As you probably already know, an easy way to make your meals more nutritious is by incorporating fresh vegetables into your favorite meals. Vegetables are incredibly nutritious and have the highest NuVal scores at the supermarket.
Some of my favorite ways to get more veggies into my diet are by adding shredded spinach (NuVal score: 100), carrots (NuVal score: 99), or zucchini (NuVal score: 99) to chili, soups, and meatloaf. I also like to add sweet potato (NuVal score: 96) or canned pumpkin (NuVal score: 94) to baked breads and cakes.
One of my favorite veggie trade-ups is adding mashed avocado (NuVal score: 89), instead of a slice of Kraft Singles American Cheese (NuVal score: 18), to my sandwich. Besides increase the nutritional value of my sandwich, it also jazzes up the flavor!
What veggie trade-up have you made recently?
It’s a no-brainers that yogurt with cereal is a healthy snack, right? Well, it is, but with the help of NuVal, you can trade up your yogurt and cereal choices. Just check out the easy trade-ups below!
Horizon Organic Vanilla Yogurt (NuVal score: 24) + Annie’s Cocoa & Vanilla Bunnies Toasted Corn & Whole Oat Cereal (NuVal score: 11)
Yoplait Light Fat Free Very Vanilla (NuVal score: 60) + Barbara’s Bakery Ultima Organic High Fiber Cereal (NuVal score: 33)
Chobani Non-Fat Vanilla Greek Yogurt (NuVal score: 73) + Quaker Essentials Puffed Wheat (NuVal score: 82)
Weight Watchers Nonfat Yogurt Vanilla Yogurt (NuVal score: 87) + 7 Whole Grain Puffs Crunchy Cereal Puffs (NuVal score: 90)
Are you getting bored with eating spaghetti for dinner? Regular, old Creamette Spaghetti, for instance, only scores a 57 on the NuVal scale. What about giving spaghetti squash (NuVal score: 93) a try? It’s an easy trade-up. Plus, spaghetti squash is something new and different to try for dinner.
Spaghetti squash is easy to make, and when topped with marinara sauce and a little Parmesan cheese, it tastes almost like regular pasta, but it’s a lot more nutritious for you.
How to cook spaghetti squash:
1. Preheat oven to 350*F.
2. Cut the squash in half lengthwise.
3. Using a spoon, scrape out the seeds in each half.
4. Bake the halves face-down on a lightly oiled tray for about 30-35 minutes, or until the skin-side of the squash can be pierced with a fork.
5. Allow the baked squash to cool for about 20-25 minutes, then use a fork to scrape-out (length-wise) the “spaghetti” strands from the skin.
A small, whole spaghetti squash will yield a TON of cooked squash! Spaghetti squash stores well in a Tupperware container in the fridge and tastes great reheated in the microwave.
Trading Up Downtown Giveaway
Thanks to everyone who entered yesterday’s iced coffee giveaway! Here’s your winner: 59!
59. Tamara @ The Stretch Jean Incident
I love iced coffee, but ice cream has to be my favorite cool treat, preferably a flavor with chocolate and peanut butter!
Congrats, Tamara! Please email me at thaupert@nuval.com with your full name and mailing address to claim your prize.
Developed by an independent panel of nutrition and medical experts, the 