We all know that we need to eat more vegetables, but what if you just can’t stand them? And what if the only way you can think of to eat them is salads? Maybe you just haven’t cooked vegetables in a way that you truly enjoy. Our guest this week offers ideas and tips but, above all, encourages you to play with your food to find what you love!On this week’s episode, Jenn is joined by Hollywood caterer and cookbook author, Gwen Kenneally. Gwen gives some great tips on how to make vegetables pop and become more desirable to add into your daily food. She shares some simple ways to get started when cooking vegetables, and provides tips on how to season them and experiment with new ways of serving them up on your plate. Gwen talks about the best tools to have in your kitchen, and shares some of her family favorite recipes! Tune in for some great tips and tricks to add more plants to your plate. Don’t forget to grab her Plantastic Cookbook also!The Salad With a Side of Fries podcast is hosted by Jenn Trepeck, discussing wellness and weight loss for real life, clearing up the myths, misinformation, bad science & marketing surrounding our nutrition knowledge and the food industry. Let’s dive into wellness and weight loss for real life, including drinking, eating out, and skipping the grocery store. IN THIS EPISODE: [5:10] Gwen shares her story and what led her to focusing on plant based cooking. [8:50] What are some simple ways to cook vegetables aside from roasting and steaming? [11:28] How can someone determine the best ways to season vegetables? [13:20] What are some vegetable combination ideas?[18:59] Gwen shares recommendations on how to make vegetables that people usually stay away from such as kale, mushrooms, and cabbage. [24:33] What are some great staples to keep in the house that are versatile and easy to use?[25:58] How else can you use quinoa, beyond as a rice substitute?[27:53] How can you identify and use jackfruit?[30:32] What are the best kitchen tools to have on hand? [32:18] How can you make family favorite recipes - especially with school lunch season coming up?[33:45] Which recipes from the Plantastic Cookbook are best for nights when you are short on time? KEY TAKEAWAYS: Play around with your food, try different spices, herbs, seasonings, etc. Try cooking them in a different way, barbecuing, steamed, roasted, etc. Experimenting will open up all kinds of possibilities for you.The recommended goal is to have at least 30 types of plants in your diet per week for great gut health. Meal prepping can make a huge difference and save you time throughout the week. Do your shopping on a weekend, wash everything, cut it up, prep it, it’ll save you a lot of time during the week. QUOTES: [14:09] “When chefs are like, oh no, you have to do it this way, I’m like, no, you get to play with your food. You get to have fun, and you get to create it for yourself and anybody you’re cooking for.” - Gwen Kenneally“It's really about playing...if you're not so worried about how it's going to turn out...I think sometimes we take it so seriously and we're so afraid of 'what if I don't do it right?' Well, the chocolate chip cookie was invented by mistake.” - Gwen Kenneally[30:33] “A microplane is the long grater that you can put it over a pot and grate your garlic and ginger right over it. That’s a great tool. A good, sharp knife. Invest a little money in a knife because if you’re chopping and prepping nothing is better than a good knife.” - Gwen Kenneally [33:04] “I mean we used to get a sandwich, a carrot and an apple, but I think if you do lots more little portions of lots of different things, you’ll get them to start eating and trying more and if their friends are eating it, that’s the best.” - Gwen Kenneally"There’s 0 evidence that 100% of people would benefit from a plant-based diet but there IS OVERWHELMING evidence that 100% of people would benefit from adding more plants to their diet. Hopefully today we made that a bit easier for you." - Jenn TrepeckRESOURCES:Become A Member of Salad with a Side of FriesJenn’s Free Menu PlanA Salad With a Side of FriesA Salad With A Side Of Fries MerchA Salad With a Side of Fries InstagramGUEST RESOURCESBack to the Kitchen Catering WebsiteThe Plantastic Cookbook GoodreadsGwen Kenneally's InstagramGUEST BIOGwen Kenneally is a Hollywood caterer, highly acclaimed chef and food enthusiast with over 20 years of culinary experience. She is known for her innovative and sustainable approach to plant - based cuisine. Gwen is passionate about creating delicious meals that are good for both people and the planet. Her work has been featured in top culinary publications, and she continues to inspire food lovers around the world with her creative recipes.Gwen has been featured in numerous publications and TV shows, and she brings her wealth of knowledge and expertise to her latest cookbook.She believes that plant - based cooking is not just a trend but a lifestyle that promotes health, ethical consciousness, and a greener planet.