So many of my clients struggle with getting enough fruits and vegetables into their diet, and the truth is, if you don’t start off the day with a plan, it’s easy to only end up with a serving or two. But if we’re serious about preventing a host of diseases like diabetes, cancer and heart disease, just to name a few, eating more fruits and vegetables rich in antioxidants is critical.

The question is, how can you more easily eat more? For me, when spring rolls around and there’s more fresh produce available that’s locally grown, I tend to go for lighter breakfast fare. One of my favorite things to do on a warm day is have salad for breakfast.  Yes, I know, you’re probably thinking, “Wendy, why in the world would I eat salad for breakfast?”

But I’d like you to try on for size that breakfast doesn’t just have to be breakfast anymore. Who says that we should only eat cereal or eggs and bacon for breakfast? I’m of the mind that our body knows best and when we use it as a guide, and get past our notions for what constitutes a meal, the possibility for better health exists.  I blogged about a similar theme back in October regarding eating soup for breakfast. In cooler weather, that’s a great breakfast for me. Now I’m marrying the idea of more veggies with the warmer season.

How do I make a morning salad tasty and inviting? I get my favorite organic salad greens together, take 1/2 an avocado, a vine ripened tomato and what ever else strikes my fancy.  It’s fresh, light and delicious. And I make my own herb dressing that is so flavorful that it makes the salad super interesting.

And if salad isn’t on my mind on a particular morning but I still want something green and healthy, I’ll often juice my favorite veggies (today it’s kale, parsley, cucumber and celery) or make a fruit smoothie with spinach, kale or romaine. It’s simply amazing how good it is without a lot of work.

What do you do to get your day off to a healthy vegetable start? How often do you think ahead about adding produce into your breakfast? How could you start doing that even once or twice a week?

Filed under: Breakfast, Greens, Healthy Meals, Locally Grown Food, Vegetables