If you are have been following our healthy eating plans in order to lose pregnancy weight you might have heard us talk about trying to increase the amount of vegetables you eat each day.
This is a great way to crowd your plate with healthy options that leave you feeling full and satisfied.
Instead of always defaulting to pasta or rice as a side dish, try to use this as an opportunity to introduce another vegetable, legume or wholegrain to your plate.
Today we have five of our favourite options. Which one will you try?
1. Roast Zucchini Dip
This tastes great with some roast chicken or fish. Simply chop up 4 zucchinis and roast for 15 minutes on a tray with 2 cloves of garlic (in their skin) in a 180C oven with some olive oil, salt and pepper. Once cooked, remove garlic from the skin and add to a blender with the zucchini and ¼ cup crumbled feta. Blitz until smooth.
2. White Bean Puree
This tastes delicious served with some grilled salmon or lamb. Simply use a blender or food processor to bring together a 400g tin of drained cannellini beans, a peeled clove of garlic, 2 tbsp lemon juice, and some salt and pepper to taste.
3. Cauliflower Mash
For a lighter take on regular mash, try using cauliflower instead. Simply steam 4 cups of cauliflower florets until very tender, drain, and add ¼ cup milk and 1 tbsp olive oil. Use a hand masher (or for super tender mash, blend with a hand blender). Add more milk as needed until you reach the desired consistency.
4. Quinoa Tabouli
For a protein-loaded side you can’t go past quinoa. Turning it into a salad to accompany your chicken or fish dish is a great way to add loads of flavour. Just take a bowl of cooked quinoa and add some chopped parsley, cucumber, tomato and spring onions. Drizzle with fresh lemon juice and olive oil before serving.
4. Zoodles (Zucchini Noodles)
Simply use a vegetable peeler or a spiraliser to make the noodles from 4 zucchinis. Place into a large pot of boiling water for just one minute to cook through. Drain and drizzle with a little olive oil and lemon juice. Add salt and pepper to taste.
