We all need to eat vegetables to stay healthy, and at the latter stages of your life, you the nutrients they offer are especially valuable for keeping your mind and body in optimum shape. Older adults need several servings of vegetables for their health, but not everyone likes eating them. It can be tedious to reach the recommended number servings each day, especially when you don’t know how to prepare them in appetizing ways. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to eat more vegetables without much effort! In this blog post, we share creative ways to sneak veggies into everyday dishes and even replicate some of your favourite meals whether you live at home or in a retirement villa.
Blend them into breakfast smoothies
Green smoothies are ultra-delicious and healthy drinks that you can make anytime of the day. They’re refreshing and packed with vitamins and minerals that come from fresh fruits and leafy greens. No wonder they’re such a hit with health buffs, a healthy drink that tastes great and is super simple and easy to make – just add fruit, ice, milk, and greens such as cucumber, spinach, or zucchini, and you’ve got yourself a breakfast that’s refreshing and healthy! Here’s our favourite Kale pineapple smoothie recipe to start your day strong!
Puree into warm vegetable soups
Consuming veggie-based soups is an excellent way to get multiple servings of vegetables at once. Puree vegetables such as broccoli, spinach, or squash, and add in cream or spices to give your veggie soups a nice flavourful kick. Here’s some recipes for low calorie nutrient-packed soups you can create at home!
After all, there’s nothing more comforting than a nice warm soup to end your day, and vegetable soup is an easy way to increase your intake of fibre and minerals.
Cook veggie pasta
There are times when you want to give in to your usual cravings – mac and cheese, anyone? Well, we’re here to tell you that you can still indulge in pasta by creating a low carb substitute we like to call veggie noodles! By shredding your vegetables and turning them into noodle pasta, you can combine them with your favourite delectable meat sauces. From spaghetti squash down to lentil Bolognese, there’s a lot of opportunities to enjoy your favourites with a healthy twist!
Substitute greens for wraps
Craving burritos? You can substitute a lot of different breads with healthy lettuce, and that goes for wraps too. There are lots of nutrient-dense greens like kale or chard to wrap your meal. You get the same flavour but more health benefits! Check how you can make your own chicken tortilla lettuce wraps here!
Sneak them into desserts
One of the best ways to add vegetables to your diet is to disguise greens in your dessert. Whether you’re baking carrot cake or sneaking some zucchini into your brownie batter, you’ll be able to get an extra serving of greens hidden beneath those sweet favours!
Achieve your best health at our Albany Retirement Village!
It’s vital to prioritise your health and wellbeing to keep you happy, and being creative with your food is a good path to a well-balanced life, but it’s essential to stay active too.
At Fairview Village, we make sure to accommodate an active lifestyle with high-quality facilities like gyms, outdoor tennis courts, pools, and other recreational spaces. If you want to achieve the ideal senior living experience, Fairview Village is one of the best retirement homes in Auckland. We provide the finest facilities catered to your health, and beautiful apartments to live in. To learn more about our properties and facilities, contact us today!
