I HATE vegetables and salads :(

shantal_96
shantal_96 Posts: 14 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Does anybody have any advice on how to make vegetables or salad taste good
I absolutely hate salad dressing, so I don't want to use that, and I steam my vegetables which is apparently the best way to do them but I still hate them :(
I was never made to eat vegetables growing up, so now I can't stand them

Replies

  • oh_happy_day
    oh_happy_day Posts: 1,137 Member
    There are so many different ways to cook them - roasting, mashing, raw, soups, stir frying, slow cooking in curries etc. I suggest playing around with different foods and cooking methods until you find something you like. Vegetables don't have to be plain or boring. Have you tried sweet vegetables raw with dips or cottage cheese? For example, red and yellow peppers, carrots etc? What about grated finely into mince based dishes? Vegies like zucchini, mushrooms, carrots go great with mince and cook down, you would barely taste them.
  • queenliz99
    queenliz99 Posts: 15,317 Member
    Roast vegetables in some fat! It gives them a nice crunchy texture!
  • KellieTru
    KellieTru Posts: 285 Member
    ^^ great idea! Roasted veg taste so much better!!
    Stir fry with a great sauce! Yum :)
    Make a cheese sauce for your steamed veg and portion control it.
  • PieAndLattes
    PieAndLattes Posts: 43 Member
    I've never tried this myself, because I've never met a veggie that I didn't like, but you could always try the "hidden veggie" technique. Something like this...?

    http://www.delish.com/cooking/g1248/hidden-vegetable-recipes/
  • kiela64
    kiela64 Posts: 1,447 Member
    I personally hate lettuce and salad-type vegetables. Salad dressing makes me gag. I can't do it. What I do like is broccoli in sauces because it soaks up curry or other sauce really nicely! I found a spicy humus to be really nice with broccoli and pasta. Cauliflower and green peas are fantastic with cheese and pepper. I like stir-frying mushrooms and zucchini. Pureed soups with strong spices.

    I do mostly really need to season my veggies, but like you I'm working on getting more of them, because I used to maybe get one serving in a week. I really have to shop around and try things because I wasn't made to eat veggies as a kid. It also depends on the day, because one day I'll LOVE raw carrots and the next they'll make me gag. *shrugs*
  • ktekc
    ktekc Posts: 879 Member
    Roasting changes the texture and taste of most veggies. Definitely try that..I won't touch a Brussel sprout unless they are roasted. Love em that way though.
  • DeguelloTex
    DeguelloTex Posts: 6,652 Member
    Steaming generally sucks. Grill or roast them.
  • nosweetpea
    nosweetpea Posts: 20 Member
    Do you like soup? You can work wonders getting veggies into great soups. Add veggies into food you do like...like cauliflower in with your sweet potato...if you mash them together you wouldn't notice the cauliflower or add them to a pasta sauce than cook spaghetti squash and put it over that. Try eating just two or three peas instead of pushing down a whole serving. Next time try 4 or 5. Make it a game...Tell yourself...ok I get a serving of ...something I do like...if I finish my ....what ever I don't like...after a while you'll like them both...You really just need to trick your taste buds. They will come around after a while. Oh, the biggest thing is to tell yourself you do like veggies you just need to figure out ways to enjoy them. The more positive you set your mind at something the easier it is to enjoy it.
  • nvmomketo
    nvmomketo Posts: 12,019 Member
    edited October 2015
    As long as you are eating other quality foods like eggs, nuts, meats and seafood, you don't need many veggies (or technically any) to stay healthy. Filling up on foods made from flours would not be ideal, IMO. If you are worried about missing out on vitamins, are a multi.
  • hamlet1222
    hamlet1222 Posts: 459 Member
    Lemon juice and sesame seeds on the salad make it more interesting. Also adding some slightly sharper leaves like rocket can help too. The more expensive tomatoes are definitely much tastier too.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    edited October 2015
    Learn to cook them properly. Try roasting. Try grilling. LIGHTLY steam them until they are bright, but still crunchy. Put them in soups. Put them in smoothies. Ask friends to cook their favorite vegetables for you.

    Order a fabulous salad at a REAL restaurant (not McDonalds).

    Order a variety of vegetables at real restaurants.

    Find the ones you like.

    Eat your vegetables.
  • 47Jacqueline
    47Jacqueline Posts: 6,993 Member
    So, what you are saying is that you have never eaten a single fruit or vegetable that you liked how it tastes. And you have tried every one that has ever been grown that you could find in the market. It that what you are saying?
  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,603 Member
    Sabine_Stroehm wrote: »
    Learn to cook them properly. Try roasting. Try grilling. LIGHTLY steam them until they are bright, but still crunchy. Put them in soups. Put them in smoothies. Ask friends to cook their favorite vegetables for you.

    Order a fabulous salad at a REAL restaurant (not McDonalds).

    Order a variety of vegetables at real restaurants.

    Find the ones you like.

    Eat your vegetables.
    This. Although there is probably nothing I like more than fresh green beans that were steamed, there are ten million ways to make veggies. Roasting may be best. Unlike most veggie peeps, I like my veggies roasted until they're soft. Not totally mushy (though that's good, too), but really soft. You can add any spice or flavoring you please! So, every time can be different.

    It is my opinion that anything can go into a salad. If you like it, in it goes. I once threw beans in. Baked beans. It wasn't my favorite salad (didn't repeat that), but I have no limits. I'll make ANYTHING a salad.

    If you like it, it's a salad. IMO, anyway.

    I eat edamame all the time and never make it in Asian ways because I don't much care for Asian food. So I made up my own stuff. I made up most of the stuff I eat. I had guests for dinner and she asked what something was and I made the name up on the spot. Later, I found out that someone on the Food Network had made almost the identical dish and had given it the same name, lol.

    Don't let rules hold you back.

    If you put some work into it, you will like the veggies. I once thought I didn't like them, either. I do now. :)
  • cnbbnc
    cnbbnc Posts: 1,267 Member
    Have you tried stir-fry mix/sauces? They're really good on veggies.

    I also read somewhere that typically people have to try something five times before deciding if they like it. Sounds stupid, but it worked for me with cauliflower. First two times I didn't like it, but after trying it a couple more different ways, it's become a regular for me now. You can't dislike all veggies, so keep trying different stuff until you hit on a few things. :)
  • Abby_C2014
    Abby_C2014 Posts: 86 Member
    edited October 2015
    gmyeoovpblec.jpeg I get bored of veggies as well so I invented this a week ago. It ended up so well! Its calories is 300 and macro profile for fat 7g, Protein 31g, and Carbs 30 (it is a very filling meal). I made a similar one for my sweet curry containing PB 2 powder, curry seasoning, almond milk, sweet potatoes, chicken tenders, and spinach. The picture is the one below. It looks weird but It taste so good! w1ee2b7wyime.jpeg

  • mpat81
    mpat81 Posts: 353 Member
    Sabine_Stroehm wrote: »
    Learn to cook them properly. Try roasting. Try grilling. LIGHTLY steam them until they are bright, but still crunchy. Put them in soups. Put them in smoothies. Ask friends to cook their favorite vegetables for you.

    Order a fabulous salad at a REAL restaurant (not McDonalds).

    Order a variety of vegetables at real restaurants.

    Find the ones you like.

    Eat your vegetables.

    This is great advice, steamed veggies can be bland and boring! Try them in a restaurant, prepared by someone who really knows how to cook. If you don't like salad dressing, don't put any on. Try using a spritz of a flavored vinegar and some crunchy bits like nuts or seeds.

  • thingofstuff
    thingofstuff Posts: 93 Member
    I also hate salad dressings, but I like the taste of leafy salad greens. I literally just roll up a bunch of spinach (probs 7-12 leaves) or lettuce and eat it like a tiny burrito. Repeat this 5-6 times and the bag is half gone and you can call it day. Granted I do this alone or with my boyfriend and could not eat like this in public. It's more of a snacking option.
  • LKArgh
    LKArgh Posts: 5,178 Member
    If you really have never eaten a single vegetable in your life, then I can see two possible alternatives. One is that there is really something about them that makes you gag or throw up or whatever, so you need to talk to a specialist. Second is that you need to "parent" yourself and "force" yourself to eat them. Start with small amounts, like a bite with your meal, and keep repeating until you start getting used to them and figure out which ones you like.
  • randomsue
    randomsue Posts: 179 Member
    DeguelloTex wrote: »
    Steaming generally sucks. Grill or roast them.

    I agree. Especially if you hate them. I love veggies but I can't stand them steamed. Drizzle some olive oil or toss them with some coconut oil n your vegetables and roast them. Sprinkle some parmesan cheese when they are hot after. Broccoli, cauliflower and kale is great cooked this way. Chop up vegetables and cook it in pasta sauce. It will add flavor and increase your vegetable intake.

    Roast some chopped vegetables ahead of time and add them to omelets, tacos/burritos, pasta dishes etc. Teach your palate to like them. There might be some you will like but some you hate. That's ok just try it more than 5 times. That's what I tell my kids lol
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    edited October 2015
    This content has been removed.
  • verptwerp
    verptwerp Posts: 3,659 Member
    Wowzers, lots of great ideas ..... I especially love roasted veggies !

    hz0e1jemn2t2.gif
  • randomsue
    randomsue Posts: 179 Member
    verptwerp wrote: »
    Wowzers, lots of great ideas ..... I especially love roasted veggies !

    hz0e1jemn2t2.gif

    Lol
  • nutmegoreo
    nutmegoreo Posts: 15,532 Member
    I love carrots and beets covered in olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and rosemary and then roasted. Gives them a nice tangy flavor. Yum :smile:
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    This content has been removed.
  • mccindy72
    mccindy72 Posts: 7,001 Member
    My daughter-in-law dislikes any salad dressing, so she puts cottage cheese on salad. It really is about what you like - so be creative. Just sample different things until you find something that you like - no one can dictate to you what is appropriate to put in a salad, or what is the 'correct' way to eat a vegetable.
  • MelodyandBarbells
    MelodyandBarbells Posts: 7,724 Member
    Order all the Panera salads. Or just give me a Panera card and I'll order them all and send you reviews

    I've done smoothies in the past and I'm looking to start them again for breakfast. Any fruit(s), any leafy veg, some protein powder, peanut butter or PB2, just anything really. Blend and pack up. I'm gonna make mine really thick and eat it with a spoon

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