The unexpected side effects of the #VegOut2018 Challenge (don’t say we didn’t warn you)

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If you’re taking or plan on taking the #VegOut2018 challenge, you already know that veggies are “good” for you. But do you know just how good they are, and how our challenge can help you build healthier habits for life? Here’s what we’re talking about:

Veggies fill you up.

It’s no wonder so many of us feel hungry all the time. We’re eating so many processed foods and never seem to have that “full” feeling afterward because all of the sugar in the foods we’re eating leaves us wanting more. Vegetables have the opposite effect, and if you keep in mind that each plate should be half filled with veggies, you’ll walk away from your meals feeling fuller and more satisfied.

Eating veggies in childhood leads to eating veggies in adulthood. Start building good habits now.

When kids are introduced to vegetables and their varieties and benefits, they carry these lessons with them into adulthood and remain mindful of eating vegetables as often as possible. Start building healthy habits with children by teaching them about the foods they’re eating and making the journey fun (taking the #VegOut2018 challenge, for example!)

Vegetables are full of vitamins and might seriously make you happier.

In fact, happiness is a short-term side effect of eating veggies, which means that while increased health occurs over a longer period of time, happiness can increase much more quickly once one makes a habit of eating veggies. Don’t believe us? Check out this article!

Vegetables are complex carbs (the good kind)

Our society has falsely labeled carbs as the route of all evil, but not all carbs are bad. The complex carbs, like the ones found in vegetables, are actually really, really good for you. Eat ’em up!

Folic Acid in vegetables helps form healthy red blood cells which may support healthy pregnancy.

Most prenatal vitamins contain folic acid for this reason. Get an extra boost by eating your veggies with every meal.

A diet rich in vegetables may help prevent heart disease, stroke, cancer and type-2 diabetes.

Vegetables have been linked to a reduction in risk for so many harmful diseases. Good healthcare begins with prevention, and eating your vegetables is a great way to start.

Sandra Lee Offers Smart and Simple VegOut! Inspirations

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One of our favorite celebrity food personalities has to be Sandra Lee– her semi-homemade approach showed so many people that YES, you can cook delicious and nutritious food and it doesn’t have to take all day! Sandra Lee, is a Gracie and multiple Emmy Award-Winner, and an internationally-acclaimed expert in all things life and style.  And this month, she decided to #VegOut with us!

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Sandra is the Editor in Chief of Sandra Lee Magazine and sandralee.com.  During her inspiring career she has been the creator and host of numerous highly rated television programs broadcast on HGTV, Food Network, Cooking Channel and Great American Country in 63 countries!

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Sandra inspires us out of the kitchen with her dedication to giving back. Sandra is the recipient of the President’s Volunteer Service Award and the Ellis Island Medal of Honor and is a founding Board Member of UNICEF®’s Los Angeles chapter. For the last decade Sandra has served as the national spokesperson for the No Kid Hungry Campaign, and works nationally with Meals-on-Wheels, Food Banks across America, The Elton John Aids Foundation, God’s Love We Deliver and sister affiliate Project Angel Food as well as The Central Park Conservancy. Sandra is also an advocate for women’s health initiatives and additionally to dedicate herself to the cause of education and awareness through her work with Stand Up To Cancer. We applaud Sandra’s dedication to make sure everyone has access to nutritious food.

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And with all this on her plate, Sandra decided to join Recipe for Success Foundation in the VegOut! 2016 Challenge! She’s even shared her 30 favorite veggie-centric recipe to give you some inspiration – we love this Caprese Salad Stuffed Tomato as a fun and beautiful way to celebrate Tomato Day on March 29th! Find them all here or visit Sandra Lee’s Facebook page and show us how they turn out for you by using the hashtag #VegOut2016!

 

Rachael Ray Joins the VegOut! Challenge and Rewards YOU!

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RR Every Day Logo_finalOur friend Rachael Ray know that getting your daily dose of vegetables can sometimes feel like a challenge, but she know that Recipe for Success Foundation is making that challenge a fun one! When she heard about VegOut! she had to get on board!rachael-ray-cucina-hard-enamel-nonstick-12-piece-cookware-set-agave-blue_313

Not only has she shared some delicious and signature 30-minute or less meals, but she’s making it a little easier for you to whip up veggie delicious-ness with a new set of the Rachael Ray Cucina Hard Enamel Nonstick 12-Piece Cookware! 

Tuna SaladWe love the Lenten season friendly Sicilian Tuna-and-Potato Salad that packs a powerful SIX veggies! Find more 30-minute of less veggies recipes here!  And don’ forget, to win this home cook’s dream prize, post a picture of you cooking! Whether with your kids, your spouse or your friends- we love getting people in the kitchen together and we want to see YOU having fun in the kitchen! Post a picture on Facebook or Twitter by March 31st at 11:59 PM CT to the Recipe for Success Page tagging the Rachael Ray Every Day page and show us your best cooking picture!

 

Will Scout Eat It?

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Not only are coworkers and colleagues at the Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living enjoying the #VegOut2016 Challenge but they have brought on-board our first four-legged participant- SCOUT!

Scout and his human mamma, Alma, are undertaking the VegOut! Challenge together and learning what vegetables they love along the way! Alma and Scout have a great sense of their adventures in veggie eating and are certainly willing to try new things! Here’s Alma!

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And here’s Scout! 
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We love following along to see what veggies the 8-month old rescue pup is eating! So far he has enjoyed Kale and Asparagus and was a bit hesitant about Collard Greens before eating them up!

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Scout will be trying Radish and Celery coming soon! Follow along on Twitter to see what Scout will eat next and catch Alma’s adventures through the Challenge on Facebook!

Veg is the New Black at Neiman Marcus

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Last week welcomed a fabulous designer, a talented chef and lovely guests to Neiman Marcus Houston for a very special VegOut! themed Dress for Dinner! As we know, veggies really are the new black!

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Dress for Dinner Chair, Carrie Colbert, and Designer Rubin Singer with Models.
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Dress for Dinner is Recipe for Success Foundation’s signature fundraising series, chaired by Carrie Colbert, that celebrates food and fashion! Those who missed the event were certainly “green with envy” as attendees had the chance to mix and mingle with renowned designer Rubin Singer before his gorgeous designs took over the runway. VIPs were treated to an exclusive dinner with Rubin Singer created by Roost Executive Chef Kevin Naderi.

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Recipe for Success Founder, Gracie Cavnar, Bob Cavnar and Neiman Marcus President Bob Devlin.
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Recipe for Success Supporters Kim Padgett and Laura Max Rose.

One lucky VegOut! participant, even won lunch for four at the lovely Mariposa Cafe inside Neiman Marcus Houston! You can VegOut! every day this month at the Mariposa and Neiman Marcus restaurants across the U.S. Look for delicious Veggie of the Day specials or their classic, veggie-filled dishes like the Lobster Cobb Salad!

 

TAble scape 2 Menu Place settingAnd to really prove that veggies are the new black, Neiman Marcus is giving award TWO, $100 gift cards to two FINISHERS of the Challenge! Follow @InstaGlamHouston and @R4SFoundation on Instagram and send us your best “fashionable” veggie pic with the hashtags #VegOut2016 and #VegIsTheNewBlack for a chance to win a $100 NEIMAN MARCUS GIFT CARD!  The more you post, the more chances you have to win, but you must be registered to VegOut!, be a member of the Veg Is The New Black team and finish the Challenge in March to be eligible for the drawing.

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