(BPT) - Life is busy, making it challenging to maintain your personal wellness goals every day. Getting in key nutrients tops most people's lists, and that usually means including more whole foods such as green veggies. While it may seem difficult to prepare nutritious, veggie-full meals day in and day out, there are simple ways to boost your greens intake and make the most of what you have on hand. The nutrition experts at Nature Made offer tips for increasing the amount of greens you consume as part of your wellness regimen.
"For anyone who is health-conscious, eating more greens is a primary goal and sometimes a struggle," said Valerie Agyeman, RD, and Nature Made brand partner. "The good news is, it's easier than you may think to meet that goal."
Here's why eating greens is so vital, and ways to make it easier.
Try some of these methods to help you enjoy more greens in your daily routine.
After purchasing (or growing!) green veggies, remove wilted or rotten areas to prevent the rot from spreading. Don't wash veggies until you're ready to use them, as additional moisture can spoil them.
Dry veggies first, then store in an air-tight container or sealed plastic bag along with dry paper towel to absorb excess moisture. Keep them in the crisper drawer in your fridge, and enjoy them soon!
Not keen on kale? Look for other options to find what you love. Experiment with turnip greens, watercress, chard or others for more variety in flavor and texture. Veggies can be enjoyed raw, sauteed, creamed, stir-fried or steamed, so discover what methods you like best.
Pro tip: Search for recipes from cuisines that typically highlight specific veggies, like Chinese dishes featuring bok choy or Italian food with arugula.
Flex your culinary muscles
You can find plenty of ways to incorporate green veggies into foods and drinks. Love smoothies? Combine greens with fruit along with coconut water or your favorite milk to create your own unique blend. Frozen fruit or veggies create a refreshing shake-like drink you can enjoy for breakfast, lunch or as a treat.
Spruce up green salads with seasonal berries, toasted nuts or grated cheese for extra flavor, color and texture. Try new dressings to keep salads interesting, boosting flavor by adding Dijon mustard, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar or fresh minced herbs.
Finely chop greens or chiffonade (cut into thin strips) to use in pasta dishes like spaghetti and lasagna, or as pizza toppings; they'll resemble fresh basil and blend right in! Use chopped greens in soups, burgers or meat loaf, casseroles or as an extra layer of freshness for your favorite grilled sandwich or omelet.
You can easily add greens without drastically changing the taste or texture of most dishes. Avoid adding unwanted moisture with extra veggies by blanching first, then squeezing out extra moisture. Adding a more bitter veggie like arugula, broccoli rabe, collard greens or chard? Reduce bitterness with additional salt, healthy fats like olive oil, more acid (lemon juice or vinegar) or aromatics such as garlic and onions. Taste your food as you cook and adjust as needed!
Pro tip: Most greens reduce a lot in volume when cooked, so you can add more than you think!
Supplement your greens intake
For busy people seeking a boost,* get more greens into your daily regimen by adding Nature Made SuperGreens supplements, available in a drink powder or capsule form.
SuperGreens with Prebiotic Powder Drink Mix contains one cup of green vegetables (kale, spinach and broccoli) in each daily serving.* Each super greens serving offers a simple, tasty way to enjoy a good source of prebiotic fiber to support digestive health, plus 12 essential nutrients to support energy,** immune and whole body health.†
SuperGreens Capsules with Probiotics is made with a half cup of real green vegetables (kale, spinach and broccoli) and 2 billion CFU (Colony Forming Units) of probiotics per 3 capsules to support digestive health, plus 12 essential nutrients to support energy,** immune and whole body health.†
"Remember, SuperGreens powder or capsules are meant to complement your daily diet, so it's important to keep enjoying plenty of fresh vegetables throughout the day," added Valerie Agyeman, RD.
To learn more and shop the line of Nature Made SuperGreens products and more, visit NatureMade.com.
* Consume in addition to your daily intake of vegetables.
** B vitamins help convert food into cellular energy.
† These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
