood to "eat the meat and leave the potatoes". Now, when we personally take care of our diet, we are perfectly aware of the value of vegetables in the diet. While we eat portions of fruit with pleasure, vegetables are different. How and why should you smuggle even more vegetables into your meals? Read today's post! 

Vegetables are a huge dose of nutritional value, vitamins and minerals. In addition, they are light, have incredibly few calories and you can make literally anything from them. This is evidenced by all the vegan (i.e. plant-based) substitutes available in every large supermarket. "Meat" from peas, pasta from lentils, cheese from cashews... There are loads of them!  But we won't encourage you to adopt this lifestyle, but we will show you a few simple tricks that will help you get a good dose of vitamins and minerals straight from nature, without tears or gnashing of teeth!

1. Smoothies, juices, cocktails

Delicious, refreshing, filling and most importantly - healthy! This is probably the most enjoyable way to smuggle vegetables! ;) They will replace a quick breakfast, a refreshing post-workout drink, or a tasty snack.

Example: Add a large handful of spinach to an orange, banana, half a lemon and a bit of ginger. The spinach will give the cocktail an energizing color, and at the same time provide you with valuable beta-carotene, lutein, vitamin C, iron, potassium, magnesium and folic acid. Worth it? ;) 

2. Cream soups

There's probably nothing easier! Perfect for a quick hunger, lunch or dinner. In addition, you can conjure up delicious combinations with them, which will surprise you and your loved ones.

Example: Always have a can of beans on hand (dry beans are also OK, but you have to remember to soak them the day before and cook them) and a few of your favorite vegetables. The beans will boost the protein, while the soup will gain an unusual flavor thanks to the other vegetables. Add red pepper, carrot, parsley and onion. Prepare your favorite spices and a generous handful of fresh cilantro or parsley. Just cook everything and blend thoroughly until creamy. It will be delicious, and oh so healthy!

3. Cakes, muffins, lots of sweets!

That's right, from vegetables! Tomato gingerbread, carrot cake, zucchini muffins or bean brownies are just a few of the delicacies you can prepare in your kitchen using vegetables. There are plenty of recipes, and you will certainly find your favorite recipe. Remember that it's not like adding carrots makes the cake healthy, #fit and you can eat it without restrictions. Use healthier substitutes in your baking, e.g. spelt flour instead of wheat flour or erythritol or xylitol instead of sugar. This way you will reduce calories and increase nutritional value. 

4. Sandwich spreads and dips

For a movie or a quick breakfast sandwich, any vegetable spreads are perfect. In stores, you will find many ready-made items with good ingredients, but you can also quickly prepare them yourself at home. The tastiest ones come out using legumes - for example hummus, which is a chickpea spread, bean lard or lentil pâté. Put the spread on good sourdough bread, eat it in a wrap, eat it with grissini or (all the way!) with vegetables in sticks as an ideal snack.

5. French fries, French fries

Not only potatoes and sweet potatoes. Have you ever tried carrot, parsley or celery fries? I guarantee you will love them! Bake them with a small amount of oil and your favorite spices. Remember to always salt the fries after taking them out of the oven - they will be crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Add your favorite dip and it's ready!

6. Pesto not only from basil

Pesto doesn't have to mean a bunch of basil, loads of olive oil and caloric (but delicious) parmesan. Make pesto with broccoli, avocado or radish leaves. This is an idea for a mega simple dinner full of crazy amounts of vitamins! Did you know that radish leaves have an anti-inflammatory effect on our body, have strong anti-cancer effects, cleanse the body of toxins, aid digestion, speed up metabolism and strengthen immunity? So instead of treating them as waste and throwing them in the trash, blend them with olive oil, pine nuts, salt and garlic, and then eat them with your favorite pasta. It will be delicious and mega healthy! 

As you can see, vegetables are the best! So don't give up on them when composing your daily meals. If you're not a fan of them in their original, raw form, use our tips. We're sure you'll be pleasantly surprised!