Eat your Vegetables-"Oh, Ma, do I have to?!"

"Eat your vegetables!" Ugh how many times have you heard that? We know already, right?! And yet why is this statement such a nagging one? I know that I for one can't even count the amount of times I have seen that sad crudite plate at a party sitting in a corner while the mini meatballs get more play. Seems a tray of vegetables and dip, is well just not that exciting. So how do you get your vegetables in when grabbing a bag of chips seems so much easier?
Try these quick and easy tips:
1. Hide your veggies...oh come on you know you do it to your kids, so do it to yourself. Making eggs for breakfast? Toss in your favorite veggies in that scramble. Making a smoothie? Grab the spinach and blend it right it, you'll never know it's there with all that other fruity goodness covering it up.
2. Put out your own veggie tray. When your making dinner, take a few extra minutes to cut up your favorite veggies, whether your a singleton or your family is yelling to you "is dinner ready yet!?!" you can nibble (and so can they) to satisfy everyone's hunger while you prepare the meal.
3. Grill those veggies. It's spring and who doesn't love anything on that hot grill! Cut up those vegetables, toss in some olive oil, cracked black pepper and sea salt and grill away! (You can do the same by roasting them in the oven too, for a slightly nuttier flavor) Try this trick at the beginning of the week and you have a tupperware full of veggies ready to garnish sandwiches, salads, just about anything you like.
Remember when you "eat the rainbow" your giving your body much needed vitamins, minerals and fiber. So get out there and grab those gorgeous red peppers, green zuchinni and whatever else tickles your fancy; vegetables are natures own diet tool to keep you healthy.

THAI GREEN CURRY (picture above) Super Easy, super yum!

1 can of light coconut milk

1 Tbs green curry paste

1 Tbs chili garlic sauce (more or less depending on how spicy you like it)

1 tsp fish sauce

1 package Perdue shortcuts chicken (already cooked for you, great when your in a pinch and need dinner on the table fast!)

Your favorite vegetables cut into strips (I prefer, shredded carrot, pea pods, red peppers, waterchestnuts, and poblano peppers in this dish, but you can add or subtract what you like best, it all works)

Jasmine Rice or Brown Rice (sometimes I will mix the two so I get that lovely fragrance of the jasmine but the hearty texture and nutrients of brown rice)

chopped fresh basil and cilantro for garnish

Add coconut milk, green curry paste, chili garlic sauce and fish sauce to a sauce pan and bring to a boil, then simmer 5 minutes. In the meantime, in a separate pan, saute vegetables until tender and add chicken until warmed through. Boil water to make your rice (according to packaged directions) When rice is done, add to your bowl and pile on chicken and vegetables and then scoop a lovely spoonful of green curry sauce over entire dish. Sprinkle with chopped basil and cilantro for added pizzazz and Enjoy!