I’m a vegetable-tarian. You should be too.

Vegetarian. Vegan. Omnivore. Herbivore. All of them should be vegetable-tarians. Whether you eat meat or not, drink milk or not, you should eat vegetables. Lots of them. The new Dietary Guidelines as half of your plate at each meal should be fruits and vegetables. Please—let me make the case for vegetables.

I know you all get frustrated with the headlines of this food is good and that is bad. You’ll never get cancer if you stop eating this and will look great well into your 90s if you eat that. I know it is confusing. So let me help: When in doubt, eat a vegetable.

Vegetables are high in fiber, low in calories. They offer phytochemicals that might lower your blood pressure, prevent heart disease and cancer, and they are pretty too. So while you fuss over what to eat, how to lose enough weight to look good in a bathing suit just please eat more vegetables.

When I ask, “what’s for dinner?” the answer should not be a protein food. It should be a vegetable. Maybe two or three. Start with a salad or a vegetable soup. Or maybe just baby carrot and raw broccoli with hummus or a dip. Then go ahead and think about protein, but also think of how to add more veggies to that main dish. Add carrots, onions, garlic, and peppers to that pasta sauce. If you’re going to eat meat at least smother it in some Chester County mushrooms. Make pepper steak at least ¾ peppers. Load that pizza with mushrooms, onions and maybe even eggplant or spinach.

The photo is of my lunch from the other day. Red peppers were on sale so I got some, and broccoli, onions and tomatoes. I sautéed tofu and tossed the rest in my stir fry. Fast, easy and amazingly healthy.

Lunch is a fine meal for vegetables. At least add tomatoes, lettuce and maybe cucumbers to that burger. Hey why not make a burger out of veggies? Maybe lentils and carrots.

Most of us think of carrots and celery as veggie snacks. I add strips of red and green peppers. Try jicama—it is white and crunchy and mild. Cauliflower pieces are more fun if you think of them as white trees.

Not sure what to eat to stay healthy? Eat your vegetables! Please comment and share how you eat your vegetables in creative ways.