At Medical Weight Loss Clinic, our programs focus on clean and healthy whole foods you can cook right at home. And part of that program involves ensuring our patients are getting enough fresh vegetables into their daily diets. After all, they’re essential.
Salads are just one way to get more vegetables into your diet. The key to eating healthy is experimenting with new flavors and ways of preparing vegetables.
“It’s a good source of fiber and gives the body the vitamins and minerals it needs,” says Cheryl D., manager of the Medical Weight Loss Clinic in Grosse Pointe Woods.
Each patient’s goals and preferences vary, of course. Cheryl might see some patients who easily adopt more vegetables into their diet and others who struggle to get enough of the healthy foods in from one day to the next. But she and the Medical Weight Loss Clinic staff is there to help.
There are some easy ways to sneak in more vegetables each day. Cheryl often suggests patients add a handful of spinach to their strawberry smoothie nutrient. Spinach tends to be a great vegetable to experiment with because – especially raw – its flavor can disappear into a healthy recipe, leaving patients with benefit of those the vitamins and minerals.
Cheryl says, the key to getting more healthy vegetables into your diet is simple - be willing to experiment. If you’re used to having a salad, try baking or grilling your vegetables. The Medical Weight Loss Clinic website offers plenty of recipes and ideas for sneaking in more vegetables into new, healthy dishes. Try Lemon Roasted Mixed Vegetables, Caribbean Shrimp Tacos or Zoodles Primavera. Buy your vegetables fresh or pre-chopped and washed when you need to save time in the kitchen.
“It doesn’t need to be complicated,” she says. “Try something new.”
And remember, your palate changes over time and as you adapt to a cleaner diet. Your body will begin to crave healthier foods as you include more of them into your daily meals. Those vegetables you refused when you were young can become a favorite go-to side dish in no time.
Cheryl says we’re also influenced by our family members. If you grew up with a parent who didn’t enjoy or eat a lot of green vegetables, you might find yourself avoiding them without reason. And trying those foods often leads to more choices for healthy meals.
Some patients like a lot of variety in the foods they eat. Others, Cheryl says, might stick to their favorite dishes. It varies from person to person. But in every case, adding more vegetables means increasing your fiber intake, which can help you feel full and less likely to grab for a less healthy snack.
“Figure out which foods you like,” she says. “Experiment. Try vegetables raw, steamed, baked or grilled. Experiment with different seasonings. Enjoy your food. Don’t look at it as a chore.”
And for those patients who struggle with evening cravings, vegetables can satisfy the urge to snack. Cheryl suggests crunchy vegetables like celery or cucumbers for patients who feel hungry after dinner. These are high in fiber and water content and won’t de-rail your healthy day.
“There are virtually no calories,” she said. “And it gives you that crunch.”
Are you looking for ways to sneak in more vegetables or improve your diet? We’ve got tips and we’re here to support you. Schedule your free consultation online or by calling 1-800-GET-SLIM.
