Written by Coach Brian Smith
The 800g Challenge begins Monday, so now is the time to get yourself ready to put your best foot forward starting on day one! To be successful you must begin with a plan, and we have you covered with some tips on how to get those fruits and vegetables in every day!
Pack a Snack
The 800g Challenge tells participants that 6 cups of fruits and vegetables is about 800 grams, so packing a cup of your favorite fruit such as strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries to eat while you work is a great way to knock out some easy grams.
Breakfast Fixins
Kicking your morning off with breakfast is always important, and finding ways to add fruits and veggies to your breakfast will help set you up for success for the rest of the day. Depending on how much time your morning allows, breakfast provides tons of options to consume fruits and vegetables. Things like homemade omelets with veggies or breakfast potatoes are great if you have some time. If you’re in a rush in the morning adding fruit to your oatmeal, cereal, or yogurt is also a great way to get the day started.
Smoothies!
Store-bought smoothies such as Naked smoothies don’t count for the challenge; however homemade smoothies do! Just measure and weigh all the fruit and vegetables you add to your smoothie prior to blending it, add be sure to drink it all! Smoothies are a great way to pack in nutrients, so be creative with your smoothie ingredients if you choose to make some!
Fistfuls
When you’re dining out at a restaurant or on the go, you likely won’t be able to weigh your servings, but there is a half-decent way to estimate your intake. One cup of fruits or vegetables is usually around the same size as an adult fist. So, if the veggies on your plate are approximately the size of your fist, you can call it one cup, and you’re ⅙ of the way there. The more you weigh and measure your veggies, the better concept you will have.
Play with your Food!
Four weeks of eating the same food over and over can certainly get repetitive. To combat the monotony, switch it up every meal or as much as possible! Pick out a new exciting recipe for dinner a few times a week, or try cooking your vegetables in a new way to keep things interesting! Most importantly, this challenge is about finding ways to incorporate healthier options into your daily diet without tons of restrictions, so have fun with it, and maybe you’ll have a new favorite recipe for us to try soon!
