Friday, March 6, 2015

How to Add More Veggies to Your Diet.

With spring and gardening right around the corner, let's talk about vegetables. I love fresh veggies. Here are a few ways I've added them to my families menu lately.


This. is. the. bomb. dot. com.
Meet the Veggetti.

Zoodles, Squoodles, Cucumboodles... You name it. If you can twist it inside of this contraption, then you can get healthy noodle like spirals. A-Maze-Ing!
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Wash your vegetables. I used zucchini and summer squash for this recipe. Twist the veggie inside the spiral maker. The Veggetti comes with a top that is supposed to help twist the remaining end piece but I found that using a fork worked better.
Do NOT stick your fingers inside to pick out tiny pieces of vegetable. It will cut you! And how do I know this? Let's just say experience is the best teacher. Rinse the spiral maker under water and use a toothbrush to clean it.

I picked mine up at Walmart but I've seen them several other places.

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The noodles are so good stir fried in olive oil. Add some garlic and onion if you like. I added a can of chopped clams to these. Yum!

Another vegetable that is now a staple in my house is cauliflower.
I love it drizzled with olive oil, salt and roasted. But my favorite way to have it is- cauliflower rice. You can use a grater like this. It's a little time consuming but possible.

Or you can put it in the blender. Pulse it a few times and you have cauli-rice. Stir fry the rice and add whatever you like. The texture is so much like real rice... it makes me happy! 

I love my Ninja blender. It's a great blender and it's not expensive.

Also steaming the cauliflower first and then blending, you can make wonderful faux mashed potatoes. 
Add some garlic and cheese..... oh my!

I use a sprayer for my olive oil. It helps to distribute the oil more evenly on my veggies plus I use less. It's a good thing!

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 Stir fried broccoli with garlic and shrimp. This dish is one of my families favorites. I usually serve this with baked salmon. 
Roasted veggies are great when you have the munchies.
Roasted brussel sprouts actually taste sweet.
Roasted broccoli, carrots and cauliflower make a great side dish.
 (pictures from my phone)

What's in your popcorn bowl? Spread Kale on a roasting sheet and lightly spray with olive oil. Make sure you do one layer at the time or your kale will steam instead. It's worth making a few single layer batches. Roast on 400 for 15 minutes. Salt and eat. It reminds me of how potato chips crunch in your mouth... surprisingly good.

I recently discovered coconut oil. I found this at Aldi. It smells and tastes amazing. There is so much good in coconut oil. You can read about it here.

When I crave something sweet, I drizzle coconut oil over sweet potatoes and roast. 
This. taste. like. candy. 
Instead of a resolution to lose weight etc... I've decided to just eat a more healthful diet. Eating more vegetables is a big part of it. 
Do you have an tips on how to eat more vegetables?
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I hope you were inspired!
Thank you for visiting Thrift My House.

32 comments:

  1. Sherry-I have done several of these things over the years but I have never done the cauliflower-rice thing....nor do I have one of those little "spaghetti creating" gadgets. I may have to look for one of those---like I need ONE MORE gadget. lol xo Diana

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  2. I love all these ways to prepare veggies! Roasting them is one of my favorites...probably because it's so quick and easy. I also love your tip of spraying on olive oil.
    Mary Alice

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  3. Wow! Sherry, you have some great ideas here. Once the garden starts coming on strong, I like to have new ideas.. So that I can mix it up and not let our meals get boring. You are such a clever and inspirational girl . . . you must keep a pen and paper by the bed. I can just imagine you waking up in the middle of the night to write down a fresh idea to share :) Thanks!
    Connie :)

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  4. You have made me hungry. We are redoing our raised garden beds this year and cannot wait to start. I have seen that gadget before and want to buy me one. We love zuchini.

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  5. I love veggies, but I'm still on the fence regarding the Veggetti. My sister received this as a gift for Christmas and she didn't like it. Everything else looks yummy!

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  6. Thanks for the tips! -Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures

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  7. Sherry these are great. I love that veggie thing. I am so getting one of those. How fun and yummy.
    I just posted a picture of my happy place on the deck from last summer and I cannot wait for the weather to get warm and I can start my flowers. ahhhhh can't wait.
    Have a wonderful week end.
    Kris

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  8. These are some great ideas, Sherry! I've used the veggetti/spaghetti stuff and was amazed at how great it tasted! I'm going to need to try ricing my cauliflower, that's a new idea to me! I've been focusing on my eating habits and have lost 48 pounds so far, still a ways to go, but I sure to feel better! Thank you for sharing these ideas! Blessings, Cindy

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  9. Excellent ideas Sherry! I have been wanting one of those gadgets to make veggie noodles! I am glad you shared your opinion on this one. I will have to look for one now. I love the kale and sweet potato ideas and need to try them! We love roasted veggies at my house too. Hope you have a wonderful weekend. We'll be hanging bead board in one half of my kitchen! I'll share some progress soon...:)

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  10. Hi Sherry! This is such a great post. Timely too, as I am in the process of doing this very thing. Thanks for the great ideas, tips and recipes!-Sue

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  11. Hi,
    I love the Veggetti idea. Great post and very helpful!
    Carla

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  12. Okay, this post was just amazing! I love the Veggetti! I am definitely going to have to get one of those :)

    Thanks for sharing your wonderful tips. Hugs to you!

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  13. Hi Sherry, I love this post and I am getting one of the Veggetti's for sure. I have done several of these dishes too but not the rice with the cauliflower or like mashed potatoes. So healthy!!
    I keep bowls filled with little carrots, celery and cherry tomatoes in the fridge all the time. When I need a quick snack, I just take a few and it ties me over. Better then grabbing a handful of chips!! LOL
    Thanks for the great review and tips.
    Have a nice weekend.
    Hugs, CM

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  14. Sherry, While I was reading this, I was thinking, "This woman is brilliant." I love every single one of these ideas. And, now I know someone else who eats sweet potatoes for a dessert! Thank you! ~Ginene

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  15. I am amazingly inspired! I love these ideas and your pictures are great girl! And now...I'm hungry! LOL!

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  16. I love that veggie noodler thingy. It's awesome! I really have to get me one of those. Everything looks so delicious! I love those cauliflower ideas.

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  17. Sherry, I have wanted to try the zucchini noodles! I have tried mashed cauliflower and was amazed how good it was! Love sweet potatoes too but kale--not so much :) These are all great ideas! Blessings, Cecilia

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  18. I love cauliflower...roasted is my favorite, too.
    The only way I'll eat zucchini is in cake. LOL
    Very cool veggie noodler!

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  19. Wonderful post - and a good reminder to me that I do want one of those vegie noodle makers. I have tried to stay on low-carb, and I think this would help a lot!

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  20. Those are all great ideas and new to me! I never thought about making veggies into rice or noodles before. I also never thought to spray the oil instead of pouring it. Looks like some good healthy eating is going on at your house!

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  21. We eat a lot of vegetables, but I think we might need to try some of your recipes. I saw a similar cauliflower dish on another blog and thought it looked delicious.

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  22. Yes, you made me hungry! Great ideas! Have to check timing for plantings in the garden now-winter has been so harsh!

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  23. Oh I wNt one of the veggetti things that looks cool! I have Lebanese friends who fry cauliflower and it is amazing!! I'm kind of annoyed our Aldi doesn't do coconut oil, or maybe I just hVent seen it. Going there today so I'll have a look.

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  24. I was on the fence about the Veggetti...I just bought one on Amazon! : )

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  25. I am a new reader...I was on the fence about the Veggetti and this post sealed the deal for me! : ) Thank you!

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  26. Sherry, this post really inspired me. I'm so happy you shared all the healthier choices you are making for your family.

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  27. I recently saw this gadget at Walgreens. Hemmed and hawed about getting it but now that I have read this post I will get it. Love all your ideas.

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  28. Sherry, what a great informative post, thank you for all these terrific ideas.
    I love the idea of the veggie gadget and will have to look for one of those.
    I eat a lot of vegetables and prefer them cooked, not soggy cooked but crisp.
    I have roasted brussle sprouts by peeling the leaves and they are very good that way.
    I must try the sweet potato.

    I have enjoyed my visit here with you and look forward to following along.

    Have a beautiful week.
    Joy! Debbie

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  29. Oh yummy! All this looks amazing, and let me say...I'm not a huge vegetable person and I want to be. This will help. :P

    -andi

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  30. love all these tips on eating more veggies. I got rid of all the bad oils and just use coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil, and avocado oil (great for high heat) in my kitchen. I did a post a while back called Whole Food Your Face, where I told how I got rid of all skin problems and reduced my pores by using coconut oil to remove my makeup. It's wonderful and really cheap skin care.
    http://theothermeissane.blogspot.com/2015/02/whole-food-your-face_20.html

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  31. Love the grinder, wonder if my Grandson would enjoy veggie spaghetti!

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