Meeting your daily vegetable serving requirements is often a challenge. But when it comes down to it, in order to lose weight and be healthy you must learn to love them.  My clients often complain that they are sick of salads (after all it is December).  Perhaps you may feel the same way?

Last week when Lindsey came in for her motivational weigh in session, www.rachellewood.ca, she complained about not getting enough vegetables in.  She was sick of the same old cooking methods and needed some creative cooking ideas. Also she was feeling sick with a sore throat and had very little energy to prepare meals. She was loading up on carbohydrates (comforting crackers and toast) which understandiably was slowing down her weight loss results.  She needed help and FAST.

So Lindsey is not known to be, “much of a cook," but she is indeed, “inspired to lose weight and get healthy”.  I suggested she make a feel good beef and vegetable soup ASAP.  In office we verbally created a recipe using her favorite vegetables, and after her session she headed to the grocery store.

Being sick is not an excuse to slip on your healthy eating habits. When you’re feeling under the weather, it’s time to increase your vitamin and mineral intake by eating even MORE vegetables. Also water is important to improve immunity, so by making a pot of soup you’re really increasing your chances of fighting of disease. Load your soup with Vitamin C rich foods such as: carrots, bell peppers, and tomatoes. Spice it up with immune system strengthening herbs like:  garlic, ginger or oregano. 

A few days after her session I received an email from Lindsey with the following recipe.

Lindsey’s Cold and Flu Fighting Beef and Vegetable Soup

900 ml low sodium beef broth

796 ml can low sodium crushed tomatoes 

1 ½ cups carrots, chopped

1 cup bell peppers, chopped

1 cup turnip, chopped 

1 ½ cups Artic Gradens spaghetti vegetables

1 pound extra lean ground beef, rinsed

Spice mixture: Italian seasoning, garlic powder, oregano, pepper, sea salt

Cook hamburger then rinse under hot water to remove as much of the fat as possible. Add the remaining ingredients to pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 30-40 minutes. Serve and enjoy this immune system building recipe. 

Moral of the storey: ALWAYS EAT YOUR VEGGIES.

Thanks again Lindsey for letting me use your recipe for a blog post. Now other clients at Rachelle Wood Nutrition (and the World Wide Web) can use your soup as medicine too.

Do you have a recipe you would like to share with other blog readers? If so please email your suggestion to info@rachellewood.ca . Did you try this recipe, if so please post your coments and rate.