You Are What You Eat: Veggies for breakfast

Each week, we'll be offering original recipes and unique ways to use those Super Foods that pack nutritional power. After all, you are what you eat -- make it count!

Let's face it -- almost every vegetable is a Super Food, and something we should all be eating, everyday.

The USDA recommends adults eat a minimum of between two-and-a-half to three cups of vegetables daily. If you are active, they recommend more.

It may not seem possible to eat that many vegetables in a day. Snacks are few and far between, or a packaged food on-the-go. You can maybe have a salad for lunch some days, or at least some baby carrots. Dinner is easier, but you'd have to eat a huge meal to get your three cups of veggies in one sitting.

What about breakfast?
We don't generally think of breakfast as a meal rich in vegetables, but if we could figure out some easy ways to eat veggies in the morning, it could go a long way in helping us eat our daily recommendation of veggies.

baked goods

• Vegetable Muffins -- with peppers, celery, onions, spinach and more
• Power Muffins -- I substitute zucchini for half of the carrot in this recipe for more veggie variety
• Marilu Henner's Zucchini Bread -- a family favorite; I use half of the oil and then add four ounces of applesauce and only a scant cup of Sucanat

eggs

• Try adding onion, broccoli, tomato, red pepper, spinach or any combination of these to your scrambled eggs.
• Sesame Crusted Asparagus and Red Pepper Strata --
• Egg and Vegetable Stack -- easy, with salsa and asparagus
• Egg and Vegetable Wrap -- easy to take with you

smoothies

• Toss a couple of kale leaves into your fruit and yogurt smoothie.
• Icy Pumpkin Smoothie -- full of beta carotene
• Rejuvenator Smoothie -- veggies and fruit combine for a smoothie rich in vitamin C
• Monster Smoothie -- broccoli and spinach, bananas and strawberries

So what will you try so that you can eat more veggies at breakfast?