Eat Your Veggies!

By Bob Greene

Here's a simple fact: Vegetables are the best foods you can eat for weight loss and good health. Packed with water and fiber, which makes them extremely filling, veggies are one of the best sources of disease-fighting phytonutrients. Unfortunately, many people make the mistake of drowning their vegetables in fat (think of broccoli covered with melted cheese), turning a once low-calorie food into a calorie-bomb. You don't have to have your veggies plain, though. I think a lot of people have been turned off of vegetables because they think the nutritious nibbles lack flavor. And in some cases, they can be right. For instance, if all you've ever eaten are steamed veggies, you may think they're a bit bland. But there are so many easy ways to add flavor to veggies without adding calories or fat. Try these suggestions to enjoy the four-plus servings of veggies you should eat each day.

Get roasting. Roasting gives veggies a bit of sweetness and allows you to prepare them with little or no fat.

Break out the broth. Reduced-sodium chicken or vegetable broth is a great way to add more flavor to veggies. Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat. When the oil is hot, toss in chopped veggies and let them cook for two to three minutes. Pour in a cup or so of broth, cover the pan for one to two minutes, remove the lid and cook until the veggies are wilted or tender crisp.

Take a dip. Dip carrots, celery or red pepper sticks into a low-fat or nonfat ranch dressing.

Be adventurous. Each week, make it your goal to try one new vegetable, including jicama (sprinkle it with lime juice and chili powder); hearts of palm (this canned veggie is great sliced into salads); beets (delicious roasted); celery root (good cooked and pureed); and radishes (they add a nice crunch to salads)...