Buy a few fresh veggies veggies at least once a week, then wash and chop them right when you get home from the store.
(Another option: buy pre-washed, pre-cut veggies. This is more expensive and uses a lot more packaging, but if it means you’ll eat more vegetables, it’s probably worth it).
How will this help you lose weight? Because then you…
- Have veggies ready for snacking when you’re starving and would otherwise reach for higher calorie foods
- Can throw together a salad in minutes.
- Don’t have to spend as much time making dinner every night.
- Can quickly turn the veggies into any number of meals: soups, omelets, frittatas, sautés, etc.
- Will end up eating more vegetables!
What are the best vegetables to buy?
- For snacking: carrots, celery (store them in water after they’re cut), snap peas, snow peas, jicama, bell peppers, broccoli and cauliflower florets, fingerling potatoes (steam them for a few minutes in the microwave)
- For salads: lettuce, baby spinach, kale or arugula, to which you can add any vegetable or fruit, small serving of protein (fish, chicken, meat, beans, tofu) plus a sprinkling of nuts, cheese, dried fruit, and a store-bought or homemade dressing. Some of my favorite salad ingredients: green onions, apples, pears, cucumbers, shredded carrots, shredded cabbage, avocados, and beets. Here are my tips for making a great salad.
- For cooking: carrots, celery, onions (chop a cup of each and use as a base for any soup, stew, or sauce), zucchini, eggplant, bell peppers, squash, leafy greens, potatoes or sweet potatoes, and canned tomatoes.
One more tip:
- Resist the urge to buy tons of produce every week, or it will likely go to waste. 3-4 fresh veggies should be plenty for snacks, salads, and meals. If you’re afraid you’ll run out or want to supplement these, keep a few bags of frozen vegetables in your freezer.
See you tomorrow for Day #2 of Weight Loss Week!
2 Comments
nicole
January 2, 2013 at 1:30 pmi’m taking this list to the store today! i’ve ended up in such a veggie rut recently, only grabbing the same few things at the store every week. resolution: veggie diversity!
Amelia
January 2, 2013 at 1:47 pmlove this resolution!