6 Ways To Add Vegetables To Your Favorite Dishes

When it comes to cooking, most people don’t get too excited about preparing vegetables. Options like pizza or pasta sound much more enjoyable, but considering that the majority of Americans don’t consume nearly enough fruits and vegetables, it’s important to work them into your homemade meals

But just because you need to eat more vegetables doesn’t mean you can’t still eat your favorite foods — you just need to figure out clever and delicious ways to incorporate fresh produce into the meals you already enjoy. If you need some help figuring out how to sneak more spinach and zucchini into your diet, try one of these six ways to add vegetables into your favorite dishes.

1. Swap Pepperoni For Veggies On Your Pizza

There’s no need to ditch those cheesy slices for something else — just load your toppings with mushrooms, onions, peppers, or any other vegetable you like instead of adding sausage or pepperoni. If you hate the taste of veggies, top with your favorite cheeses to mask the taste.

2. Create Vegetable-Heavy Dips

If you like to enjoy an appetizer before game day make sure it includes some vegetables for your chips to scoop. Get creative by adding more vegetables to your salsa, blending beets into your hummus, or adding other leafy greens into your spinach and artichoke dip.

3. Make Cauliflower Rice

Substitute cauliflower for rice in any of your favorite rice dishes, whether it be fried rice, rice pilaf or risotto. You can use a grater, a food processor or buy a pre-riced bag from your grocery store to lighten up your rice dishes and increase your intake of the fiber-filled cruciferous vegetable.

4. Start Spiralizing

If you haven’t picked up on this trend, start now. If you’re a fan of pasta, use a spiralizer to create spaghetti-like noodles using vegetables such as zucchini, sweet potato and butternut squash, and you’ll feel like you’re indulging in a hearty pasta dinner without all the guilt.

5. Load Up Your Eggs

Many people begin their morning with scrambled eggs, so why not throw in some veggies. Try tossing in some frozen veggies to make a quick omelette, or even make a frittata using last night’s leftovers.

6. Make Your Own Fries

If you enjoy snacking on some fried potatoes alongside your meal, consider making your own in the oven. Roast regular potatoes, sweet potatoes, or even zucchini or avocado to replace your run-of-the-mill fried french fries, and enjoy them with a side of ketchup or your favorite dipping sauce.

Looking for an added dose of veggies? Add them to your dessert! Think carrot cake or this chocolate zucchini cake.

Photo by Katrin Gilger