Veggie Log

In my attempts at ‘greener' eating, I decided to start cutting up some raw veggies to eat on.  Partly, this is in hopes of detoxing from my food hangover of bad eating. This year's Memorial Day weekend was filled with a lot of food, and overzealously I supped way too much on delicious Mexicali dip, pizza, Thai food, Pete’s donuts, and the requisite, patriotic hot dogs. Supposedly, an abundant food stock helps insure we eat less because we don’t get that fear of running out and being hungry. However, this theory does not hold up well, for we had enough food for a doom shelter, and I still ate ate ate.

The road to veggie consumption is paved with healthful dips

Raw vegetables are so wonderful: the crispy crunch of celery, the fresh scent of cut-up cucumbers, and the sweet juiciness of carrots are about the best eating experiences in the world. Though some taste buds, accustomed to salt, sugar, and lots of flavors, might find raw vegetables dull, leaving much to be desired. In this case, dips come in handy. There are a variety of flavorful dips out there, some of which are more healthful than others. One of my favorites is probably chocked full of fats and salts as it involves sour cream and a soup mix. This one I plan to eat occasionally.

However, there are better options, chocked full of good proteins and fiber.  For example, I love the flavors and texture of hummus; it is the perfect dip and good for you too. There are several shades, hues, flavors, and types of hummus, and you can make it at home quite easily (see recipe links below). I like to make traditional hummus and black bean hummus, especially if I’m feeling a little spicier. Eating veggies with hummus provides a flavorful and nutritious meal or snack. 

The Cost of Consuming Health

Often there is a fear that eating healthy means spending more; however, this is not necessarily the case. Check out this NPR story about this very issue.  Luckily, having fresh veggies is an affordable way to get more nutrients into your body.  Here’s a nice resource for lots of good veggie information: www.fruitsandveggiesmatter.gov.

I love the Whole Foods' recipe for black bean hummus.  For a more traditional recipe, check out the Barefoot Contessa’s Hummus recipe.