I have followed many different diets throughout the years, read countless books on food and nutrition, and even graduated from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition where I learned about every diet theory under the sun, and one thing above all else has stood out to me. Regardless of what diet you follow, plants are where it's at.
I personally believe in bio-individuality when it comes to food. What works for one, may not work for others. Some need meat to feel optimal, others thrive on grains and legumes. Getting to know your body and how to best fuel it is crucial and definitely something everyone should take the time to do. But when it comes to plants, I think it's safe to say we all need more of them in our life. For me personally, the more plants I eat, the more alive I feel. Cheesy? Maybe :) But it's totally true!
As passionate as I am about veggie love, amazingly it still seems difficult to get enough of them into my diet at times.... especially into my 2 year old's diet. Even with valiant effort, we still seem to miss the mark some weeks, either falling into a rut by eating the same variety, or falling off of the wagon completely on busy weeks. We eat a fairly paleo diet in our house, focusing on getting in the kitchen and cooking REAL food. And still, even without grains taking up all that space on our plates, we still find it hard sometimes! However, two things have made a tremendous difference in our quest to meet our veggie quota...
(roasting peppers, butternut squash, carrots and sweet potatoes)
The first lifesaver... FOOD PREP. If its not deliciously prepared ahead of time and ready to go in the fridge, you can forget about my daughter getting many plants in her diet. Fruits yes, veggies no. My favorite way to prep them at the moment is roasting them at a pretty high heat to caramelize. I make 3 or 4 large trays each week with different varieties, and then once they are done I just throw them all into one big dish. With roasted veggies in the fridge, the meal possibilities are endless... roasted veggie fritatta, a base for breakfast hash, an elegant roasted veggie salad, a simple side with dinner, roasted veggie "potato" salad... I could go on but you get the point. Food prep is key for getting variety in your diet.
(sweet potato, butternut squash, and asparagus breakfast hash and eggs)
The second lifesaver is our conscious effort to EAT THE RAINBOW every single day... making this a game has truly made all the difference for us. Using this makeshift responsibility board and being able to look at the week and see our shortfalls really helps. I know when and where we need to fill gaps. For my daughter, eating the rainbow every day is a fun game. One that just so happens to introduce her to food is medicine, farm to table, fueling the body the right way, making food with love, eating things made with love. All pretty important life lessons if you ask me.
These are two things that are really working for us lately. What are your favorite ways to get in those colors? For yourself and/or your children. Please share as I would love to get some new ideas and hear what works for my fellow steemians. I feel truly blessed to be among such revolutionaries <3