Ok, so I meant to do this post earlier in the week as well, but it just never happened. Better late than never. For the weekly challenge this week, I decided to try some new recipes to get my vegetables in a little more creatively. The first one I tried was a potato, squash and goat cheese gratin. Now I have never been a fan of squash. Seriously, do. not. like. it!! But I love potatoes and goat cheese, so I thought I would try it again for the sake of the challenge. Plus the picture of it looks so lovely and colorful, and I wanted to make it. So make it I did, and let me tell you, I am still not a fan of squash. Sick sick sick. But, my husband loved it and had it for lunch the next day. I still ate it (choked it down is more like it) so I could get my veggies in, but it was not enjoyable. However, I know most people love squash, so I thought I would share it. I hope you enjoy it.
The second recipe I tried was a vegetable beef soup, which I found in my Better Homes and Gardens cook book (and just happened to find the same one online). First of all, it was in the crockpot, which I love, and secondly, it was so easy and fast, and finally, it was actually quite tasty. So tasty that I probably got 6 servings of vegetables just from eating this soup, seeing as how I had 3 bowls of it! This soup was so easy and delicious that I will probably add it to my regular meal rotation, not that I have one, per se, but you know what I mean.
The other thing that I have done this week to get my veggies in is make the green drink. This concoction sounds disgusting, but it is surprisingly not that bad. I used to make it for breakfast until I got pregnant and couldn't stomach it. But now I am bringing it back, and it is such a good way to get lots of greens into your diet and feel super healthy. Take spinach, cucumber, sprouts, avocado, grapefruit, lemon, almond milk, and a couple of ice cubes and blend away. You can put in whatever amounts you want, but I find that 1 or 2 cups of spinach, 1/2 a cucumber, 1/2 cup of sprouts, half an avocado, a whole grapefruit and lemon and about 3/4-1 C almond milk is about right. I also sweeten it with stevia. I know, it sounds gross, but try it, you will be surprised. Or maybe not. You might hate it. :)
I think Dr. Oz has a similar green drink that had only an apple and maybe lemon juice, fruit-wise, and I want to say celery and not sprouts? Or parsley? Can't remember. I was so hoping I'd love it, but it was a little intense for me. I love the idea of it. I wish I liked vegetable juice in general.
ReplyDeleteI've actually had an easier time getting in veggies than I expected, in large part because 1/2 a cup as a serving for most veggies really ends up being a lot.
The key for me is mixing it up. If I feel like I'm eating the same thing every day veggie-wise, I lose interest. A couple of days I had baby carrots, cucumber and grape tomatoes with hummus for my afternoon snack. Until I saw Emily's post I didn't think in terms of chickpeas also being a veggie!
I've also discovered over the last couple of years, I love pretty much any vegetable when it's roasted--brussels sprouts, kale, asparagus, peppers, and especially sweet potatoes....
This challenge is easier than I thought. I had no idea I actually was pretty on track with the whole 5 servings of veggies thing. We love squash at our house and I love veggies and hummus. I have been enjoying trying some of the new suggestions going around. It is NEXT WEEK I'm scared of. That is a lot of water. Who knows, now that I have cut out soda!!
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