A study recently published in the Annals of Behavior Medicine indicates that a healthy diet not only reduces a person’s risk of heart disease, diabetes, and cancer but an eating style rich in fruit and vegetables can also have a positive impact on mental well-being. Ah – the power of fruits and vegetables. According to the report, adults who consistently followed a healthy eating plan were more confident that their food choices would improve their health and more satisfied with life in general. Interesting how taking care of yourself impacts your overall happiness! Here are some easy ways to get more vegetables into your diet:

Top the protein with sautéed vegetables. Instead of topping cooked fish (or meat or poultry) with a sauce, use sautéed vegetables, such as peppers, onions and tomatoes.

Replace carbohydrates with vegetables. If you love cheesy mashed potatoes but not all the calories they deliver, replace some of the potatoes with vegetables, such as roasted broccoli.

Stock up on the salsa. This low-calorie condiment is long on flavor and fiber—and it packs a whole vegetable serving into every 1/2 cup.