What happens if you don't eat much fruit and vegetables?

Sabine_Stroehm

jrose1982 wrote: »

I understand where I'm coming from. I grew up in a household that consider french fries to be vegetables (I guess they technically are, but you get what I'm saying). And I hated vegetables (never really crazy about french fries, come to think of it.

I found two things that helped:
1) Years ago I decided I wanted to eat more vegetables. I found a book of 3-minute vegetarian meals and started trying some. My kitchen-laziness eventually beat that effort, but not before I found some ways that I could tolerate some vegetables.
2) I went low-carb and learned through trial and error that not eating enough vegetables makes me feel like crap within a few days. That gave me a good motivation to keep trying different vegetables and different ways to eat them.

Are we siblings????? Lol

lyttlewon

I'm not really a fruit eater either. I eat a lot of vegetables. A tomato is a fruit. Part of the reason I don't eat fruit is most of the ripening happens on the vine, strawberries just rot after you pick them, and most fruit is picked early so it can be shipped. It just doesn't taste as good being shipped for two weeks so I can eat it. I'm not really a smoothie person so frozen fruit isnt my thing. I'll eat a bowl of roasted Brussels sprouts tossed with balsalmic vinegar though. You might find if you eat local seasonal fruits they have the best flavor.

lemurcat12

jrose1982 wrote: »

I once read an article about how eating habits in Alaska have changed in the last 100 years or so. One thing that I think is relevant to your question: During winter, Alaskan's used to go 6-8 months without eating any plants. This was, of course, because they didn't have any (except what they could store, which isn't much). Plant-based foods have only been available in Alaska during winter after they started flying in produce from the lower-48. Before that, winter diets were based on what they could hunt and catch. But they did get the micronutrients they need by eating organ meats - i.e. liver, heart, etc. Animal organs are very high in micronutrients.

Might want to try eating liver once in a while (I prefer vegetables, myself).

Wish I could find that article...

I'd be interested in the article if you find it. My dad's family homesteaded in Kenai in the 40s and 50s and I like articles that jog his memory or inspire stories about those days.

lemurcat12

lyttlewon wrote: »

I'm not really a fruit eater either. I eat a lot of vegetables. A tomato is a fruit. Part of the reason I don't eat fruit is most of the ripening happens on the vine, strawberries just rot after you pick them, and most fruit is picked early so it can be shipped. It just doesn't taste as good being shipped for two weeks so I can eat it. I'm not really a smoothie person so frozen fruit isnt my thing. I'll eat a bowl of roasted Brussels sprouts tossed with balsalmic vinegar though. You might find if you eat local seasonal fruits they have the best flavor.

Yeah, other than blueberries or occasionally bananas I don't care about fruit other than local seasonal stuff, which I adore. Nothing better than a fresh peach or strawberries, and I can't stand supermarket strawberries. It's weird because it means I eat lots of fruit in the summer, little in the winter.

I love veggies though, and agree with those who say learning to cook them was the trick. Also, if you enjoy green markets (this is for the OP) it can be a way to get excited about veggies and talk to people who are.

I like cookbooks, so my other trick back when I decided to change my diet to eat more of them (over 10 years ago) I started seeking out some veggie porn, by which I mean beautiful vegetable focused cookbooks. There are lots of great seasonal ones. These days you can get that with websites--101 cookbooks is one with lots of good vegetable ideas, and vegan and vegetarian sites are good for that too (as well as paleo recipes, often).

Swiftlet66

NarwhalofNight wrote: »

feralX wrote: »

OP, is this a serious post or are you a troll? I'm not really sure. If it's real, listen to your ma and eat your damn fruits and veggies.

Seroious, even though it sounds immature I know, my family wasn't fruit and vegy eater very much so yeah, gotta catch up now.

Your family isn't the only one though so you're no exception. I have friends who eat purely rice, meat, and candy. Unfortunately, I can already foretell their future however, it's great that you're thinking about yourself more now and trying to become a healthier person in the long run!

darrensurrey

Tried fruit from different countries? Melon? Lychee? Papaya? Even recognised fruits have different textures and flavours - pears and apples, for instance.

I'd avoid dried fruit as they're high in sugar so may push you over your calorie allowance if you're not paying attention.

neanderthin

Lots of people only eat whole foods if it fits their macro's....otherwise we'd live too long. j/k

Sabine_Stroehm

Swiftlet66 wrote: »

NarwhalofNight wrote: »

feralX wrote: »

OP, is this a serious post or are you a troll? I'm not really sure. If it's real, listen to your ma and eat your damn fruits and veggies.

Seroious, even though it sounds immature I know, my family wasn't fruit and vegy eater very much so yeah, gotta catch up now.

Your family isn't the only one though so you're no exception. I have friends who eat purely rice, meat, and candy. Unfortunately, I can already foretell their future however, it's great that you're thinking about yourself more now and trying to become a healthier person in the long run!

Heck, I have family members who only eat rice, meat, junk food snacks (cheetos etc) and pizza.

Sabine_Stroehm

BTW, OP, if you can master green smoothies you could get a lot of your fruits and vegetables in that way. Not ideal, perhaps, but better than not at all.
(or, ideal, depending on who you ask)