8 Sneaky Ways to Eat More Vegetables

We have all heard about the importance of eating veggies - they are highly nutritious and great for our health. We also all know how difficult it can be to want to eat more of them - especially if you have kids!

The solution?

Make it so easy you can’t say no. Here are eight simple and easy ways to discreetly add more veggies to your diet!

1. Blend them up in smoothies

Smoothies are great. No matter the season or time of day, there’s always an opportunity to blend one up.

The taste is pretty great, they provide us with our daily dose of nutrients, and can make for the perfect companion on a hot summer’s afternoon. 

Add plenty of spinach, a kiwi, a whole banana, and milk (or water), blend it up, and you’re good to go.

2. Make buffalo wings out of cauliflower!

Being an avid fan of regular buffalo wings, I can attest cauliflower wings taste like the real deal and the nutritional benefits only make eating them that much better.

If you follow this Amazing Vegan Buffalo Cauliflower Recipe, you can definitely fool anyone into thinking they’re the real thing. Be sure to pair them with a delicious aioli dipping sauce as well for the full effect.

3. Make a veggie omelet

Eggs are healthy, low in calories,  filled with nutrients, and very satiating. Research has even shown that eating eggs for breakfast can make us consume fewer calories for the rest of the day.

Fry up some beaten eggs over a bit of oil or butter. You can always decorate your omelet with cheese and meat, but this is an excellent opportunity to sneak in some veggies. Chop up plenty bell pepper, spinach, onion, and a bit of tomato for taste.

 4. Make yourself a veggie-friendly tuna salad

It’s no secret that you can make a tuna salad in hundreds of ways - some healthy, others less so. For our recipe, we’ll be going for two things - health and great taste.

To begin, ready your base - a can of tuna (in water) and low-fat mayonnaise. Prepare the ‘meat’ of your salad - a small carrot, celery, onion, red bell pepper, and some tomato. Chop everything up.

In a medium-sized bowl, add the tuna (drain the can), a tablespoon of mayo and all the veggies. Add a bit of seasoning and mix well with a fork.

 5. Add veggies to your mac & cheese

Cheese sauce is a classic way to make veggies more palatable to kids. Near the end of the pasta cooking time, add your child’s favorite vegetable (try frozen peas or corn) to the boiling water, drain and combine it with the sauce. Another option: puree your veg into the cheese sauce. Fiber-rich sweet potato works great here: the bright orange color tricks your eyes into thinking the pasta is loaded with cheese.

 6. Sneak veggies in pizza

Who doesn't love pizza? Try mixing in some shredded zucchini or broccoli florets on top of your pizza. For a pepperoni pizza, try stirring canned pumpkin puree to make your tomato sauce even healthier. The pumpkin puree adds beta-carotene and fiber while displaying a creamy texture. One cup of pumpkin puree stirred into 1/2 cup pizza sauce is enough to top 1 pound of pizza dough. Broccoli florets also taste great when added on top of cheese so be sure to try adding those as well!

 7. Add veggies to grilled cheese

Melted cheese and bread does not have much value when it comes to green nutrients. Whether you’re preparing a classic American lunch for your kids or just have to satisfy that cheesy craving, throw in a few layers of veggies. Spinach, tomato and avocado make great additions and help add some green value to your meal.

8. Make vegetarian quesadillas

Instead of using the classic chicken-and-cheese combo, throw in a variety of veggies instead. Some favorite fillings are corn, onions, or zucchini.