I'm having trouble working in vegetables

As the topic says....

I live in the dorms, and don't keep vegetables on hand mostly because a) they are expensive b) don't keep well and c) I don't get to the store very much.

Sometimes I find that I only get in my first serving on veggies at dinner time! I know that can't be good for my health. I don't have a problem eating enough fruits, but its recommended that you have 3 cups of veggies per day, and only 2 cups of fruit... I don't think these are interchangeable.

Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks!

Hmm... Well, if you don't have a problem eating a lot of veggies, then I'd suggest just upping your portion of vegetables in the evening and eating more calories throughout the day.

That's what I do. It actually works out great because I get *really* hungry throughout the day and find that I need more sustenance. So that's when I work in the whole grains for carbs. 

Funnily enough, dinner is my "biggest" meal - and it's only veggies and protein. 

So if you can stomach three cups of veggies in the evening, go for it. Have a salad, some veggies and a protein. 

I donno... hope that helps! 

I'm sure people will disagree with me but I keep a bottle of V8 and I eat it like tomato soup.  You can get a bottle of it or a 6-pack in cans.  I add garlic and a couple of croutons or plain yoghurt. 

Original Post by tyrdrop:

 I don't have a problem eating enough fruits, but its recommended that you have 3 cups of veggies per day, and only 2 cups of fruit... I don't think these are interchangeable.

http://www.healthy-eating-made-easy.com/fruit -and-vegetable-servings.html

This website is invaluable to me! I didn't realize that the servings were actually rather small compared to what I thought in my head. 1/4 cup raisins is one serving of fruit! That's tiny to me! :P

 

Original Post by mrsdagle:

I'm sure people will disagree with me but I keep a bottle of V8 and I eat it like tomato soup. You can get a bottle of it or a 6-pack in cans. I add garlic and a couple of croutons or plain yoghurt.

I use V8 too. I buy the low sodium V8 in the 5 oz cans and have one as part of my mid morning snack. 

Some veggies actually last for a really long time in the fridge. Think pioneer diet. Cabbage, beets, rutabagas all last a really long time. And, they are cheap.

For instance, coleslaw is delicious, if you make it with lower-fat vinaigrette instead of mayo, it is healthy, and a head of cabbage is cheap, too. I'm sure you lose some nutrition, but I have seriously had a head of cabbage in my fridge stay good for 2 months. It is also the kind of thing that you can pack for lunch and it isn't all soggy and gross by noon. It gets better as it sits around.

It's okay to get canned vegetables.

If you just add a bit here and there, it really adds up, extra lettuce and cucumber on your lunch time sandwich, a few baby carrots as a mid day snack.

It's not my kind of thing, but a friend bought me a cookbook that basically has you making puree of fruits and veggies and adding it to everyday recipes.  Essentially tricking your kids into eating their produce without shoving a salad in front of them.

if you have a storage problem, you can buy vegetables in cans in the sizes that suit you...try to find low sodium...or what I do if I use a can vegetable is empty into a colander and rinse...that will remove the salt.  i remember dorm rooms...horrible...no room for anything..well hope this suggestion helps. 

try carrying a baggy of baby carrots around for a snack. baby carrots are cheap, about 1$ for a bag-which is about 6 servings (where I live at least) and they keep well, the trick is to keep them sealed up in a ziploc bag.

you could get at least one more serving doing that, other raw veggies work well this way too if you want some variety, broccoli, cauliflower, peppers (green or red, sliced up).

I don't know where you eat lunch, but if it's on campus they probably offer a salad, just get the dressing on the side.

canned veggies are a good option just look for low sodium ones. or if you have any freezer space the steam-fresh single packs are awesome and inexpensive.

I usually keep a bag of frozen vegetables around (peas and carrots typically), and throw in some here of there with whatever I'm cooking that day.  Goes well with soups, pastas, beans, etc.  Another favorite of mine is onions, since they keep well and you can dice them and mix them in with lots of dishes as well.

you can get v8 drinks and drink them during the day...

 

or if you can do any cooking on your own, get canned or frozen veggies... i heard if you rinse the canned stuff well before eating it gets rid of  alot of the sodium.

you can get v8 drinks and drink them during the day...

 

or if you can do any cooking on your own, get canned or frozen veggies... i heard if you rinse the canned stuff well before eating it gets rid of  alot of the sodium.  and try getting some stuff fresh that you'll munch on during the day so you dont' have to worry about it going bad too quickly- like baby carrots are easy.

I have a son who will eat fruits but not veggies, and his doctor said that it doesn't matter.... that they have the same nutrients in both so as long as he eats one of them it's all in the same category.

I thought the new recommendation was "5-9 servings of fruit and vegetables a day," basically meaning you could eat more fruit than vegetable or vice-versa.

I'm in a dorm now as well and I've found those steam fresh veggies they sell now are the best thing in the whole fricken world. I have a mini-fridge and I fill the freezer up with peas, corn, broccoli, carrots, and still have room for one pint of ice cream. Plus they really don't have to remain frozen. I stuck one in a ziploc and 3 hours later threw it in the microwave to go with my lunch. Was still good.

frozen veggies are GREAT and just as good for you as fresh ones!  i love frozen spinach, broccoli, zucchini, peppers, etc.

 

also, these "green bags" are amazing and have changed my life.  they really make your fruits and vegetables last SO MUCH LONGER its kind of crazy (like, weeks longer).  they are reuseable and very cheap.  just make sure your fruits/veggies are dry before you put them in the bag....

https://www.greenbags.com/?cid=402572