Veggie Time Savers to Live By
People always ask me, how do you get all those veggies in? They take so long to wash, prep, and cook. Who’s got that kind of time? I certainly don’t.
Here are some good veggie time savers to have up your sleeve!
1. Pre-cut, Pre-washed Broccoli
Trader Joe’s revolutionized organic broccoli for me when I found the bags of pre-washed, pre-cut broccoli tops in the veggie section. Total time saver. Other stores are following suit. As long as the broccoli looks fresh, I say go for it! If the bottoms get a little brown, you can always trim them.
Just cook and eat! Doesn’t get much easier than that.
2. Cook and Eat Kale
Trader Joe’s blew my mind again when I found bags of pre-cut, pre-washed kale. Now they sell organic, too. I haven’t seen this awesome time save at other stores. I’m putting out an A.P.B. for it. If you see it, please comment here and let me know!
Like the broccoli, we have gotten as simple as, cook and eat with kale!
3. Sweet Potatoes in 5
I keep sweet potatoes on hand because I can microwave them in under 5 minutes, top with a little olive oil or earth balance, salt and pepper or cinnamon and have a veggie/starch ready to eat in no time. I also eat them as a snack when I can’t wait for dinner!
4. Frozen Veggies are Better than No Veggies
There’s nothing wrong with keeping a couple bags of frozen broccoli or cauliflower in the freezer. In fact, I encourage it. When I can’t get to the store, I heat frozen veggies and season lightly. My go-to seasoning is salt, pepper, balsamic or lemon juice. Sometimes some olive oil.
Remember: Frozen veggies are better than no veggies!
5. Pre-washed Spinach Salads (minus the dressing)
I love the pre-bagged spinach salad option when I’m in a pinch. It has the nuts, cheese, cranberries, and dressing. I usually forgo the dressing because it’s so sweet. You’re better off with olive oil and vinegar.
6. Cultured Veggies
We haven’t talked about cultured veggies much, but they are a staple in my house. Because they keep for up to a year, I have jars of them that I eat from over a few months at a time. Plus, they are amazing for your digestive and overall health. I make them with a great veggie culture starter from Body Ecology. They save me daily!
7. Get a Salad Spinner
The salad spinner my Mom got me saves me time every week. I spin greens (kale, collards, chard) and herbs (basil, parsley, cilantro) through that spinner. It dries them fast so all I have to do is wrap my greens in a fresh paper towel (a little damp), and into a ziploc bag they go.
Don’t let veggie-overwhelm get the best of you. These veggie time savers keep me going every day. I hope they help you! Please share your veggie time savers with me!
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