The United States Department of Agriculture recommends that adults each two to three cups of vegetables every day. Unfortunately, it is a scary reality that most people don’t meet those recommendations — less than 10% according to a 2017 report from the Centers for Disease Control.
Vegetables are a central part of a healthy diet. They are filled with vitamins and minerals along with fiber and phytonutrients that help nourish all the body’s organs and cells. Whether you are vegan, paleo, vegetarian, keto, pescatarian, etc., vegetables (and other plant foods) should always be the center piece of your daily food intake. In fact, the two to three cups that the USDA recommends should probably be closer to seven to nine cups per day!
That is one of the reason I love this paleo lemon zucchini bread. The whole loaf has 1-2 entire zucchinis hidden inside to help you get a little closer to your daily vegetable needs. Plus, all the ingredients are whole foods — no boxes, long ingredient lists, or artificial flavors and colors.
If you are looking for a little extra fiber, you can add a few tablespoons of chia seeds in, and equal amounts of olive oil or unsweetened applesauce may be used in place of avocado oil.
What are your favorite ways to get more veggies in throughout the day?
*This recipe is grain free, gluten free, paleo, and vegetarian