Hero Veggies that'll Save You from Boredom

I have always loved to cook ever since I was a kid, breakfast with the family, roommate meals, family meals with my friends. Food has been a social occasion and cultural exploration my whole life.

Whenever I'm at the gym I see the trainers eating the same sauteed chicken, white rice and green beans every day and they look miserable. It makes me want to cry for them, not getting to enjoy their meals. I try to give them ideas for mixing it up from time to time, but they tend to give a polite decline that translates to: "which one of us is a certified trainer?"

I was at the gym for leg day earlier and got another version of that from a trainer I was talking to. It was eating at me today, pun intended.

Seeing as you're a captive audience, I thought I'd share my suggestions with you too! Here are my favorite veggies that will diversify your healthy dining while also bringing new flavors and textures to your meals. That way you can continue to eat healthy, while not having to endure the same meal multiple times in a row. You mayyyy notice a hint of Asian influence in my selections...

Okra

My No.5 veggie is okra.

One cup is just 31 calories

7g carbs

3.2g fiber

2g protein

It's a low impact nutritional addition that completely changes the texture of your meal. I like to sauté them with my protein to soak up the flavor. You can also grill them or fry them, but if you're trying to be healthy fried anything is the devil's work. Just add a little black pepper and these will compliment any dish you make.

Kimchi

One cup is 25-60 calories

500- 900mg sodium

8g carbs

4g fiber

4g protein

As you can see the nutritional info is more of a range for kimchi. If you're unfamiliar with kimchi, it's a Korean pickled vegetable dish that's ingredients vary greatly. There are over 200 different versions! But the most common ingredient is pickled cabbage. Kimchi is considered good for you because it has probiotics that support gut health. And is said to curb your hunger, playing a factor in weight loss. Because it's a pickled food, it compliments your meal better as a side dish/palette cleanser. It has very unique flavors that don't often play well with others, but it's a great side to have if it clicks with you.

Edamame

One cup is 250 calories

25mg sodium

19g carbs

7.6g fiber

22g protein

Edamame rank high on my healthy veggies list for two reasons, protein and fiber. My favorite thing to do with edamame is shell them and mix them into the sauté pan with the other ingredients. Of all the veggies listed, it's the most filling and the easiest to prepare. It compliments most dishes and is even delicious eaten solo. When I have them solo, I'll shell and sauté them for a couple minutes with a half teaspoon of minced garlic. So yum!

Radish

One cup is 37 calories

90mg sodium

7.9g carbs

3.7g fiber

1.6g protein

For me radishes rank high on my list because of their versatility. You can slice thin and air fry them as chips, sauté, eat raw, so many options and every time you tweak the recipe the radishes will feel and taste different. So, for someone like me that likes to try new things all the time, these guys are my 6th man off the bench coming to compliment the meal whatever it may be.

Bok Choy

One cup is 19 calories

145mg sodium

1.5g carbs

6g fiber

6.3g protein

Behold the king of all healthy veggies! Bok Choy is Asian cabbage. As you can see, the nutrition specs are off the charts for this veggie. When I learned about the nutritional benefits of Bok choy it became my permanent replacement for spinach and lettuce. It's just as versatile as a radish. But my favorite thing to do is dice it, sprinkle some black pepper, and sauté Bok choy in a covered pan. I'll use it as a bed of greens for my protein or sprinkle it on top of the dish as a garnish. I've also made what I call a sauteed salad with it, where I sauté my salad ingredients before tossing them together.

Those are all of my favorite healthy hero veggies! If you want some recipe tips for using these veggies beyond what I shared above, leave a message in the comments and I'll write a follow-up post.

Please remember, I am not a doctor or nutritionist so feel free to try these foods. But, if you have serious dietary requirements or medical issues, I encourage you to speak with a licensed professional before you make any changes to your eating habits. Thanks!