More veg, please!

When people ask me what is the most important change they can make to improve their diet, I usually answer to increase their intake of vegetables. This might seem daunting, but it doesn't have to take very much time or cost much money to eat more veg.

This main course comprises salmon baked with some tamari sauce and sesame seeds. The rest of the plate is filled with a rainbow of vegetables.

Broccoli is a cruciferous vegetable. It contains compounds which support the body's detoxification mechanisms and therefore it may be beneficial for people who are exposed to toxins in the environment (which unfortunately, these days, is nearly all of us).

Also on the plate are peas - did you know they contain protein, as well as B vitamins, phosphorus, manganese, magnesium, potassium and iron. Not bad for such little guys! They are also incredibly simple to cook - just 5 minutes from the freezer to your plate!

I have also roasted courgettes, red peppers, orange peppers, sweet potatoes and regular white potatoes. Red peppers are a nutrient-dense vegetable, containing vitamin C, beta-carotenes, vitamin K, folic acid and vitamin B6. They also contain many phytochemicals (plant chemicals which provide anti-oxidant activity) and might be beneficial for eye health, cardiovascular health, as well as keeping your immune system in tip-top condition.

I love roasting vegetables - 10 minutes of prep time and then it all goes in the oven while I get on with other things.

Who says eating more veg is hard work?