I hate vegetables. Like, I really hate them. I don’t like how they smell, how they taste, how they feel, or how they look at me. I do, however, strive to live a somewhat healthy lifestyle, and whether I like it or not, vegetables have got to be a part of that. Even though I really dislike them, I know how good they are for my mind and body, so I’m always overly proud of myself for eating them. I even give myself a mental high-five, and to every friend of mine that I come in contact with for the rest of the day, I’m like, “OMG guess what?! I ate a vegetable today!” – hahaha. Hey, life’s about celebrating the small wins and accomplishments, right?
That being said, I’m on a never-ending quest to find every way I can to sneak more veggies into my meals. I’ve recently come across a few recipes and products that are helping me do just that, and I’m so excited to share these no fuss veggies with you!
**This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx.com, because we all have to pay our bills, and I’d rather keep creating awesome content for you than get a real job. All opinions are my own.**
Cauliflower Penne Pasta with Roasted Zucchini
Recipe: Slice zucchini. Toss with 1 tbs of olive oil and sprinkle with Italian seasoning. Put in oven on 375 degrees for 7-1o minutes (I normally just keep a close eye on it until the edges start to get crispy). Then, top with mozzarella cheese and panko breadcrumbs. Set the oven to broil and put the zucchini back in for 3-5 minutes (or until the cheese starts to become a light golden brown). While the zucchini is roasting, prepare pasta according to packaging and warm up the sauce. To serve, put the sauce over the noodles and then the veggies/cheese on top of the sauce.
Because cauliflower tends to absorb the flavors of the other components it’s with, the choice of sauce here especially matters. The new RAGÚ® Simply Chunky Marinara Pasta Sauce has been my go-to lately because it’s made with 100% olive oil and contains no added sugar. With a simple recipe that includes plump tomatoes, onions, garlic, and spices, I think it’s the best paste sauce because it’s a healthier option that still makes every dish delicious!
For more RAGÚ® recipe inspiration, check out this Quinoa Penne with Savory Tomato-Basil Sauce or this Cauliflower Crust Mix & Match Pizza!
For this pasta recipe featured in this post, I used Cali’flour’s Cauliflower & Yellow Lentil Penne. It was the first time I had cauliflower pasta and I was truly impressed with the taste (a statement that holds a lot of weight because I’m a very picky eater). As someone who reallllllly loves pasta, I look forward to swapping traditional noodles out for this more often.
Cauliflower Cheese Pizza
Pizza and pasta are definitely my favorite dishes to eat, so when I found out Cali’flour also makes a low carb cauliflower pizza, I couldn’t wait to try it! It’s grain-free/gluten free, made with only fresh cauliflower, mozzarella cheese, eggs and seasoning, and there are just 6 grams of carbs for the ENTIRE crust.
For this super easy meal, all I added to the crust was the NEW RAGÚ® Simply Chunky Marinara Pasta Sauce and mozzarella cheese. After dinner, I even felt far less sluggish and avoided the carb coma that typically comes with a pizza night! After trying all these tasty options, it’s hard to remember that cauliflower is even a vegetable!
Special Offer: Use code NOFUSSFOODS for 15% off your Cali’flour order (plus free shipping)*
*Cannot be combined with other discount codes or promos. No expiration date -however the coupon code is only good for one use per customer.
Blueberry Muffins with Hidden Veggies
I could not believe that the first ingredient in these Garden Lites Blueberry Muffins was zucchini. I don’t want to say that I *like* zucchini, but if you forced me to pick my favorite vegetable, that would be it. I was a little skeptical about it being in my muffins, though. However, these are surprisingly delicious for a healthier muffin alternative! And they’re really convenient, too. Just thaw and eat (great for lunchboxes), or put them in the microwave for 35 seconds for a quick and healthy breakfast. They’re gluten, dairy, & nut free!
Special Offer: Use code BABBLE20 for 20% off your Garden Lites order at The Health Food Store**
**For a store locator and printable coupons for $1.00 off in store purchases, click here.
Having these for breakfast really gets my day started on the right foot because I feel proud of myself for getting veggies in already. I also like my mornings to include the perfect cup of coffee. Lately, I’ve been sipping on coffee made from the 11 oz. bag of Red Diamond Classic Blend Ground Coffee. I don’t normally discriminate when it comes to coffee, but I swear this one tastes even better because the beans are hand picked, sundried, and slow roasted in small batches. No matter how chilly it gets, you’ll still find me using my cold brew coffee maker for my daily cups of joe. I like to drink it black or I’ll add just a splash of vanilla almond milk to it!
Special Offer: Use code coffee2018 for 20% off of your Red Diamond coffee purchase***
***1 use per customer, no minimum purchase | effective immediately until midnight Central Time on 12/31/18 | redeem at reddiamond.com
Tell me how to hide more veggies in my diet in the comments below, please! <3
