Most people already include some vegetables in their cooked meals. That’s great! But we can certainly ramp it up several notches, both in terms of quantity and variety. Today’s post will look to do just that. 

What’s so great about cooked veggies, mushrooms and beans?

Vegetables are known for their high nutrient density (lots of nutrients, few calories). Another great thing about vegetables is the wide variety that is available. Consuming a wide range of vegetables is a great way to ensure that your body gets every last nutrient it needs for optimal health. 

In many warm meals, mushrooms and beans can be treated similarly to cooked vegetables. Including these plant-based foods in your cooking expands the nutritional variety of today’s superfood group even more.

The right veggies, mushrooms and beans in the right meals can also be surprisingly tasty. This is great for creating true zero-compromise healthy eating habits. 

Tips and tricks

If you’re making a dish with some meat and lots of flavor, try to add a little more veggies, mushrooms or beans each time. You’ll be genuinely surprised with how far you can push this simple philosophy. Sometimes, the taste, look and texture of your cooked meal will noticeably improve with the inclusion of more veggies, mushrooms and beans 🙂

Next, it’s a good idea to really maximize variety and practicality. Chopping vegetables is not much fun, so a frozen bag with a good mix of chopped vegetables is a great idea (freezing has almost no impact on nutritional value). When you have to chop, learn to adjust the size of your slices to the cooking time required by different vegetables.   

Canned beans are great for practicality because they can just be chucked in the pot with no preparation (canned beans are just a nutritious as dry beans). Mushrooms might need one or two slices, but they cook fast, so there’s no need for excessive chopping.  

Many people have some sort of mental block against vegetables. I used to have a pretty big one myself. Getting over this mental block is crucial.

Luckily, this critical mental shift can be surprisingly easy. If you do it right, consuming lots of veggies, mushrooms and beans is genuinely pleasant. And if something is pleasant, you’ll have no problems doing it regularly 🙂

So, put in the little bit of planning and experimentation required – it sure is worth it!