Eating more veggies is truly the key to weight loss. No, I’m serious. Your mom was not lying to you. Vegetables are an excellent way to reduce the calories on your plate. They are super low in calories, I’m talking around 100-200 calories PER POUND!
Imagine eating huge portions of food but for half the calories. That is how I easily lost 25 pounds over the course of 6 months. Now veggies might not be the most glamorous food in the grocery store, but you will grow to love them. The key to eating more veggies is to find that one vegetable that you really enjoy.
By finding that one vegetable, you can start by adding it to every meal. As for me, I really love zucchini so I will chop and steam a zucchini to go with lunch and dinner. Just getting used to the idea of eating a veggie with every meal will get your palette used to the idea. Once you have adjusted to it, then maybe you can start adding more veggies for weight loss to the menu.
If plain steamed veggies sound like modern-day torture, then here are some ways to spice them up without all the calories of oil and high-calorie sauces.
Spices
Branch outside the salt and pepper box. Have you taken the time to explore all the spice sections at your local grocery store? The variety is insane, especially at Whole Foods. There’s pretty much a rub spice for everything. Want your veggies to taste like your favorite ramen noodles? There’s a spice for that. Get creative and find what you like and I guarantee, you will start loving your veggies at every meal.
Some Examples
- Garlic powder
- Curry powder
- Lemon Pepper
- Everything But The Bagel
- Harissa Powder
Low Fat Sauces
Low-fat sauces are also a great way to add flavor to any veggies. To keep your meal low in calorie density, try cooking your veggies in a sauce or water sauting them, and finishing with a sauce. Much like spices, there is an endless variety of oil-free low-fat sauces to choose from. Gone are the days of drizzling your veggies with oil.
Some Sauces
- Soy Sauce
- Coconut Aminos
- Hot Sauce
- Sweet Chilli Sauce
- Homemade Vegan “Cheese” Sauce
- Buffalo Sauce
Add to Any Dish
Adults and kids are more alike than some would like to admit.
Sometimes when you don’t feel like eating a side of veggies, you can just throw veggies into any meal you are making, much like you would do for a kiddo. By adding vegetables to let’s say a pasta dish, you are automatically lowering the calorie density of your meal. I do this all the time with my oatmeal for breakfast. You can easily grate up some carrot, zuccihi or cauliflower to your oatmeal and I swear you won’t even taste it!
When cooking your favorite dish, just think of ways you can sneak in a vegetable into it. I’m not saying you have to use my oatmeal example, but lunch and dinner you can do with ease.
