We can all use a bit more green in our lives—and no, we aren’t talking about money this time (though that’s great too!). It’s time to take a step back from your standard diet and try to put a bit more green in the kitchen. Finding ways to incorporate fresh vegetables into your diet is a great way to enhance weight loss by cutting calories while increasing nutritional value in every bite.

Vegetables are a huge component of the weight loss diet following bariatric surgery, and there are plenty of easy ways to prepare them at home. The trick is determining which veggies you like most, and coming up with a plan to keep them fresh and in stock.

Quick and Easy Vegetable Dishes

Too many people mistakenly think that they don’t like vegetables when the real problem is that they simply don’t know how to cook vegetables. There are plenty of scrumptious side dishes out there that feature amazing vegetables, you just need to know what you like and be ready to get a little creative in the kitchen.

If the only way you eat vegetables is raw, then you may not find them as enjoyable. Vegetables need to be steamed, boiled, baked or grilled to really bring out their flavors. Using additional spices, at the very least salt and pepper but even better flavors like garlic and paprika can enhance the flavor even more. This may sound hard to believe for those who haven’t enjoyed eating vegetables in the past, but the reality is that for so many people, the barrier against vegetables isn’t in the veggie itself, but in the less-than-ideal cooking methods.

You can prepare vegetables quick and easy by taking advantage of your microwave. The best way to do this is to get a simple plastic steaming tray. Simply add water and you can get fresh and soft veggies like carrots, broccoli or zucchini in as little as 5 minutes.

If you haven’t enjoyed vegetables in the past, it may be time to give them another try. You don’t have to swap your entire diet over to leafy greens to get the benefits of a serving or two a day. Try adding a simple veggie side dish to your dinner every evening. When tried alongside your healthy serving of lean protein like chicken or pork you may find you have a new appreciation for the healthy items, and they are a great addition to your weight loss diet post-bariatric surgery. Of course, check with your weight loss surgeon before making any additions to your diet.