Vegetables, Vegetables and more Vegetables

10 Comments

Did I mention that a while ago I started reading “How Not to Die” by Dr Greger? Well a lot has happened since I started reading that book advocating a plant based diet. I’m almost converted to being vegetarian, and see eating meat as something quite ‘dangerous’ to my long term health – at least this week! What has changed?

1) I have become convinced that vegetables REALLY do make a HUGE difference to health and in general it sounds as if Western population doesn’t get enough of them (despite the 2:5 campaigns) and is getting sick with diseases that just do not appear in poor nations who eat mainly vegetables.
2) I have noticed how LITTLE vegetables are included in the recipes I come across (including on this site!) and while magazines always have something “vegetarian” they don’t get across the importance of vegetables, nor the simplicity of cooking them.
3) Vegetables are almost always considered a ‘side’ in the mindset of family and friends.

I still lots of questions – for example, whether all vegetables are equal and whether some should be avoided for various reasons to do with existing imbalances in the body, or your own food intolerance situation, but I’m well on the way to saying I really don’t like the sound of eating meat.

Today my ‘conversion’ experience was cemented when I realized how easy and tasty it was to make a vegetable snack. I can’t help but share it. Rather than heading for the traditional packaged snack, or baked goody, or even handful of nuts, I opted to spent around 3 minutes preparing a vegetable dish that could be eaten hot or cold. Here it is:

A few chunks of sweet potate (I cheated and cooked in microwave for 1 minutes) tossed into a pan with some onion, tumeric, cumin, apple cider vinegar (for reasons I wont go into here!) and kale. I was amazed how simple it was to prepare, how delicious, how healthy and how much I enjoyed eating it compared to what I might have had.

I only wish I’d had this when the children were younger – much better than the junk I used to throw together from packets – but it still isn’t too late! I think after school and weekends are going to look a little different from now!

Anyone else love vegetables? or have experiences to share with how quick and simple they are to prepare and how yummy to eat as mains or snacks?

Posted anonymously, 20th May 2016

10 Comments

- - mom19782016 said
  - 12 Jun 2016
    6:47 am
I’ve also turned a bit of a corner with the amount of vegies I’ve realised my family and I need to be eating. I’ve found it really helpful as you say, not to think of them as a “side” with meals but to form the bulk of the meal. My plan is to eat fish on Friday, white meat Saturday and red meat on Sunday for dinners only. The rest of the week I’m aiming to plate up vegetarian meals. It just makes sense that Australians are getting fatter, sicker and we’re not prioritising eating veggies. I’m sure a lack of exercise and increased amounts of sugar also contribute to this too.

- - jabelle said
  - 23 May 2016
    2:38 pm
Well done on putting in the time and effort to find what is right for your body. It’s worth that investment!

- - BellaB said
  - 22 May 2016
    8:37 pm
I find it hard to find lunchbox recipes with veggies (that the kids will eat), but otherwise we do ok.
- june11 replied
  
  31 May 2016 , 6:42 pm
  There is a recipe site called taste.com.au which may help you with ideas. For anybody will food allergies, intolerances etc. you can search for recipes. I have family members who can’t have gluten or lactose. I have managed to find some helpful recipes. I can’t remember the name of the site but Sanitarium also has recipes with recipes that may be helpful and healthy.
- - mom93821 said
  - 22 May 2016
    8:00 am
We get a good balance of all foods and we love fruit and veggies and all whole foods. MoMs does offer lots of different recipes, including lots of vegetarian and vegan options. Some of these are now much loved in our household.

- - mum4107 said
  - 21 May 2016
    1:02 pm
I love veggies too but I also love meat.
My toddler and I often have veggies and fruit as snacks
- mom93821 replied
  
  23 May 2016 , 7:14 pm
  We like a good balance of food too.
- - mom81879 said
  - 21 May 2016
    11:13 am
I love veggies too and I don’t eat a lot of meat. I do enjoy a nice steak from time to time and a chicken parmigiana is a soft spot for me too

- - mom90758 said
  - 20 May 2016
    11:57 pm
I love vegetables too. But I admit that I enjoy eating meat sometimes.
Sweet potatoes are really versatile. I love capsicums. That’s one vegetable I couldn’t live without.
Which vegetable do you like most?
- june11 replied
  
  09 Jul 2016 , 2:45 pm
  I prefer carrots. A few private schools allow young pupils to eat “brain food” during lessons if they get hungry as they reckon it improves their concentration.
  They are allowed fruit and vegetables. Carrots can prepared as sticks or slices as can celery. Some children go to school without breakfast, sometimes it is a parental issue but I do one one child who flatly refuses to eat breakfast no matter what he is offered.