Greens

Eat your greens. Your mother probably said that 100,000 times. I remember George W. Bush was bold enough to tell everyone he didn’t care for broccoli. Funny how your taste can change over the years.  Now, I like all greens. Why? Because they are good for me? No, its more likely because they have brought me back to a higher level of health and improved sense of well being. I feel it. It’s impossible to argue with the wisdom of your body and the good common sense in consuming more vegetables.  I am not sure avocados are a vegetable or not ,but they sure do enhance any kind of salad option.

Phytonutrients: a substance found in certain plants which is believed to be beneficial to human health and help prevent various diseases.

Yes, I will have some! Yes, I am eating at home. It’s difficult to eat “green vegetables” at restaurants. What can we find out there? Sides. Just sides and certainly not all of these- but I have found places that serve a few sides that include: broccoli, asparagus, cole slaw, cabbage, collards, Brussel sprouts, green beans and that’s about it.  There are many more places that serve things NOT on the list, like baked sweet potatoes, fries, baked potatoes, fried green tomatoes, corn on the cob, corn salsa, macaroni and cheese, bruschetta, hush puppies, and need I say more. The list is endless. There is a 5-1 ratio of these tasty non-green items to the green options. It’s a bit off setting.

Have you ever tried to order a vegetable plate at Cracker Barrel? Guess what? The vegetables are affected by the day of the week. You may luck out on cabbage day or it could be hash brown casserole day. Unfortunately, if you don’t hit the right day- your options are fried okra ( lots of breading there), fried apples ( not a vegetable), baked potato, sweet potato, fries, dumplings, green beans, Cole slaw, corn, baby carrots, turnip greens, pinto beans, side salad, etc. What would fit in the green vegetable plate? Turnip greens, cabbage, green beans, Cole slaw or Side salad- minus the tomatoes, croutons, and carrots. Can you avoid one of those delicious biscuits on this routine? Very difficult, but it can be done!

How? Motivation and self-control. The two of these are a push-pull mechanism. When motivation is low- self-control takes over. When self-control is low- a reminder of why sets your motives into a stronger gear. Yes- even if you have never had much of either- there is always a new day and a new you! You can choose greens over starches. Try it. You will be amazed at how your body feels with the right fuel onboard.