New habit Monday — do what your mother told you…

… and eat your vegetables!  Yes – 5 servings a day.  And we’re still keeping up with the lean protein as well — you can see how they’re edging out the foods that they don’t want you eating, eh?

Like the lean protein, this habit shouldn’t be too difficult, but requires some planning to make the magic happen. Luckily, I really enjoy vegetables and I’m looking forward to this habit.  Turning into a rabbit sounds healthy, doesn’t it? 

(Here’s a funny aside: a former boss of mine always refused to eat anything “green”… though he made an exception for key lime pie, of course.  Anyway, back to your regularly scheduled programming.)

Makes sense, really.  Fill up on vegetables and protein, leaving not as much room for the carbs and desserts.  It’s like doing homework before being allowed to play (“But Maaaaaaa… I don’t waaaanna do my homework…”).

I already have 2-3 servings a day — I cut up vegetables for my workday snacks — so it’s just a matter of getting some at dinnertime, or making some veggie-heavy egg-type breakfasts for myself.  One thing I want to try is branching out a little bit.  My veggies are pretty run-of-the-mill, and I want to spice things up a bit. Any suggestions?

One recipe that I haven’t made in a long time that is definitely in my near future is Garlic Mashed Cauliflower — I wasn’t a believer until I tried it, but it’s a damn good substitute for mashed potatoes! I know, I know, I can hear you whining about how nothing is like the real thing, and while I agree, this really is the next best thing.  Trust me on this. Pair it with a nice steak and it’s the best thing since sliced bread (see what I did there?).