16 Things to do with Fruit and Vegetables (so you don't neglect them in your diet)
Make it a point to shop only once weekly so that fruits and vegetables remain fresh
Keep fruits easily reachable, either on the kitchen countertop arranged nicely in a bowl or in a basket, or the top shelf of your fridge.
Put an apple or two into your lunch box daily.
For children’s lunch boxes, take the time to cut them into slices or arrange them in a cute way (like the Japanese people do - or just check out Pinterest) so that it looks fun and attractive for them to eat.
Almost every dish can include fruits and vegetables – as finely chopped or shredded toppings, as ingredients, or garnishings.
For breakfast, top up your cereal or muesli with bananas, peaches, apples or berries
Instead of soups as starters, how about a smoothie instead? Didn't some studies say that having fruits before a meal is in fact more beneficial?
Main courses can be served with sliced fruits like apricots and apples.
Instead of reaching for a cold beer or glass of wine to wind down a day from work, reach out for a juice instead. Try this as an alternative mojito by blending a cucumber with celery, lemon, celery stalks, some kale leaves and fresh mint.
Need a chilled drink or ice cream to battle the heat? Forego that store-bought sugar and calorie laden ice cream and make your own instead. Fruits are nature’s natural candies. Just blend your favourite fruits like mango or strawberries, pour the mixture into little jelly moulds and pop them into the freezer to enjoy the awesome icy delicacies after a few hours.
Although juices are best consumed freshly squeezed, you can still keep your favourite combinations in a thermos to be consumed on the way to work or a healthy mid-morning drink.
Cut the fruits into bite size cubes and mix them with a variety of unsalted nuts and seeds as an easily consumable snack at all times.
Create an interesting combination by mixing and matching your fruits, for instance, crunchy apples with juicy grapes and creamy bananas.
Celery and carrot sticks are rather sad looking snacks amidst our delicious repertoire of Malaysian snacks, but add in some fun and taste by whipping up a yummy dip created with more fruits and vegetables seasoned with some mustard or honey! Or blend some peppers with cucumber and Greek yogurt for a creamy dip. Tzatziki is my favourite.
During cooking, jazz up your usual recipes by using blended fruits as healthy sauces or sauce bases. Vegan shops often use mango as a substitute for a mayonnaise base ingredient.
For parties – simply arrange cubed mango, melons, kiwi, grapes and strawberries on little bamboo skewers for a pretty platter as a convenient appetiser or dessert.
Extra tip: If you're lazy like me, then just head down to the nearest Juice Works outlet to pick up one of their freshly blended juices. Get awesome discounts on your drink when you buy a Juice Works tumbler to be used forever!
Juice Works tumblers are made from eco friendly, recycled materials in line with Juice Works' focus on all things natural. They are available at all Juice Works kiosks while stocks last. Customers are entitled to a 10% discount, and Juice Works members even more discounts, when they bring their own Juice Works tumbler for a purchase. This beautiful and durable tumbler is made from eco friendly, recyclable materials that make it the perfect companion to keep juices and smoothies fresh while you're on the go.