We all know the importance of eating 5 servings of vegetables a day, but even the most health-conscious of us have times when we want to pass up a side of steamed broccoli for something more interesting (hello mac and cheese fritters).
Vegetables have a bad rep for their bland flavors and eating them can be a challenge if you don’t have the time to spice them up. But what if you could get your 5-a-day without even tasting a single vegetable? Fool your taste buds by adding mild-flavored greens to these classic recipes.
1. Zoats
Photo by Caitlin Shoemaker
Zoats are a combination of zucchini and oats. The zucchini makes your oatmeal creamier and also gives you a healthy dose of potassium, vitamin C and vitamin B12.
Simply grate ¼ to ½ of a raw zucchini, stir the shreds in with your morning grains and cook them as you usually do (this works in both the microwave and the stovetop).
2. Green Smoothie
Photo by Yonatan Soler
We’ve all heard of the amazing health benefits of a green smoothie, but sometimes the flavors leave much to be desired. The solution? Simply add a handful of kale, spinach, or other neutral-tasting green to your normal smoothie.
Adding neutral-tasting greens ensures that you’ll get the added nutrition without being sent on a weird flavor trip. If you want to get even fancier, try making a smoothie bowl and top off your dish with fun toppings such as chia seeds, shredded coconut and berries.
3. Supercharged Spaghetti
Photo by Daniel Schuleman
This one is quite simple: blend a handful of raw spinach in with your marinara sauce before heating it up to serve. While it may look a little less red than usual, the added vitamin A will boost your vision, immune system and skin health. If you’re up for a challenge, you can even try to make your own from scratch.
4. Banana Ice Cream
Photo by Caitlin Shoemaker
If you haven’t tried making banana ice cream before, let me tell ya—you’re missing out. Try adding some spinach in with those frozen bananas to get some added vitamins without any added taste.
Get even fancier by adding ⅛ teaspoon peppermint extract and some chocolate chips or cacao nibs to make mint chocolate chip flavored ice cream.
5. Avocado Pudding
Photo by Caitlin Shoemaker
Those 100 calorie pudding cups ain’t got nothing on this luscious, chocolatey dessert. The avocado contributes to the creamy consistency of this pudding and adds a dose of healthy fats, as well as some added fiber and vitamin C. Get this delicious recipe here.
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