5. Collard Greens
Collard greens are one of the star ingredients of Southern cuisine, and they are nature’s superheroes for their powerful nutritional density. They pack up incredibly high amounts of beta-carotene, folate, and vitamins C and K. All you need is 2 cups of these dark leafy greens to pack up your body with a wide host of essential nutrients and antioxidants each day.
Two cups of raw collard greens are equivalent to 1 cup of vegetables, and in order to adopt a 2000-calorie-a-day diet, you need at least 2 ½ cup of collard greens each day. You can add them to your salads, stews, soups and even main dishes.
Here’s an easy tip: just blanch the leaves of collard greens in boiling hot water for a quick minute, and then chop them up so you can toss them into a whole-grain sandwich, casserole or lentil salad.
6. Frozen Peas
Peas are the most inexpensive and versatile of vegetables that can provide you a powerful concentration of energizing and satiating nutrients. They are loaded with fiber, which promotes feelings of satiety by filling you up, which curbs your appetite and ensures you eat less. Moreover, fiber is also highly beneficial for easing digestion, and cutting down cholesterol levels.
It’s always a good idea to keep a bag of green peas in the freezer, so you can toss them into your salads, soups, pastas, and casseroles.
