Spice Up Your Veggies – Regardless of whether or not we like our veggies, there’s no denying they’re good for us–and getting better.

Regardless of whether or not we like our veggies, there’s no denying they’re good for us–and getting better. A new study in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health shows that people who ate seven servings of fresh fruits and veggies each day had a 25% reduced risk of dying of cancer and a 31% reduced risk of dying of heart disease. And the folks who favored veggies over fruit had even better odds.

But what’s the point of living a long and healthy life when you have to eat boiled cardboard to do it? Tony Horton agrees, “I don’t like steamed vegetables as much as the next guy even though word on the street is that they’re very healthy,” admits the creator of the P90X series. “Too many people can’t stick to their healthy diets because they’re super boring.”

The solution? Tony suggests you get yourself a spice rack. “Don’t buy any of that malarkey about healthy food needing to taste like garbage. Believe it or not, those little powder-or-flake-filled jars can completely change the texture and flavor of relatively bland, healthy food. You’ve just got to know how to use them.”

Some of Tony’s favorites include rosemary or tarragon when roasting winter veggies like sweet potatoes, potatoes, and squash. A blend of basil and oregano makes anything taste Italian. Curry powder on anything makes for a taste of India. Cilantro and chili powder transform veggies into a south of the border fiesta. Ginger, cinnamon, mint, and nutmeg add flavor to fruit, particularly apples.

“Whatever you do, make it taste good and enjoy it,” Tony says. “Look beyond salt and pepper to liven up your veggies, because a meal with spice is twice as nice.”

Original Source: http://www.teambeachbody.com/teambeachbodyblog/nutrition/spice-veggies-tony-horton-style