Want a break from veggie wraps and salads? Preparing steamed vegetables for lunch is a healthy and convenient option for even the busiest pro.

Instead of sautéing, eliminate the fat and overcooking to reap maximum benefits from your veggies.  Steaming with a traditional steamer insert or a bamboo steamer helps to retain nutritional value especially if cooked at a low temperature and in salted water.

Preparing Your Steamed Vegetables

So, how exactly does this work? Combine vegetables of your choice. Try to include some denser options like sweet potatoes and carrots—and remember, the more colorful your food, the greater variety of nutrients you’ll be feeding your body. Just boil water or vegetable broth in a large saucepan and place the steamer filled with vegetables inside the saucepan until they are tender.

It’s best to place the denser vegetable into the steamer first with the lighter ones on top. You can even take out the lighter options early if necessary. Enjoy steamed veggies alone or in another recipe. The best part is you can freeze them for those hectic weeks when cooking seems impossible.

Catherine Miller Avatar

Catherine Miller is a certified Kripalu Yoga Teacher and an aspiring Holistic Nutritionist who is passionate about sharing health and wellness with others. Follow her on Twitter @miss_touche