3 Strategies To Eat More Fruits And Vegetables

You've heard it time and time again – eat more fruits and vegetables. While it's easy to say, for most, it's not that simple. When you are used to eat a Standard American Diet (SAD) there isn't much of an emphasis on eating healthy foods, but more of what is quick to make and delicious to eat. Over time this puts a big stress on our bodies by lacking in the nutrients we need and overloading us with chemicals that harm us. 

In fact, there are some that believe Endometriosis could be due to a toxic overload in the body. With the liver working overtime (and not able to process everything) we start to build up toxins and excess estrogen the body cannot dispose of. This, in turn, puts our systems out of whack and sends us down this nasty spiral. While avoiding toxins and chemicals 100% is impossible, we can still lessen the burden on our bodies with what we can control (aka the food you eat).

To help you make the transition to healthier eating, we are sticking with the theme of convenience and having foods readily available. These three simple strategies will help encourage you and your family to eat more fruits and vegetables. So, let's jump right in. 

Strategy #1 - Buy Prepackaged Fruits & Veggies 

One of the biggest reasons people say they don't eat more fruits and vegetables is because they don't have the time to prepare them. That's really not an acceptable excuse anymore because today you can buy just about anything, including fruits and vegetables, in prepackaged, ready to go servings/containers. This option will cost you a bit more because you're paying for convenience but if you truly don't have the time, this is a great way to make sure you have access to fruits and vegetables quickly and easily. 

With this option, I do have some tips for you as your are shopping. I'm not a huge fan of prepackaged food, but this strategy is an exception when you do it right. 

Frozen Fruits & Veggies – 

* Avoid the ones with sauces or added sugars.

* My favorite ones have the steamer bag built in to cook the vegetables, just pop it in your microwave.

* Frozen fruits are great for smoothies.

Canned Fruits & Veggies - 

* Avoid fruits that are in a syrup, you want the kind in their natural juices.

* If you can, get the BPA free cans. BPA is in the lining of many cans and something Endo Warriors want to avoid.

Strategy #2 - Prepare Your Fruits & Veggies Ahead of Time 

If you don't like strategy #1 because you don't want to spend the extra money (and face it - you will pay more for the convenience of prepackaged) then this strategy is for you. For this, you are going to buy fresh fruits and veggies for the week, and prep them for use. 

For your vegetables that will be snacks, you are going to wash, cut and put in individual sized snack bags or easy to access containers (like Tupperware). This way, when you do want to snack, it will already be cut up and ready for you. 

For your vegetables that will be part of your meals during the week, you will wash and prepare, as needed. For instance, say you have a fajita night planned for this week, slice some onions and green peppers so they are ready to throw in the pan. 

Fruit tends to be a grab-and-go type of food. But for fruit that needs to be prepared first, like a pineapple for example, take the time now to prepare it so when you do want it, it will be ready. 

It might take a bit of time to do this all at once, but it will be worth it in the long run when you and your family can just go the fridge and grab a healthy snack that's already prepared. Otherwise, we tend to go for less healthy options. 

Strategy #3 – Have a Fruit Bowl On the Counter 

Putting a bowl of fruit on your counter-top (or even the center of your dining table) where it is easily seen and accessible, makes it more likely that you and your family will grab it to snack on. Fill the bowl with 2 – 3 types of fruits so that you have more options to choose from. 

Some great options to choose from are apples, oranges, peaches, plums, and bananas. Just be sure to wash these BEFORE placing in the bowl, so they are ready to eat. 

******************** If you struggle with getting fruits and vegetables in your diet, try these strategies out and see how they help you! Are there any other ways that you find it easier to eat more fruits and veggies? Share with us below in the comments, we'd love to hear your ideas!