Who eats 5-a-day?
 

Ladies-
I admit that I try to eat 5 fruits and vegetables a day, but it's not an easy task in the winter-time. Do any of you have suggestions of ways to sneak those fruits and veggies into our diets?

I had cold veggies and dip before a dinner of stromboli last week. It took a little thought and preparation, but I was so proud of myself afterwards.

Share your thoughts and ideas.

I'm a big fan of chopping zucchini or something similar into pasta sauces. Also, I find that if I have apples around (varieties I really like, that's important!) I can get it the habit of chopping one up to eat at night (instead of chips or pretzels) and they are also easy to throw in my backpack and take to school (whole, not chopped).

Yogurt covered raisins
I always have a piece of fruit when I get home I'm always hugry for a snack but nothing too big, the fruit works perfectly.
Try an orange or grpefruit for breakfast.
Veggies and dip
Add veggies to your rice side dishes

Fruits
 

I'm a big fan of frozen grapes, they take a lot longer to eat than regular ones and they're also a lot better to snack on than chips or the like. hmm...going to go get some right now.

I started drinking tomato juice. It may sound disgusting, but I really like it. I have to water it down a bit, as it's quite thick, but it helps fill me up with only a few calories, no fat, and an extra serving of veggies :) Just thought I'd share.

That reminds me, V8 juice is also yummy!

I find that if I prepare fruits and vegetables when I bring them home I'm more likely to eat them. It can be as simple as slicing things, or even preparing salads in a sealable plastic bowl.

Two of my favorites are pasta salad and taco salad:
Boil tri-colored spiral pasta and add to greens, lettuce, green peper, cucumber, tomato, olives, pepperoni, whatever else you like and add a good italian dressing. (adding fresh basil also really livens up this salad)
Taco Salad: brown hamburger and chill, add kidney beans, lettuce, tomato, green pepper, chunks of cheddar or colby cheese, green onion, fritos corn chips, then add the orange dressing (catalina I think?) If you store it for very long the chips get soggy, so you may just want to add them as you eat the salad.

ALso when I have veggies that are getting a little to ripe to eat fresh, or I have left over can veggies I throw them in my crock pot and make soup. Celery, carrots and onion go good with chicken, and tomatoes, celery, carrots, onion, green beans go good with beef. I also like to add barley to beef soup instead of pasta. (I have found that spinach is not a good soup vegetable, it way overpowers the flavor)