If there’s one thing many of us seem to have in common as kids, it’s being told to ‘eat your vegetables’.
And, like most kids, your taste buds were probably adverse to greens. As we get older and our palates develop, veggies aren’t the nemesis they once were. But many of us still battle to reach our daily quota.
A number of elements are to blame:
- Prepping healthy meals takes longer than buying convenience foods.
- It’s so easy to fill up our daily calories with foods other than veggies – we’re often not hungry for them.
- It requires to prep veggies in a way that’s exciting and tasty.
- We often give in to junk food, and our taste buds become attuned to craving these foods rather than healthier ones.
Let’s back up for a moment and quickly confirm why it’s so essential that you reach this daily quota of fruits and veggies in the first place.
Why we’re so pro plants
Plant-based eating is the foundation of most research-based, sustainable healthy diets advised by nutritionists and dietitians. They’re rich sources of so many nutrients we need, like vitamins, minerals, fibre, unsaturated fats and protein; it makes sense to eat a lot of them.
Stats say that a plant-based diet can lower your risk of inflammation, obesity and many chronic diseases, like type 2 diabetes and cancer. In general, plant food groups are also more protective than animal food groups against chronic disease. Animal foods, like lean meat, poultry, eggs and fish, still provide important vitamins and minerals – we just need to eat them in the right amounts.
When you don’t eat enough greens, you tend to overeat the other stuff.
The issue of time
Chances are, you’re as busy as the next person, and procuring and preparing fresh greens daily is a job in itself. You don’t want to become rigid about eating either – you need to stay human. Opting for an 80/20 approach to eating is a realistic – and still very powerful – approach to your diet. However, even achieving that 80 can be a little difficult in a time-strapped schedule.
The solution
We need concentrated, quicker and more convenient forms of fruits and veggies to help us realistically reach that quota. Little ‘hacks’ like juicing and making smoothies can help you go the distance, and that’s where green powders come in.
The credible, high-quality varieties of green powders out there are essentially supplements that include nearly every green you can think of in a convenient powder form. Think of it as an insurance policy. You should be opting for that broad profile of fresh fruit and veggies in their whole form, but if that’s not a possibility you should have other options to help you get there.
In a nutshell, green powders are:
Convenient
Affordable
Low-calorie
And high in nutrients
Basically, when you’re armed with a greens powder, you’re off to a great start before you even get going.
What makes us so special?
We added this at the end so you didn’t feel obliged to read a product punt. First and foremost, we want you to understand how to be healthier on a daily basis. The strength of fruits and veggies lies in variety. The broad-scale supply of nutrients we offer sets us apart from other brands. Rather than relying on one or two pricey plant sources, we’ve squeezed 50 fruits and vegetables into every scoop.
Oh…. and it’s tasty too. Take our word for it that this is no small feat for a product that is 100% fruit- and veggie-based.
In the spirit of celebrating taste, here are two delicious smoothies that DON’T taste like veggies, even though they’re packed with them.
SHOP: Our Full Range Of Superfood Powders
Almond and Vanilla Smoothie
Makes: 2 regular size smoothies | 1 large smoothie
Ingredients
1 scoop Nature’s Nutrition Vanilla Protein
1 tbs cocoa
½ medium banana, frozen
3 pitted dates
5-6 roasted almonds
1 tbs honey
1 cup ice
1 cup water
Method
- Add all of the ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth and creamy.
- Top with crushed roasted almonds and a drizzle of honey.
- Serve immediately.
Chocolate Superfood Date Balls
Makes: 24 medium size balls
Ingredients
1 scoop Nature’s Nutrition Vanilla Protein
1 cup pitted dates, heated to soften
1 tbs cocoa
¼ tsp cinnamon
½ cup mixed nuts (try mixed almonds and cashew nuts)
1 tbs organic coconut oil
Method
- Add the nuts to a blender or food processor and process until relatively fine (before they become a flour).
- Put the dates in a microwave-friendly bowl and heat for 45 seconds to soften.
- Add the rest of the ingredients to the chopped nuts and process until a sticky dough starts to form.
- Roll the dough to form balls.
- Top with some sugar-free or dark chocolate and a few goji berries. It’s optional but highly recommended.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
