Let's be honest... eating enough vegetables sounds easier than it actually is.

You buy them with good intentions.

The spinach sits in the fridge.

The broccoli starts looking a little questionable.

Then a week later you're throwing it away and promising yourself you'll do better next time.

If that sounds familiar, you're definitely not alone.

Most Kiwis know they should eat more vegetables, but between busy schedules, family life, work and simply forgetting, it doesn't always happen.

The good news? Eating more vegetables doesn't have to mean completely changing your lifestyle.

Sometimes it's the small habits that make the biggest difference.

Why vegetables matter

Vegetables provide a wide range of nutrients that help support everyday health.

Different vegetables contain different vitamins, minerals and plant compounds, which is why eating a variety is generally recommended.

Some examples include:

• Leafy greens like spinach and kale
• Broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables
• Colourful vegetables such as carrots and capsicum
• Fresh herbs like parsley

The goal isn't perfection.

It's simply finding realistic ways to include more of them in your week.

Why it's so hard to eat enough vegetables

Most people don't dislike vegetables.

Life just gets in the way.

Maybe you:

• Forget to buy them.
• Don't have time to prepare them.
• Eat lunch at work.
• Grab takeaways after a busy day.
• Have kids who refuse to eat anything green.
• Travel a lot.
• Start the week motivated... then slowly fall off.

That's completely normal.

Healthy habits are much easier when they're convenient.

7 simple ways to eat more vegetables

1. Keep frozen vegetables in the freezer

Frozen vegetables are often just as nutritious as fresh ones and last much longer.

That means less waste and one less excuse.

2. Add vegetables to meals you're already eating

Instead of changing your whole diet, simply add to what you're already having.

Think:

• Spinach into pasta
• Extra salad in wraps
• Mushrooms on pizza
• Peas into rice

Small changes add up.

3. Prep once, eat all week

Wash and chop vegetables when you get home from the supermarket.

If they're ready to eat, you're much more likely to reach for them.

4. Don't aim for perfect

Missing a day doesn't mean you've failed.

Healthy habits are built over months, not weekends.

5. Find vegetables you actually enjoy

Not everyone likes steamed broccoli.

Maybe you prefer roasted vegetables.

Maybe it's crunchy carrots.

Maybe it's a fresh salad.

The best vegetables are the ones you'll actually eat consistently.

6. Make healthy choices easier

Most of us aren't lazy.

We just make the easiest decision available.

If healthy food is quick and convenient, you'll naturally eat more of it.

7. Build small habits

Trying to overhaul your entire diet overnight rarely lasts.

Instead, focus on one tiny improvement.

Maybe that's adding vegetables to lunch.

Maybe it's eating a side salad with dinner.

Or maybe it's finding an easier way to include more greens in your daily routine.

Small habits tend to stick much better than extreme changes.

What if you still struggle?

Some weeks are busier than others.

That doesn't mean you should give up.

While whole vegetables are still the ideal foundation of a healthy diet, convenient options can make consistency easier for people who regularly struggle to eat enough greens.

That's one reason products like greens powders, and more recently, greens gummies - have become popular.

They're not designed to replace vegetables, but they can fit alongside an otherwise balanced diet as another way to increase your intake of greens.

If you're curious about greens powders, you might also enjoy reading What Are Greens Powders? Do They Actually Work?

Or if you're interested in gut health, check out What Are Probiotics?

The bottom line

Eating more vegetables doesn't have to mean becoming a completely different person.

You don't need a perfectly organized meal plan.

You don't need expensive superfoods.

And you definitely don't need to be perfect.

Start with one small change.

Build from there.

Because healthy habits aren't built in a day - they're built one small decision at a time.

Healthy, not hardcore.

At Dabble, we believe getting healthier shouldn't feel overwhelming.

Whether it's adding an extra serving of vegetables to dinner, choosing a healthier lunch, or finding an easier way to include more greens in your routine, every small step counts.

Because doing something consistently is usually far more powerful than trying to do everything perfectly.