Vegetables that will get eaten!People have been asking me to recommend vegetables to go with specific quick meal recipes, or to provide recipes for veggie side dishes.
For one thing, I don't know what you like. Many people have very strong preferences for certain veggies (and strong aversions to others). There's no point in my telling you that Brussels sprouts would go perfectly with a particular main dish when you know perfectly well that no one in your family would touch them! More importantly, though, are the issues of saving money and eating healthfully. The most economical and healthy option is to choose what is seasonal and what is local. If the only tomatoes in the store are hard pale pink balls, engineered to withstand a cross-country trip, then don't buy tomatoes! Wait until they are ripening in your area. They'll be bursting with taste, they'll be much better for you, and they'll cost less! If zucchini are so plentiful in the fields that your local grocery store is almost giving them away, then buy zucchini! If you have the option, sign up for a fresh vegetable delivery service. I've been using an organic delivery service for a year, and it's the greatest thing! I never know what will be delivered (but I know it will be seasonal and local wherever possible). Opening the box is like opening a surprise present! My family is getting introduced to all sorts of produce that I never would have bought on my own. Another good option is buying frozen veggies. Apparently they are quick-frozen in such a way that most of the nutrients are preserved. They are fairly economical - especially if you have a freezer and can stock up when there's a good sale. My family enjoys frozen peas, frozen corn and the corn, pea and carrot mix. Occasionally I'll splurge on one of the fancier mixes. (NOT the ones in sauce! They are full of unnecessary calories, preservatives and sometimes even sugar.) So what to do with the stuff once you've brought it home? Frozen vegetables are easy - just dump them in a pan of boiling water. My method of choice for most fresh veggies is steaming. It's quick, it's easy, and most of the vitamins stay in the food rather than being lost in the cooking water.
Above all, choose what is appealing to you and to your family. Try introducing a wide variety of choices. Choose the cooking method that seems easiest to you. (Serving vegetables raw is a good option too.) The goal is to make the preparation so easy that you don't mind doing it. The more veggies you serve, the more your family will eat. You'll all be healthier - and you'll find yourself enjoying your well-balanced meals too!
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