Dinnertime Magic: How to Reclaim Your Diet

As more studies are done and more focus is put on our overall health, the daily recommendations for food have changed several times over the last few decades. While we used to think the Food Pyramid was important to follow, it has since changed twice and has landed at what we follow now, which is MyPlate. MyPlate is the government's current recommendations on meal balance and includes mostly fruits and vegetables, with some protein and grains and a bit of dairy. Here is how to reclaim your diet with your family at dinnertime to follow more closely with the dietary guidelines.

Seasonal Produce

It is a good idea to celebrate each season separately with the produce that is the freshest at the time. When fruits and vegetables are in season, they are more likely to come from a more local source and be fresher out of the ground. This causes them to lose fewer nutrients in their transit and they are therefore not only healthier for you, but they taste better as well. Some great fall produce items are acorn squash, broccoli, grapes, pears, pumpkin, apples, and sweet potatoes. In the winter, foods such as collard greens, kale, turnips, and oranges are the best. For springtime, asparagus, corn, mango and snow peas are back in season. In the summer, the focus is on beets, bell peppers, eggplant, figs, lima beans, and okra.

Some produce that is in season all year-round includes avocados, bananas, black eyed peas, lettuce, and potatoes. If there is a season where your favorite vegetables are not in the stores, or if you just feel as if you need a boost with your diet throughout the year, it is also a healthy idea to take vegan vitamins to supplement your diet.

Produce On a Budget

Buying fruits and vegetables in season is one way to save money, as they are often less expensive than out of season produce. Also, do not discount frozen fruits and vegetables because they are often frozen at their peak of life and therefore stick pack and lot of vitamins and minerals in them.

Plan your meals around the fruits and vegetables rather than the protein or the grain. This will help make sure that you are using a lot of healthy produce and just supplementing it with other healthy foods, rather than loading up on carbs and fat and adding produce as an after-thought. This is budget friendly because most produce is less expensive than proteins.

Be Ready for Dinner

Keep the staple fruits and vegetables around your house for nights that you are rushed and maybe have not planned dinner so well. Fruits and vegetables are very versatile, so if you always have them on hand, you will be able to create a meal. A well-stocked kitchen would include canned vegetables such as tomatoes and black beans as well as frozen green beans, broccoli, okra, and onions, sweet potatoes, and lemons in the pantry.

Store your fruits and vegetables properly so they last for several weeks. Keep pantry vegetables in a cool and dry place so they do not grow mold rapidly. This will help make sure that you have what you need on hand for dinnertime.

You can reclaim your diet with your family at dinnertime by making healthy choices with your meals. Fruits and vegetables are a very important staple in the diet and while it is vital to get enough of these in their natural source, it may also be necessary to supplement your intake as well. Take dinner as a chance to gather with your family and work together to become healthy.