Make a commitment to green up your nutrition habits

Summer is the perfect time to rethink your nutrition habits.

Fresh fruit and veggies are readily available from local growers.

If you are a habitual frozen fruit and veggie purchaser why not make a commitment to try at least a few fresh items?

I am a picky eater. Generally with the exception of lettuce, green vegetables have always been off my dinner plate.

Interestingly in the last few years I have begun to enjoy some of these items.

Jaws fell open recently when dinner guests witnessed me slurping down parsnip soup with not even a hint of gagging.

I know that taste buds can mature as we get older and that this is the reason many children don’t like veggies with sharp tastes like Brussels sprouts, broccoli, peppers, etc.

I also know that how we cook vegetables will have a lot to do with whether we continue to hide our peas in our napkin or feed our carrots to the dog.

Have you been subjected to over cooked, grey colored, mushy vegetables?

If you have you can understand what a turn off they can be.

I absolutely abhorred broccoli until I had it cooked at a dinner party by a chef.

He took only a few minutes to lightly steam the broccoli and served it while it actually still looked like broccoli and had a beautiful bright green colour. Are you ready for this? I didn’t even need to bury it in cheese sauce! Bonus.

Raw vegetables can be fantastic too. Again, use the summer season to try different veggies.

If you’re like most of us you assemble the usual platter—carrots, tomatoes, celery, etc.

Step outside your box and ask the members in your family to choose one item each that they have never had before.

Serve with a healthy dip —low fat yogurt, fresh herbs, spices and low fat sour cream.

Be careful of commercial dips that are can be high in fat even when they are branded reduced or low in fat.

Check the nutrition labels to see what a serving size is and whether the low fat declaration really suits your caloric requirements.

Fruit is abundant and fresh during the summer months.

Buy local product and even consider picking your own from a nearby farm or orchard.

It can be a fun family outing and picky eaters can often gain enthusiasm for trying new items when they have been involved in the process from the ‘ground’ up.

Ask your children to help with fruit and vegetable preparation.

You can even help your child plant a home garden—tomatoes, potatoes and lettuce are just a few ideas.

We know that our population is becoming increasingly overweight in large part due to our food choices and lack of exercise.

We live in a fast food world where convenience is hugely important.

We feel that there is value in super-sized meals and often reason that fruits and vegetables are costly and difficult to prepare.

Use the summer months to get in the habit of including seasonal veggies and fruits on your table.

Learn to cook veggies properly to retain their flavor and nutritional content.

Set a great example for your kids by having an open mind…and mouth!

Nina Heyes is a fitness director and certified personal trainer at BodyFit Fitness.