Eat Your Fruits & Vegetables!

Confession: While I love fresh fruits and vegetables, I do not eat enough of them.

On the new weight watchers plan almost all fruits and vegetables are free foods, worth no points. Even when I am eating the right amount of calories and points they aren't coming from the right places. I am not eating enough veggies or fruit. I really do love them so I am not sure why I don't eat them more often. I really need to make a conscious effort to incorporate them more. I eat too many starches!

One trick that my sister-in-law does is make smoothies a lot. She makes the oddest concoctions that sound gross but I have tried many of them and they are delicious. Just this week she had some crazy ones. Here are some of her recipes:

1. ice, honey, lime, spinach, pineapple, celery
2. ice, honey, collards, cucumber, pineapple, apple, spinach
3. ice, honey, celery, pineapple, green grapes, lime
4. ice, cantaloupe, green grapes, pineapple, greek yogurt
5. pineapple, strawberries, blueberries, pineapple, greek yogurt

Now she does have this amazing blender called the vitamixer that is like an industrial blender so it can break up all the lime rind, cantaloupe seeds, etc...this would not be so easy in a regular blender. But what a great way to get in tons of fruits, vegetables and antioxidants in a quick drink. I think I am going to try and make some more smoothies at least with fruit. The veggies are a little tougher in my blender.

Fruits and Veggies are so yummy; especially this time of year. They are low in calories, rich in fiber and antioxidants and can help guard against several chronic diseases (1). They are also full of vitamins and minerals. I have heard many people say that the more colorful your plate is the healthier it is! We need to fill our plates with more color and try new things. I actually don't hardly have a veggie or fruit I don't like. I am not crazy about hot peas but I can eat them. I love artichokes, asparagus, brussel sprouts, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower; just to name a few...and I love all fruit except prunes (if you can really call that a fruit...hee hee).

I am going to make an effort to eat more fruits and vegetables and you should too. What are some of your favorites. Any tips on cooking them? Please send ideas. I am going to try and have all of my snacks be fresh.

(1) According to the CDC