There is so much temptation when it comes to food choices, whether you are in the office or on the go. Many times the most accessible foods are very unhealthy. Experts suggest that we eat five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables daily. For some it is easy, for others, this seems impossible. We have some ways that you can incorporate more fruits and vegetables into your diet with ease. It takes a mixture of planning, mindfulness, and knowing that your food choices today will affect your health in the future.
Plan:
We all have busy schedules. Sometimes when we are on the go, we tend to eat out more than usual. If we plan our meals, including dining out, we can get in the adequate amount of fruits and vegetables. Planning your meals will help you think ahead when it comes to food consumption. If you are not ready to plan the full week, start small. Plan your breakfast and snacks, see how it goes and then move forward from there.
Snack Well:
When you think about your week, write down the times
you are hungry outside of your meals. From there, plan and pack your snacks. Grab some almond butter and apples for your morning snack. In the afternoon, cucumber, carrots, or green pepper with a side of hummus is a great option and full of fiber and protein.Think in Colors:
Colorful foods offer many health benefits. When you think of your plate, try to make it colorful so you can benefit from all of the wonderful vitamins and nutrients that the foods offer. Try a delicious kale salad with red peppers, tomatoes, and garlic, to start. Another option is salmon with asparagus, tomatoes, and eggplant.
Drink up:
A delicious smoothie or juice made with fresh fruits and vegetables will give you a lot of energy and a plethora of vitamins and nutrients. Starting your day with a green smoothie or juice will give you a great start to get on the right track. Not only will you get a lot of the daily recommendations of your fruits and vegetables, you will have a lot more energy.
When it comes to adding fruits and vegetables to your diet, it is essential for your overall health. If you plan early and think long term, it is easy.
Yvelette Stines is an award-winning writer whose work has been published in Essence, Uptown, Heart and Soul, Jones, The Source, Hispanic Executive Quarterly, and Green Build + Design, just to name a few. Her book Vernon the Vegetable Man encourages children to choose healthy lifestyle habits. Stines’ blog Calming Corners motivates readers to live a calm life and write from their soul.  You can find her calmly playing on social media @yvelettestines and @calmingcorners.