We all know that fruit and veggies are a vital part of a balanced diet.  In fact, eating plenty of colorful produce while stabilizing your blood sugar can help you to prevent disease, improve your digestion, reverse the signs of aging and even reach your weight loss goals.   Think of fruit and vegetables as edible powerhouses, jam- packed with essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber.      So what’s preventing so many of us from getting enough?  As Head Chef and Lead Nutrition Coach of Venice Nutrition, I believe that fruit and veggies have a bad "rep".  After all, it’s tough to get inspired over boring carrot sticks or a plain old apple.  Luckily, we’ve created countless delicious recipes full of vibrant produce in our Recipe Collection.  No matter your age or health, now is the time to stock up on fruits and veggies in a creative way so you’ll actually enjoy eating them.  Here is a menu of my favorite produce inspired recipes from our collection (for the full recipes and many more, check out your Recipe Tab in your online program today)

Fruit & Veggie Filled Breakfast and Snack Recipes:

Greek Yogurt Parfait- A sweet and creamy blend of high protein Greek yogurt, fresh antioxidant packed berries and nuts

Cottage Cheese Bowl- An unexpectedly delicious combo of fresh apples, peanut butter, cinnamon and vanilla sweetened cottage cheese

Western Omelet- A hearty omelet of chopped tomato, onion, bell pepper, lean ham and melted cheddar

Banana Pineapple Smoothie- A tropical smoothie blended with fresh pineapple, banana, milk and protein powder

Fruit and Veggie Filled Lunch, Dinners and Sides:

Boca Burgers with Roasted Veggies and Garlic Herb Sauce-  A classic soy burger  with roasted red peppers, sweet onions, tomato, arugula and melted cheese  topped with a homemade garlic and herb sauce

Zesty Shrimp Salad- A delicious blend of diced mango, red onion, corn, greens and grilled shrimp with a citrus honey lime dressing

Turkey Veggie Meat Sauce – A hearty meat sauce made of lean ground turkey, portabella mushrooms, spinach and yellow bell peppers

Pork Tenderloin with Butternut Squash and Apples- Lean pork tenderloin smothered in fruit juice and pungent garlic then roasted with hearty butternut squash and sweet apples

Vegetable Salsa-  A zesty salsa of corn, black beans, tomatoes, onion, cucumber, perfect for topping your favorite protein

Sweet Potato Soup- A thick and creamy soup of sweet potatoes, apples and carrots simmered to perfection

Fruit Filled Desserts:

Sweet Stuffed Apples –   A delectable dessert of warm, juicy apples baked with a walnut, oat, sugar and butter stuffing

Strawberry Frozen Yogurt- A cold, creamy frozen yogurt full of strawberries and good-for-you protein

As you can see, incorporating more fruit and veggies into your daily diet can be easy, delicious and anything but boring.    And remember, we are always updating our collection of recipes and we invite you to check your Recipe Tab often!

My best,

Valerie Cogswell
Lead Nutrition Coach and Head Chef