Whether you are an office manager trying to commence a wellness program to increase productivity and reduce sick days. Or a teacher aiming to improve kids lunchboxes so they have better focus in the afternoon. Or a mum, wanting her kids to eat more healthily so they can shine.... the key to helping others is to engage them. 

But how do we engage people when it comes to fruits and vegetables? Here are my three top tips: 

1. Tell them what's in it for THEM!


People often get so focused in the WHAT of healthy eating that they forget the WHY.  What's in it for them NOW? For adults motivation is often found in looking and feeling good. Having energy at the end of a busy work day. Playing social sport. Energy to play with kids and grand kids.  For kids it's usually about running faster, jumping higher, becoming a better reader or faster at times tables. 


2. Get them INVOLVED! 


Don't just tell them. Do it with them! Interactive cooking classes at your workplace, hands-on cooking incursions in schools and cook with your kids at home! Create a work or school ABC recipe book and ask people to contribute (A is for apple, asparagus...). Set up veggie gardens at schools and your home.  Plan healthy fundraising at schools and get the kids to write the marketing material. Take your kids to the fruit shop and let them choose by looking, touching and feeling fresh seasonal produce. In workplaces, set up DIY breakfast stations or smoothie bikes. Anything and everything to get people to do and interact, rather than just watch. For workplaces, free food also helps :)

Get people involved in the planning of healthy events. Ask your staff what they are interested in. Involve parents in creating a nutrition policy at your school. At home, involve your kids in choosing what veggies should go in the salad. 

3. FUN! Make it FUN!

Never preach or plead nutrition.  Make messages and healthy programs FUN! People learn more when they are having FUN! Ask yourself, did the participants enjoy themselves? Create a fun and funky staff room for staff. Find fun nutrition games to play with your students. Create relaxing and fun mealtimes. 

"You don't make friends with saa-lad...you don't make friends with saa-lad" (sung while doing a little cha cha)

Being a dietitian with a Simpson loving, fussy eating husband, I am often taunted with this song. And you know what... I couldn't disagree more. 
And here's why...

What is a friend? 

A friend is  supportive and helpful.... Veggies are supportive. To support the environment we need to eat more of a plant based diet. By upping your salad and reducing your meat a little, not only are you helping to create a more sustainable future for the world, you are helping your body too. Veggies are supportive to your body. They protect us from disease now and in the future.  Around 11% of all cancers could be avoided if Australians ate more fruits and veggies. They prevent deficiencies, help us age more gracefully, reduce the incidence and severity of colds. Different coloured veggies (delete jargon word: photochemicals) support our bodies in different ways. Red for glowing skin and hair and healthy blood, purple for memory, green for your insides and orange for your eyes.  Increasing veggies supports a healthy weight as they are high in nutrients but low in calories. 

A friend makes you feel good about yourself.... veggies are full of vitamins and minerals which help our body access energy from the food we eat. More energy to do the things you want to do, function at your peak at work and at play. 

A friend is fun..... salad can be fun too. Play around with colours, flavours and textures. Try a salad in a jar or cup by layering different coloured veggies and fruits. To take one to work, put the dressing on the bottom, add the harder veggies (carrots, celery, red capsicum followed by nuts, seeds, cheese, eggs/beans/tuna/leftover meat then topped with lettuce or spinach beetroot). When it's lunchtime, shake and invert on a plate

Try a variety of dressings. Add nuts, seeds or a little feta to make it a bit fancy. Try BBQ salad (red capsicums, mushrooms, asparagus, corn). See below for ideas. 

A friend deserves a second chance (especially in the best dressed category)... Don't be too quick to judge. Give different salads a chance. Dress them up with yogurt or vinegar based dressings (you can add a little olive oil). 

Unlike a friend (hopefully)....salads can be cheap... see what's cheap in the green grocers or try a fruit and veggie delivery. Cheaper veggies are in season, better for environment and full of nutrients. 

How to make friends with salad?

Be organised. Stock the fridge, cupboard and freezer with delicious salad ingredients. Find more ideas here. You can cut up veggies for the week on the weekend. Or make a couple of salads in a jar and take one each day. Buy enough salad to last the week. 

Variety - don't get bored. Change your salad ingredients (there are so many to choose from). Top with a variety of dressings.  Try different salads. Google recipes, ask friends. Try warm roasted veggie salads in winter and raw, fresh salads in summer.  Try serving a deconstructed salad with a dip. Hummus and tzatzki are some of my favorites. 

Keep it simple, make it delicious.  Simple salads, rainbow salads. I like my salads simply topped with balsamic. Quick, easy, healthy and friends!  

Here are some of my favourite salads and dips:
Roast Pumpkin Salad 
Anything Rainbow Salad
Festive Waldolf Salad
Hummus
Tzatziki