Creative ways to consume your fruits and vegetables

You know that eating a diet that is rich in fruits and vegetables is exceptionally beneficial to your body, but what exactly does it do? Well, according to Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, consuming fruits and vegetables can lower your blood pressure, prevent certain types of cancer, lower the risk of eye issues and digestive problems, and even reduce your chance of developing heart disease and strokes. Eating a variety of raw fruits and vegetables can help you restore and maintain your health at the cellular level. But what does that mean? It all starts with balancing a healthy immune system by ridding your diet of processed, refined and unhealthy foods, often known as the Standard American Diet. Now that you're aware of what the good fruits and vegetables can do for your health and well-being, it's time to start adding more to your everyday diet. Hopping on the My Hallelujah Diet train can jumpstart a new lifestyle that uses fruits and vegetables to cleanse your body and obtain the full amount of vitamins and minerals you need to support a healthy immune system. Need a little assistance in implementing more fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet? Check out these creative ways to do so:

Create colorful meals

The American Heart Association suggested mixing a variety of vegetables of different colors in the meals you eat. Challenge yourself to get at least three different colors on your plate for dinner, such as beets, asparagus and cauliflower. Not only will it benefit your health, but it is bound to look less dull and more appetizing.

Blend the groups together

Looking for any easy way to increase the amount of fruits and vegetables you're consuming? Consider blending the two together to make a smoothie - a delicious and simple healthy beverage. Just choose a green, leafy vegetable - such as spinach or kale - a few fruits - granny smith apples and grapes make a great green combination - and add ice and almond or rice milk to perfect the consistency. Blend until smooth, and there you have it - a healthy, versatile treat chock full of vitamins and minerals. Or, you could try a blended salad, which takes all of the elements of this dish - including the healthy oil or dressing - and combines them to create a soup-like consistency. This actually increases the nutrient availability as it is in a sense predigested before actual consumption. This is an excellent way to consume a greater amount of vegetables than you would get from the traditional salad.

Make them take a new form

Who said you have to eat fruits and vegetables in the form you bought them in? If you want to get a little creative, consider grating them down or pureeing them into a new consistency. Cooking Light said this is a great way to take a chance with your favorite recipes. For instance, you can blend carrots and sweet potatoes to make the base for a soup, or you could grate zucchini down as an additive for black bean burgers. You could even try pureeing your favorite fruit into a liquid consistency, pouring it in ice cub tray and letting it freeze into sweet mini popsicles. The options are limitless.

Add them to your breakfast

Whether you like to wake up in the morning to a sweet bowl of organic oatmeal or err on the savory side with a hearty quinoa bowl, try giving your breakfast some extra flavor with fresh fruits andvegetables. You can load your oatmeal with mixed berries and add sauteed onions, spinach and mushrooms to your quinoa. To top both dishes off, you can use a blend of raw nuts and seeds for ample nutrients and an added crunch. Implementing more fruits and vegetables doesn't have to be boring. Consider the endless possibilities of adding these nutrient-filled foods to your diet every day to boost your overall health. For more ideas on how to eat more fruits and vegetables, click here to view our healthy, beneficial recipes.