We have all been told to "eat our veggies" and that they are "good for you" but thoughout our childhood...or at least mine...veggies were the last things I wanted to eat. I'd come home from school and eat a bag of chips or a whole sleeve of oreos with absolutely no weight gain whatsoever thanks to my lightning fast metabolism. Then a thing called adulthood happened and my metabolism slowed at a drastic rate, I could no longer eat oreos or chips until my heart was content. So, this led me with a HUGE problem. I loved food. I wanted to eat a lot of it in one sitting. After doing research I learned that one thing you can "mindlessly" munch on is veggies. Why? Because they are super low in calories and super high in vitamins and essential nutrients our body needs, so let's get munchin' with this list of the top ten veggies to eat!
**Disclaimer: I don't know how to justify my rankings because it is ultimately a personal preference so sorry if I didn't include your favorite.**
1. Carrots
These little orange babies will always have a huge spot in my heart. It was these guys that turned me on to my love of veggies. Why? I think there is something so satisfying about the crunch they provide, it's almost similar to that of munching on a potato chip and getting the crunchy sensation out of that. Another perk about carrots is that they are loaded with beta-carotene which is ultimately great for the eyes among other things.
2. Cucumber
It wasn't until I got a spiralizer I realized the amazement of the cucumber. Before I would just whip out some light ranch dressing and dip my cucs in there, but now I enjoy spiralizing my cucumber into "noodle like" pieces and add some other veggies and some balsamic dressing for a flavor explosion. Cucumbers are even tasty by themselves. Just slice them and pop them in your mouth for a crisp, refreshing taste. One of the many benefits of the cucumber is that it is loaded with skin friendly minerals such as magnesium, potassium, and silicon.
3. Celery
Whoop Whoop! Ole' faithful in the house. This veggie goes GREAT with peanut butter...chunky and smooth alike. And let's be real who doesn't like dipping things in peanut butter? (Or almond butter if you have a peanut allergy.) Celery is super low in calories so eat as much of it as you like, however, I wouldn't suggest the same with the peanut butter. Stick with the 2 TBSP guidelines so you don't over do it on the healthy fats PB provides you with. Celery is loaded with Vitamin K which can be a difficult, often overlooked, vitamin to get into the system.
4. Peppers
...Of every color, shape, and size. Love them all! Peppers are great dipped in hummus or sautéed up with onions. They are very versatile and they come in a wide range of flavors from mild to sweet to hot. There is undoubtedly a pepper out there for everyone. Peppers have a lot of Vitamin C in them. They also are known for their anti-inflammatory benefits and the antioxidants they provide you with.
5. Cauliflower
This "super food" is amazing for you. It is also another one that goes great dipped in hummus. For even more of a flavor impact mix a little Sriracha in the hummus and then get dipping. Cauliflower also has the ability to take on the form of different foods. For a healthy alternative to wings, try baking your cauliflower then mixing it in some wing sauce then baking it a little more. This will be sure to win over your taste buds due to its wing-like flavor without breaking the calorie bank. This funny looking white veggie helps out your heart & brain health so ultimately why would you not want to eat it?!
6. Tomatoes
This one could be a bit of a love/hate. People either LOVE tomatoes of HATE them. Could you guess what group I'm in? Ugh, I can't even begin to describe my love for tomatoes. I eat them plain, mix them in virtually every salad I ever make, and love putting them on any sandwich. They are sweet and juicy and basically had me at hello. Tomatoes are loaded with Vitamin A & C and full of Folic Acid. These babies are doing nothing but keeping your body healthy and happy.
7. Mushrooms
Eek. Mushrooms, most would say. But I love these little guys. I add them into my eggs, sautée them up with onions and peppers, and even eat them raw (with a good washing first of course.) They are also my absolute favorite pizza topping but we'll get to that another day. Mushrooms are of course loaded with lots of vitamins and minerals so try them out...you might just like them!
So...there you have it! The complete list of enjoyable veggies, now go get snacking! Those carrots aren't going to eat themselves!
