Discover some of our favourite ways to include nutritious vegetables into your everyday menu. Or, if you'd like to see our top fruit picks, check out our best healthy fruit recipes, healthy summer recipes or our best health trends.

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If you're looking to make your favourite meals healthier, take a look at our 15 healthy swaps.


Our top healthy veg recipes

1. Kale

As a member of the nutritionally renowned cruciferous vegetable family, kale is one of the healthiest veggies around, offering an abundance of vitamin A, K, C and manganese, as well as protein and fibre.

Golden baked gnocchi, hazelnut pesto and vibrant veg such as butternut squash and kale come together in this hearty vegetarian dinner recipe.

A white marble background topped with two grey bowls, filled with golden gnocchi, green kale and cubes of squash

2. Spinach

Spinach is an excellent source of vitamin K, while also offering magnesium, calcium and phosphorus. When consumed raw, spinach provides vitamin C, while cooked spinach releases more iron.

Add spinach to your meals with our vibrant pea, spinach & crab risotto. Serve topped with a punchy chilli crab salsa.

Pea Risotto Recipe with Spinach and Crab

3. Broccoli

Broccoli is a nutritional powerhouse filled with vitamins, minerals, fibre and antioxidants. When eaten raw, broccoli is a great source of vitamin C, while cooked broccoli is more easily digested for those with a sensitive digestive system.

Fill your tortillas with our high-protein mix of long-stemmed broccoli, roasted red peppers and sirloin steak for a quick meal idea.

Sirloin Steak Fajitas Recipe with Broccoli

4. Sweet potato

Sweet potatoes are rich in gut supportive fibre, vitamin A, C and B6. In particular sweet potatoes offer an abundance of antioxidants which are especially beneficial for reducing inflammation and protecting against ageing.

A vibrant, low-calorie and vegan dinner idea, made with sweet potatoes, red split lentils, coconut milk and plenty of spices, this sweet potato and lentil curry is a winner with everyone

Sweet potato and lentil curry in two bowls

5. Tinned and purée tomatoes

When cooked, such as in a purée or tinned, tomatoes are a major source of the antioxidant lycopene which is fantastic for skin health, as well as being linked to a reduced risk of heart disease and cancer. When raw, tomatoes provide more vitamin C, potassium, vitamin K and folate. For this reason, try to include tomatoes in a variety of forms in your diet.

More like this

Infuse tinned chopped tomatoes with punchy spices to create this nutritious tomato, lemongrass and rice soup

Vegan Tomato Soup Recipe with Rice and Lemongrass

6. Cauliflower

Serve golden tofu with cauliflower fried rice and plenty of sweet chilli sauce for a low-calorie, veg-heavy, meat-free midweek dinner.

A cauliflower rice dish with a red sauce on the side

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Tracey Raye is the health editor for olive and BBC Good Food. Tracey, MSc, is a registered nutritionist, holding a master’s degree in personalised nutrition. She is passionate about harnessing the power of all things health and well-being in a way that enhances, rather than limits, our lives. She covers our nourishing recipes and collections, oversees our health strategy and stays adrift of the latest health and lifestyle trends in order to bring you the tools and inspiration you need to find what health means for you.

Authors

Tracey Raye - Health Editor & NutritionistHealth Editor & Nutritionist

Tracey Raye is the Health Editor for Olive and BBC Good Food. She oversees all health, nutrition and fitness related content across the brands, including the bi-annual Healthy Diet Plan, monthly Health Edit newsletter and health column in the magazine.

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