Fruits, Veggies, Herbs and Spices---- variety is the spice of life right?

April 7th 2023

Hey there Love Lifers!

Are you tired of eating the same old boring fruits and vegetables every day? Well, it's time to mix things up and add some variety to your diet! Eating a wide range of fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices can make your meals more flavourful and exciting and benefit your health in many ways.

Have you been watching my stories on Instagram where I have been sharing how many veggies I am managing to get into each dinner? My challenge is a minimum of 4 veggies per night but if I can get 6 it is amazing and I did manage to get 8 varieties into one of our meals last week!! It's become a bit of a game with the children each night after dinner to guess how many I got in!

Here are a few reasons why you should be eating more varieties of fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices:

Get a wider range of nutrients: Different fruits and vegetables contain different nutrients, so by eating a variety of them, you can ensure that you're getting a wider range of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that your body needs to function properly.

Improve gut health: Eating a diverse range of plant-based foods can help promote a healthy gut microbiome, which is essential for digestion and overall health.

Boost immune function: Many fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices contain compounds that have immune-boosting properties, which can help to keep you healthy and ward off illness.

Reduce inflammation: Some herbs and spices, such as turmeric and ginger, have anti-inflammatory properties that can help to reduce inflammation in the body and alleviate pain and discomfort.

So, how can you add more variety to your diet?

Experiment with different fruits and vegetables that you've never tried before, such as dragon fruit, starfruit, or chicory root.

Try adding fresh herbs, such as basil, coriander, or mint, to your meals for added flavor and nutrition.

Use a variety of spices, such as turmeric (with black pepper for absorption), cumin, paprika, or cinnamon, to add depth and complexity to your dishes.

Mix up your cooking methods, such as grilling, roasting, or steaming, to bring out different flavors and textures in your fruits and vegetables.

Essentially, eating a wide range of fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices can be fun and beneficial for your health.

For those who still struggle or have extra fussy eaters I recommend something like my favourite Arbonne Superfood Greens powder. I drink it daily as part of a Green Gut Glow shot but my 8 year old enjoys it as a drink on its own some mornings and even sometimes after dinner if he knows he hasn't eaten what is on his plate he will ask to have a glass of greens instead. I know people who add it to sauces and soups and baking too where there are fussy eaters young and old!

You can find out more here-->

https://www.arbonne.com/gb/en/arb/AislingOwens/shop-all/nutrition/bewell/bewell-superfood-greens/p/6232%20UK

Use the code Arbonne10 at the checkout for 10% off

I highly recommed getting the book Fibre Fuelled if you want to learn more about fibre and gut health and staying healthy through your food!

I have listened to it on Audible several times and it comes with a downloadable recipe book too.

https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Fibre-Fuelled-Audiobook/B09T4VW3TD?action_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp

So, go ahead and explore new flavors and ingredients to add more variety to your diet!

Every Thursday and Saturday we share recipes in The Love Life Community for you to try out!

Aislíng x