Quick and easy… delicious ways to fit the recommended dose of vegetables into your diet daily.
One of my favorite movies of all time is Pretty Woman. Aside from the charming romance and joyful aura that Richard Gere and Julia Roberts convey, the memories of watching this with my older sister are what truly make this a cherished film. Sadly we can recite almost every line in the movie. Rather than say “Au Revoir” or “See ya later” to people, I most often go with Kit’s famous line, “Take care of you!” On that note, another unforgettable line occurs when Vivian recommends to her new beau, “Lets just veg out all day in front of the TV… Yeah be still like vegetables. Lay like broccoli.”
Somehow in the U.S., the connotative meaning behind the phrase “let’s be vegetables” translates to laziness. During these wintry months, we all find the urge to sit on the couch and waste away the day. My challenge to you this January is to get off your butt and transform the meaning of this expression. Eat your broccoli and have the energy to go out and jog in that thirty degree weather. Stop being a vegetable and eat your vegetables! See below for my easy breezy options to get those vitamins in daily with only a few ingredients. As always, the flavor will shock you in a very pleasant way.
Roasted Root Vegetables (A Ross family favorite)
- 1 inch cubes of any or all of the following; 1 1/2 cups: red potato, parsnips, carrots, red onion
- dried rosemary or thyme, garlic salt, pepper
- equal parts olive oil and balsamic vinegar, enough to coat vegetables.
Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees. Chop vegetables, season, and add oil/vinegar. Spread out on baking sheet and cook for about 50 minutes. Toss half way through cook time to make sure nothing is sticking to pan.
Stove-top Zucchini (Favorite from Italy)
- 1 zucchini chopped into small chunks
- 1-2 tbsp olive oil
- dried oregano, garlic salt, crushed red pepper flakes
- squeeze 1 tbsp lemon
Over medium high heat, heat saute pan with olive oil. Add zucchini and cook for about 5 minutes flipping often. Add seasonings and squeeze lemon in last thirty seconds of cooking.
Roasted Broccoli (will win over anyone who hates broccoli, i.e me)
- 3 cups broccoli florets
- 2 cloves garlic sliced thin
- salt and red pepper flakes
- olive oil for drizzling
Pre-heat toaster or larger oven to 400 degrees. Coat pan with olive oil. Lay florets and garlic. Season and cook for about 20-25 minutes.
