Get Creative With Veggies During National Nutrition Month

Since we were kids, most of us have had a love/hate relationship with vegetables.

You may still hear your mom's words echoing in your ears when you sit down to dinner, "Eat your vegetables, dear." A heaping pile of mashed potatoes with shredded cheese, or green beans garnished with butter and salt sounds delicious, but may not be the healthiest way to get your veggies.

Most adults should eat two and a half cups of vegetables a day. In honor of March being National Nutrition Month, here are some suggestions from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics on how to eat your healthy veggies:

• make a veggie wrap with raw or roasted vegetables and low-fat cheese in a whole wheat tortilla;

• instead of eating chips with your sandwich, dip raw vegetables in your favorite low-fat salad dressing;

• make colorful vegetable kabobs on the grill with tomatoes, green peppers, fresh mushrooms and white onions;

• color your salad with spinach, baby carrots, cherry tomatoes, or mandarin oranges;

• make fresh cut vegetables an easy snack to grab by keeping them cut and at eye level in the refrigerator;

• turn your egg-white omelet into a hearty meal by stuffing it with veggies;

• add flavor to sandwiches with orange peppers, spinach, tomatoes or cucumbers; and

• get creative with pizza toppings like zucchini, mushrooms and tomatoes.

For more ways to get your veggies, and other nutrition tips, visit the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics online at nationalnutritionmonth.org or contact the McDonald County Health Department at 417-223-7122 or by visiting www.mcdonaldcountyhealth.com.