If you struggle getting enough veggies into your daily diet (and who doesn't?!) then adding them into your slow cooker recipes is great way to go. Sure, salads are awesome, but you will be munching forever just trying to get enough daily nutrition. If you are craving a hot and delicious meal, but still want it to be full of those wonderful nutrients, then try adding some slow cooker recipes that are packed with vegetables to your weekly round up!

Slow cooking is a great way to maintain nutritional value since everything cooks slowly in one covered pot! And, there are so many great ideas out there for incorporating almost any vegetable into a recipe. From purees added to soups and chilis, to squash added to pasta sauce, to greens added to just about any dish, there are endless ways to make it happen.

Here are a few tips to make sure your veggies turn out perfect every time:

1. Root veggies (like potatoes, carrots, parsnip) - These are hearty and can stand up to almost every recipe. They can go long and slow and turn out perfectly. You can use them in soups or just roast them up as a side dish.
2. Squash - larger varieties like butternut, acorn, and spaghetti can cook all day in there "shell" in the slow cooker and then easily be peeled or removed for serving. Other varieties (summer squash like zucchini and yellow) have a high water content and generally should be added later in recipe so that they don't get too soft.
3. Leafy greens - a great source of vitamins and perfect for slow cooking! Heartier versions like kale and collard greens are great in casseroles or soups and can cook all day. Spinach should be added toward the end, as it will cook up in only a few minutes. I love stirring some fresh baby spinach leaves into soups. Brussels sprouts and cabbage are also very hearty and can be cooked for the full length of time in the slow cooker.
4. Peppers - from sweet bells to spicy jalape ños, peppers can add so much flavor to dishes and help you eat a rainbow of colors. Most do very well in the slow cooker and can be added right in at the beginning of a recipe.
5. Bulb type veggies include fennel, leeks, onions and garlic, all of which stand up well to slow cooking and add so much flavor to every dish. No need to hold back here, they can handle those longer cooking times. Onions and garlic are the most common of these and are found in many recipes.