Keeping Veggies Convenient for Weight Loss
Let's face it. Veggies do take a bit more time to prepare. You usually have to wash them, cut them and then cook them. So of course it is easier to simply grab something else to snack on as our reader was challenged with the other day. (The problem with just grabbing something else is that it can end up being higher in calories and lower in nutrients.)
When it comes to keeping veggies convenient here are some tips:
- Buy a veggie platter or precut veggies to have on hand. Use promptly as they lose taste and nutritional quality quickly. Buy a low calorie "dip" or use hummus. Or puree some cottage cheese for a dip and season as desired.
- Find a good recipe for marinated veggies (I personally use the non-fat salad dressings/marinades and add a tiny amount of olive oil.) This keeps well for several days in the frig.
- Make up some veggie soups and freeze. Some delis have plain vegetable soups available year around. Just watch the sodium.
- Grocery stores frequently offer a variety of frozen blends of vegetables: fiesta blend, Italian blend, etc. Extra seasonings can be added for more flavor; you might add fresh basil for the Italian blend, or Mexican seasonings for the fiesta blend. These can be used as side veggie dishes, made into a main dish with additional protein and pasta, or thrown into a soup.
Keep in mind this way of eating is a mindset. You want it to become a habit for good health and weight loss. You have to want to be healthy, you have to want to lose weight, and yes, you have to want to do just a little work. But you also have to remind yourself of the rewards of wholesome eating!
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Posted by: blah blah black sheep | Jan 5, 2009 1:32:57 PM
1) buy bags of frozen "steam in the bag" veggies. Can usually get them about $1 / bag. Zap them in the microwave for 5 mins and you have convenient veggies for any meal. (I usually do this for breakfast, since I'm not a morning person and have a hard time prepping healthy breakfast).
2) Buy a food processor, and toss coarsley chopped veggies into it for a quick dicing along with lean ham. Whir it together until diced up and toss into the skillet. This is basically the start of an omelot, but you can leave out the eggs. Or, add the egg whites. Just whir up a lot of this for a quickie veggie hash, and the ham (or lean sausage if you toss some in the skillet) help flavor the veggies to make them taste good. (IE: there's a reason they would put bacon bits in green beans).
3) Tabasco sauce is a quick, zero-calorie & thermogenic option for dressing up veggies & salad. You can get mild green tabasco, or a hotter chipotle. Tabasco isn't just that nasty red sauce any more. Check your store for different varieties. Personally, the chipotle is hot, but I really like the flavor. It helps enhance a salad, especially since I can't use normal salad dressings which have apple cider vinegar (I'm allergic to apples.)
Posted by: Jim Purdy | Apr 20, 2008 2:15:20 AM
Great suggestions! I'm trying to lose weight, but it's a temptation to just eat fast (junk) food instead of taking a minute to prepare fresh veggies. When I go to a grocery store, I often buy several of the containers of cut fruit, with tasty things like watermelon, grapes, and pineapple chunks. And of course, a banana comes with its own easy-open packaging.
A reader had this suggestion in The New York Times health blog:
"Try lower calorie snacks until you have several in your house that you can use — like cereal with fruit or fruit cup with nonfat yogurt."
By the way, I love your site. The nutrition information is great. Thanks!
