Veggie Boost Challenge: 12 Ways Our Farm Members Boosted Their Meals with Extra Veggies

Getting more vegetables into your daily diet doesn’t have to be boring, and it certainly doesn’t mean you have to give up your favorite foods. Even for those who love veggies, it can sometimes be a challenge to meet the recommended servings or use up the entire CSA box each week. That’s where our recent “Veggie Boost” challenge came into play. We encouraged our members to look at their meals and ask, “How can I give this a veggie boost?” The results were amazing—our members found creative and delicious ways to incorporate more vegetables into their daily meals.

Here are some of the top strategies we saw from our community:

Frittata is a great way to add veggies.

1. Everything Egg

Eggs are a versatile and simple way to boost your veggie intake—whether at breakfast, lunch, or dinner. From egg scrambles and egg bites to quiches and frittatas, the possibilities are endless. Members added a variety of vegetables like greens (think kale, spinach, or the tops of anything), onions, tomatoes, peppers, asparagus, mushrooms, and zucchini. One member shared a green-loaded frittata with chard and broccoli—now that’s a Veggie Boost!

These egg muffin cups were loaded with chard

2. Add Veggies to Frozen or Convenience Foods

Busy days don’t have to mean missing out on your veggies. Many members found that adding fresh vegetables to frozen or convenience meals is an easy way to up their intake. For instance, topping a frozen dinner with fresh basil, or adding sliced green onions to instant ramen can make a big difference. One member shared how they boosted a boxed mac and cheese with a hearty helping of broccoli.

This frozen pizza got a boost with pepper toppings

3. Pizza Topping Perfection

Pizza is a favorite meal in many households, and it’s also a fantastic canvas for a Veggie Boost. Whether homemade or frozen, members got creative by adding zucchini, peppers, garlic scapes, spinach, and arugula to their pizzas. The result? A delicious and veggie-packed slice every time.

This beet slaw was the topping for these brats.

4. Create Condiments, Slaws and Toppers

Sometimes, it’s the little things that make the biggest impact. Our members found that slaws and other veggie-based toppings are perfect for adding a small but powerful Veggie Boost to meals. Imagine a hotdog topped with fresh beet slaw or nachos sprinkled with chopped Swiss chard and peppers. Just a few tablespoons of these vibrant additions can transform a meal.

This Rainbow Crunch can be added as a topping for anything!

A new trend that emerged this season is what we’re calling “Rainbow Crunch.” By pulsing a variety of vegetables in the food processor, members created a colorful and nutrient-dense topping for just about anything. One member shared their blend of carrots, beets, beet stems, kohlrabi, and Swiss chard, which they added to green salads and even savory oatmeal.

Turnip green, ginger, blueberry smoothie.

5. Add Veggies to Smoothies and Cocktails

Smoothies aren’t just for fruits anymore—many of our members used them as a vehicle for greens and beets. Blending these veggies into fruity smoothies is an easy way to add extra nutrition to your day. And don’t forget about cocktails; a touch of greens can give your favorite drink a healthy twist.

Lettuce wraps are a great way to boost a sandwich

6. Sandwich Boosts

Sandwiches and wraps are another great opportunity for a Veggie Boost. Whether it’s subbing in greens for wraps, adding spinach or tomato to grilled cheese, or stuffing quesadillas with peppers and onions, our members found countless ways to elevate their sandwiches.

Kale cookies!

7. Bake It In!

Baking is not just for sweets; it’s also a sneaky way to add veggies into your diet. Shredded zucchini and beet puree can be frozen and used throughout the winter to boost baked goods. We loved seeing members mix zucchini into baked oatmeal, banana bread, or even carrot top cornbread. One creative member even added shredded zucchini to oatmeal chocolate chip cookies!

These chocolate muffins have beet puree hidden in them!

8. Pureed Veggie Cubes

Green cubes were a big hit among our members. By pureeing greens and freezing them in cubes, they created easy additions for sauces, chilis, and more. Some members even experimented with beet puree cubes, adding them to chocolate muffins or pancakes. One member shared a picture of vibrant beet pancakes that their kids couldn’t get enough of!

Beet pancakes

9. Stuffed and Loaded!

Stuffing vegetables into various dishes can be a delicious and visually appealing way to increase your veggie intake. This could include stuffed peppers, zucchini boats, or even loading baked potatoes with a mix of sautéed vegetables. Members might enjoy trying stuffed mushrooms or hollowed-out tomatoes filled with a flavorful veggie mix. The possibilities are endless, and it’s an excellent way to make veggies the star of the dish.

10. Veggie Dips and Spreads

Turning veggies into dips and spreads is a great way to enjoy them in a new form. Roasted vegetable dips, like roasted red pepper hummus or spinach and artichoke dip, can be used as a spread on sandwiches, a dip for crackers, or even a topping for grilled meats. Pureeing roasted carrots or beets into a creamy spread can add both color and nutrition to your meal. This is a versatile way to sneak more veggies into snacks and meals alike.

11. Veggie Packed Grains

Grains like rice, quinoa, or couscous can be easily enhanced with the addition of finely chopped or grated vegetables. Adding veggies like grated carrots, peas, diced peppers, or spinach to your grains not only boosts the flavor but also the nutritional value of your side dishes. Members can create colorful, nutrient-rich grain bowls or stir-fried rice dishes that are as filling as they are healthy.

12. Veggie Swaps

One of the easiest ways to boost your vegetable intake is by swapping out traditional ingredients for veggie-based alternatives. This could include using zucchini noodles (zoodles) instead of pasta, cauliflower rice in place of regular rice, or even using large lettuce leaves as wraps instead of tortillas. These swaps not only reduce carbs but also increase your veggie consumption in a seamless way. Members can experiment with different vegetables as substitutes in their favorite dishes, discovering new flavors and textures along the way.

Zoodles with marinara sauce

We hope these ideas inspire you to continue boosting your meals with veggies. Remember, the next time you look at your plate, ask yourself, “How can I give this a Veggie Boost?” You might be surprised at the delicious results!

Want to join our CSA?

Give it a try with our 4-week CSA Sampler box. It’s a low-risk way to see if you’d like our weekly veggie subscription, meet our amazing community, and see if you want to stand behind your farmer for an 18 week season! To learn more, visit here.