Vegetables do not have to be boring. Cooking frozen vegetables in the microwave to go with dinner is an easy rut to get stuck in. You might eat them plain or mix them with a little butter or salt and pepper. No doubt, even if you eat different vegetables every night, the frozen vegetables get old. Vegetarians especially need to add interest to their vegetables. The veggies comprise so much of a vegetarian’s daily nutrition that boredom could have disastrous results. If you are bored with your vegetable fare, read on. Here are five ways to make eating your vegetables a little more fun.

1. Cheese Them

Vegetables are not known for their fat or protein content. Fats and proteins are a couple of things that stomachs crave though. When you need a snack to pick you up in the day, start with some fresh vegetables. Broccoli, cauliflower and lima beans are all excellent choices. They are high in fiber and vitamins. Stick your cleaned and cut veggies in the microwave with a little bit of cheese on top. Great choices are pepper jack and cheddar. Parmesan doesn’t melt as well, but it offers a little more flavor. Just cook the vegetables, uncovered for about a minute. They will release some water to mix with the cheese. The result is a creamy, crunchy, nutritious snack.

2. Carve Them

Especially if you’re having guests, shaping your vegetables with a sharp knife can make all the difference in the world. Make beautiful trays with dips and even create edible centerpieces. Start out creatively cutting peppers and filling them with a colorful mixture of bite sized pieces. Also try slicing petals onto carrots or squash. Let your imagination take over and make your vegetables into beautiful and appetizing treats. (NOTE: just do not do what some fancy restaurants do – substitute art work for quantity – ever seen those restaurants that give you small vegetarian works of art, but you only get 3 of 4 small pieces, leaving you hungry?)

3. Roast Them

Almost all vegetables lend themselves to roasting. Pick out an assortment of complimentary vegetables. You might pick a theme, such as fall vegetables. Take colorful peppers, a few different squashes and some mushrooms and spread slices on a cookie sheet. Bake them at 375° for ten to twelve minutes. The flavors will come out and blend beautifully.

4. Steam Them

You can steam fresh vegetables in your microwave or on the stove top. You need a steamer for stove top preparation, but all you need is a sealable plastic bag in the microwave. Steaming allows you to keep all of the nutrition and flavor in your vegetables. You can also choose the doneness you prefer from al dente to mushy.

5. Compose Them

Composed salads are a great way to eat uncooked fresh vegetables in a way that they are still prepared. A composed salad combines similarly sized and shaped pieces of vegetables with a dressing. Make your own dressing, or use your favorite store bought one. Just make sure to include many different colors in your salad. The finished product is pleasing to the eye and the mouth.

You don’t have to be bored with vegetables. All you need are a few more ideas of what to do with fresh vegetables in order to break away from the frozen ones. Eat your vegetables in all of the five forms listed above and have fun while you’re doing it.