How to Get Your Children to Eat Their Veggies and Enjoy Them Too!

Ever since we were children the importance of fruits and vegetables have been stressed on us, yet studies show that most adults are not getting the nutrients they need each day. Vegetables and other nutrient-dense foods like beans can aid in weight management and can decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease, inflammation, and diabetes. The Dietary Guidelines recommends one-and-a-half cups of beans per week to help create a healthy diet. Eating healthy doesn’t have to take a lot of effort as many vegetable dips can be used to supplement a healthy diet and make veggies even more delicious!

Hummus Dips

Hummus has an extensive history that dates back to the 13th century in the Middle East, although the chickpeas used to create hummus have been cultivated since as early as 3,000 B.C. Hummus comes in a variety of flavors, from extra garlic to spicy hummus dips. Just two spoonfuls of hummus a day can help people reach that bean recommendation for each week. On top of that, those who regularly ate chickpeas or hummus had a significantly higher Health Eating Index while maintaining a lower Body Mass Index and waist circumference.

Greek Yogurt Dips

Unlike traditional yogurt, Greek yogurt is strained to remove the whey and milk fats, resulting in a creamier, healthier product. While tasty enough on its own, Greek yogurt can be used as a base to make a variety of dips from dill vegetable dips to tztatziki sauce (gyro/cucumber sauce). On the whole, all-natural Greek yogurt vegetable dips have 67% fewer calories and up to 88% less fat than similar sour cream-based dips.

Guacamole Dips

In recent years, avocados have found their way into the spotlight as one of the healthiest foods on earth due to its surplus of fiber, potassium, vitamin E and magnesium. Although technically a fruit (a berry, actually), the avocado’s most popular usage in the states is in guacamole. Guacamole can be as simple as avocados, salt, and lime juice; many choose to dress guacamole up with tomatoes, onions, or peppers to make a spicy guacamole dip. Of the spicy guacamole dips, many store-bought brands come in a variety of heats so customers can find the right level of spice for them. With these dips in mind, eating your veggies might just become second nature!