Fruit and Veggie Love

Fruit and veggie love is a flexible eating style that allows me to balance my love of junk food, wine and tequila 🙂

I’m crazy for fresh colorful fruits and veggies: Strawberries, oranges, eggplants, zuchinni…you name it!

I’ve even got a fruit and veggie love board on Pinterest.

But another side of me is equally smitten with roast chicken, chocolate cake, pies made with crisco and frozen margaritas with salt.

Problem is, I’m very petite, five feet tall and fifty- something.

Calories add up… fast!

So today I’m going to show you how I eat mostly fruits, vegetables and dairy, four-five days a week.

I call it my fruit and veggie love eating style.

Who knows? Maybe it’ll motivate you to make healthier choices too.

Scroll through the photos to see how I fit in 5 +  delicious servings of  fruits and veggies a day.

It’s easier to choose fresh fruit and veggies if they are ready to go in your refrigerator.

I make a fresh platter or bowl of fruit salad every other day so I can grab and graze anytime.

The prettier it is, the more you’ll want to it eat!

At breakfast, I’ll choose superfood blueberries or an apple, yogurt and a spoonful of peanut or almond butter .

I love the pudding- like texture of thick greek yogurt.

Beat boredom by experimenting with different brands and flavors.

I especially like Fage’s raspberry or lime and Trader Joe’s coconut Greek yogurt and chocolate flavored yogurt.

Chocolate yogurt is a great late afternoon snack when I am craving something sweet, creamy and chocolate.

Easier on the waistline than a Frosty or Grande Mocha Frappucino!

I keep breakfast and snacks interesting by trying all different combinations of fruit in season, yogurts and toppings.

Lunch: Whether I’m eating out or at home, I try to eat a B I G  salad to get a variety of vegetables, fruits and nutrients.

I love Greek and mediterranean flavors, so I might add in a few rice filled dolmas or a salty feta cheese.

Protein keeps me full until dinner.

Along with my salad I might have a veggie burger, tofu, edamame or chickpeas.

Variety and Flexibility are the keys to Fruit and Veggie Love! 

If I feel like it, I may also have a small serving of fish, chicken or meat at lunch or dinner.

Just like the fruit, I also stock my fridge with cooked vegetables.

At the beginning of the week, instead of cooking a big pot of pasta, I’ll blanche a big pot of zucchini and summer squash.

(Save time by slicing the vegetables while the water heats up.)

In twenty minutes total, you will have enough vegetables to use in three or four different meals, throughout the week.

Another week, I might roast a few sweet potatoes on one sheet pan and some seasonal mixed vegetables, like bell peppers and mushrooms on another.

The goal is to have a supply of ready made, fresh cooked vegetables that I can dress up quickly and eat for dinner.

Although I am not gluten free, I find I feel better when I limit my gluten.

If I do eat starch, I’ll choose sweet potatoes or quinoa because of their high nutritional value.

Rice or rice noodles are other good gluten free choices.

Some of my favorite meals: Easy (all vegetable) paella , Zucchini and yellow squash noodles over quinoa, spaghetti squash or roasted zucchini marinara with tomato sauce and shaved parmesan cheese.

These meals are

*Low in calories

*High in flavor and

*Provide three + servings of fruits and veggies for good health.

In between meals, I say cheese. It’s portable, filling and keeps me full for hours.

( It reminds me of the character Emily in the movie The Devil Wears Prada: “Whenever I feel faint, I have a cube of cheese.” Don’t wait until you feel faint! Love your body and enjoy three meals and snacks everyday!)

My fridge is stocked with string cheese, Babybel minis, cheddar and mozarella.

But, let’s be honest.

There are nights where cheese and snacks like guacamole, bread and crackers take the place of dinner.

This is part of the Fruit and Veggie Love lifestyle too.

Eating wisely most days allows us to indulge once in a while.

Anyways, an avocado is a fruit, right?

Margarita anyone??

Finally, dessert.

As a food blogger, it’s almost my duty to eat dessert!

That’s why Two Bite Desserts are such a great option.

I’m a believer in SMALL desserts.

Portion control is built in!

Most days, fruit IS my dessert.

I’ll add a little cinnamon, or lemon juice, agave or a drizzle of yogurt or whipped cream to make it special.

BUT

If I’m craving something sweeter, I’ll also have a bite of lemon or lime curd, chocolate or a crunchy cookie to help me feel satisfied.

Fruit and veggie love allows me to balance weekend splurges and the occasional dessert.

Dig in to …

It may help you too!

What’s your eating style?

SHARE your thoughts or what you’re making these days!

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