You’ve heard it over and over. Eat more vegetables! And we all know why: Getting three to five servings of vegetables every day helps you to manage your weight, protect against heart disease, diabetes and even some forms of cancer. But the truth is when we typically cook our veggies we loose so much of their nutritional value.

Here’s how to her the most out of your vegetables.

Rule of thumb: if it’s not crunchy, it’s over-cooked. Think about the last time you made a meal with broccoli, carrots, asparagus, or brussels sprouts. In order to maintain the vitamins in your vegetables make sure to cook them until they are tender but still firm. You should hear them when you chew!

Never boil. Many of the minerals and vitamins found in vegetables dissolve in water. Plus, the heat used when you boil them causes the nutrients to evaporate.

Steam. A great alternative to boiling your veggies is to steam them until they are tender. This makes them easy to digest and provides the nutrition that you need.

Love Your Fast Lane Girl,
Danielle

Photo credit: Sheknows.com