MyPlate advises people to fill half their plates with fruits and vegetables at each meal, but sometimes this is easier said than done. Today's kitchen hacks will focus on ways to make that goal achievable!Kitchen Hack: Put Fruit/Veggies on a PlateYes, a side salad (of fruit or vegetables) is an awesome way to help get closer to MyPlate's recommendations, but on nights when you are pressed for time and don't feel up to assembling a salad for your meal, you can get back to basics with fruit or vegetables on a plate. Rinse some grapes and put them on a small side plate and bring it to the table. Do the same for baby carrots or grape tomatoes. Sometimes all you need is a simple veggie or fruit side -- no assembly required.Kitchen Hack: Microwave in BurstsAnother way to make a quick vegetable side is to pop a veggie or two in the microwave. However, many people accidentally overcook their vegetables when they do this. Don't be like them! Most vegetables only need a maximum of 3 minutes in the microwave to become crisp-tender. Remember that you can always add more time, but there's nothing you can do if you've taken too much.Kitchen Hack: Finish with Fleur de SelTo liven up these decidedly un-fancy sides, consider finishing them with the barest sprinkle of Fleur de Sel. Fleur de Sel is a hand-harvested sea salt that's packed in much larger and more delicate flakes than traditional table salt. Its crunch adds a fun lift of texture, while the salt itself maximizes the flavor of a dish. Seriously though, a little goes a long way, so add this garnish with a very light touch.And those are the kitchen hacks for the day! You can find previous hacks here...

• Baked Lemons and Oven Mitts
• Adding Beans to Meals
• Speedy Skillet Meals

Here's a free printable handout with the details from today's kitchen hacks!And here are some amazing kitchen and vegetable posters from the Nutrition Education Store![shopify embed_type="product" shop="nutrition-education-store.myshopify.com" product_handle="vegetable-poster-slicing-chopping-and-cooking-guide" show="all"][shopify embed_type="product" shop="nutrition-education-store.myshopify.com" product_handle="i-heart-fruits-and-vegetables-poster" show="all"][shopify embed_type="product" shop="nutrition-education-store.myshopify.com" product_handle="handy-kitchen-measurements-poster" show="all"]