How to sneak vegetables into your winter comfort foods

Winter brings a change in our eating habits, often making us reach for warm, hearty dishes instead of salads. This shift can lead to a decrease in vegetable consumption, despite their recommended daily intake. South African adults consume only 230g of fruit and vegetables per day, which is 58% of the recommended 400g.

However, there's a solution to include vegetables in our winter comfort food. Preparing vegetables like broccoli, cheese, and tenderstem broccoli can be a quick and easy addition to our meals. Adding vegetables to already cooked meals, such as curries, soups, and stews, can make the process easier and more efficient.

Chef and nutritionist Elise Ruddle suggests that vegetables should be integrated into our regular meals rather than served as a separate side dish. By doing so, we can maintain our vegetable intake without compromising on the comfort food we enjoy during winter. Some recipes even combine vegetables with traditional winter dishes, proving that vegetables can coexist with our favorite comfort foods.