No, Seriously: How do you learn to eat vegetables?

gramarye

I don't like veggies. I don't like the way they taste, I don't like the texture.

I'm trying to find ways to eat them healthily (read: not cooked to death and soaked in butter), and so far I mostly like spinach. In things. Sometimes. I not only want to eat more healthy food, but I also want to model better eating habits to the child (almost four). I just have no idea now to start.

Just now, I wanted a sandwich. I didn't want the bread, so I tried this lettuce wrap thing. It was tolerable, but it took me ten minutes to even take the first bite.

BCSMama

Hmmm, that's tough. I love veggies, so haven't had to make myself eat them. I would suggest trying different spices with them. Do you like curry spices or Mexican spices or anything like that? You could try different ways of preparing them: steamed, raw, roasted, grilled and experiment with different seasoning combinations to find something you actually like. What about adding them to soups or casseroles? You can also add mashed turnips or cauliflower to some mashed potatoes; most people don't really even notice the difference in taste.

hmparkin23

Well, you've got one trick right there - in things! Try chopping onions, celery and carrots really finely and soften them in a pan with the lid on, stirring occasionally til they're really soft. You can then use this as a base for tomato pasta sauce, bolognese sauce, a risotto, anything savoury! And you will hardly know they're there.

Grate carrots and courgettes into dishes like these as well and they'll just cook right in.

Try things with different textures, if that's an issue. Radishes, squash, cucumber, lettuce, peas, corn, all have different textures from each other, you just gotta keep experiementing.

Soups. Cook your veggies, any combination, then puree them with some stock. Texture not a problem!

Try adding spices and herbs if flavour is an issue. Squash roasted with cumin and chilli, yum yum, then mash it or eat as it is.

I know veggies can seem watery sometimes, but something like 85-90% of your body is water. It's foods like these that your body needs to stay feeling full.

Keep trying - you'll find the things you like in the end, and get used to trying new things too.

Helen.x

Pixi_Rex

Open mouth... put veggie in mouth... close mouth... bite... move jaw up and down several times... swollow.

thats how I do it.

infamousmk

Learn proper cooking and seasoning.

witchy_wife

I'm getting better with veggies. I started by only having things in soups or casseroles. Then I would have just a few veggies but masked by other veggies that I like, say carrot and swede mash. Also, buying frozen mixed veg, it's chopped up so small and I seem to deal with tiny pieces better.

But I am getting better, I now eat salads and have started to quite happily eat green beans, cauliflower and broccoli which I never did before! On but salad leaves need to be with something strong tasting like tuna to mask it a bit lol.

TeachTheGirl

Can you try adding them to soups or stews?

I have found that as I've changed my diet, I actually crave different types of vegetables. I'm snacking on raw cauliflower right now, actually. I didn't have time to bake it, but I had some ranch, so I'm dipping it.

KFuerst27

Try cooking them different ways. One of my favorite ways is to roast them, 425 F for 25 to 35 minutes, or until tender. Drizzle with a little olive oil and season if you want to. Try chunks of sweet potatoes, butternut squash, carrots, parsnips, green peppers, onions. Asparagus is also divine roasted. You can also roast brussel sprouts and cauliflower.... pretty much most veggies. When you roast peppers and onions, be sure to leave them in big chunks or they'll burn.

Good luck!

serenalesley

Blender + veggies. Add stuff to make veggies taste better (to you). Drink.

(Seriously, try this.)

lilRicki

juicing?

Phoenixchichima

well unfortunately a lot of it is suck it up
then there is experiment w/new vegs, eg. I hate carrots. so I quite freaking eating them
but I like other vegs like broccoli, brussel sprouts, try new vegs. try cooking them differently, eg, roasting w/some olive oil. or light saute.
then there is hiding them. shred carrots & some squash in spaghetti sauce. try mashed cauliflower instead of or mixed w/mashed spuds
I like them but yeah, even I have issues.
one thing that really works for me is that I eat at my desk & I eat mindlessly at work if i'm not careful. so I pack a big batch of vegs at lunch & eat it mindlessly while i'm working. you have to hav a few things in between to "cut it' eg, cottage cheese. cooked turkey.

try really hard to learn to like them

DawnieB1977

I love veggies, but to make them more interesting sometimes I do roast veg. Just put them in the oven with some garlic, herbs, a bit of white wine vinegar and a bit of olive oil. Yummy.

Also things like mashed sweet potato are good.

Add veggies to lots of dishes, and of course things like veg curry and stir fry.

My kids love veg. My 19 month old is quite happy to eat a plate of carrots.

kdiamond

Puree them into soups.
Dip raw veggies into yogurt ranch dressing.
Shred zucchini and carrots and put into meatloaf or breads (like a zucchini bread).
Make mock "mashed" potatoes with cauliflower.

Whatever you do, eat fresh veggies. Frozen are ok but canned is NASTY. Fresh is best. I grew up despising veggies because my mom only made frozen or canned. Now I know better.

dansls1

If it took you 10 minutes to try a lettuce wrap, it's mostly not about taste, it's in your head. You just need to convince yourself that they are good.

(I was going to make some smart *kitten* remark about my mom making me eat them - but I think hard truth is more useful).

Just Do It

hansea47

I've never had a huge issue with veggies, and I think it was because we had a big veggie garden when I was growing up. Maybe you'd be more likely to eat something you had to grow yourself?

Don't give up on veggies! There are so many different kinds of veggies and ways to prepare them and things to put them in. Carrots are an easy one to start with, I think. They're relatively sweet and the crunch can be satisfying....probably more than a coincidence that I like them with my lunch at work....stress relief during the work day! Ha!

I also like to roast some zucchini, tomatoes and sweet red peppers in EVOO and garlic powder to they're cooked through, then pulverize them in a blender and add them to my lasagna recipe. You barely know they're in there!

The cauliflour in mashed potatoes is one of my hubby's faves...he's a veggie-phobe, too.

mandipandi75

Maybe grind them up and put them in brownies?

hannah1803

Until recently I had this exact same problem!

I wouldn't say I'm a veggie convert just yet but I did manage to eat a meal including broccoli, butternut squash, parsnip, carrots and cabbage the other night without gagging once (and even quite enjoyed it!). My secret was to lather the veg in mint sauce (because I love mint sauce but I guess you could try anything similar) and basically choke it down whilst trying not to think about the taste or the texture, but now I have become a bit more used to it and can manage without. I do use spices as someone else suggested, and have found that butternut squash and parsnips roasted with peri peri seasoning is actually delicious!

I've spent a whole 30 years avoiding veg like the plague, so if I can do it anyone can! Good luck! :bigsmile:

fiferize

they are so much better tasting just lightly steamed and not overcooked. Just hot not mushy. also

you could try: www.greensfirst.com

EmmaR25

No seriously, there are so many different tastes and textures I struggle to understand how you don't like any.....

JinxRita

I feel your pain. It has taken me a long time to warm up to vegetables, and I'm still working on it. The best thing I can suggest are to cook them up in soups. Or, oddly enough, I have found squash to be delightful. It was prepared as usual (which I guess means boiling it? I didn't cook it, so I don't know) and it only had pepper on it. It tasted buttery and delicious though.

EatClean_WashUrNuts

haroon_awan

I use frozen veggies and either defrost them or cook from frozen:
Pour a little extra virgin olive oil on top and put them in the oven for 20 mins
or
Skip the oil and have them with reduced salt and sugar tomato ketchup
or
Eat a small piece with something else, like sweet potato or chicken to mask the taste.

The KEY step is to start small and work your way up. I now eat 900g of broccoli/cauliflower a day and find it very simple. I would eat more, but eating much much gets expensive.

Greg3705

I experimented with new kinds till I found stuff I like and I eat my favorites often. I could have spinach with every meal

kklemarow

Try cutting them very small and adding them to soups and pasta sauces.

Priincess_Natalie

I completely understand where you are coming from. I not only HATED veggies but I had never been exposed to anything healthy while growing up. I couldn't identify most of the food in the produce section (I'm still working on this) much less know how to cook or handle it.

I started with smoothies. Combine your favorite fruits with small amounts of veggies. Like a banana, apple (cored), handful of spinach and whatever liquid you want (juice, milk, yogurt, water). Build your way up slowly to adding more greens. Eventually try to use some kale in place of spinach. I also add a small amount of carrots, broccoli or whatever else I can toss in from time to time. What I found is this helped me adjust my taste buds until I become more comfortable with the veggies (I'm still working on this).

Now, I try to incorporate them in my meals. I started small and worked up. I've heard of people cutting them into tiny pieces and adding them to sauces and things of that nature where you can't taste them. You get some health benefits without having to taste them.

Right now I have a huge pot of veggie stew in my fridge and it's WONDERFUL. It was quick and simple and not insulting to my picky taste buds. I simply used a large can (64 oz) of tomato juice, added a shredded head of cabbage, chopped broccoli, chopped cauliflower, chopped baby carrots, 4 potatoes cubed and some seasonings. I added enough water to cover, I didn't measure this step. I probably could have easily tossed some spinach and/or kale in there and not noticed it. I brought that to a boil and then simmered it for about an hour or until the potatoes and veggies were tender. I drop a handful of shredded cheese on it because I'm an addict and there you have a mostly healthy veggie meal

Good luck and stick with it. Experiment with cooking styles. I also learned that I like veggies steamed to almost mush while others like a crispy veggie. See what works for you.

rduhlir

Maybe try to juice them? Or like the post above says, put them in soups and sauces. I love veggies though, so the answer to that is hard.

Meg_Shirley_86

I did have to force myself to eat more fresh vegetables. I may not have hated them to the capacity that you did, though (and I mean this in a supportive way, not as a criticism). As a rule, I typically prefer warm food to cold food. However, once I did sort of force myself to eat my greens and get some of the more bitter tasting veggies down, that I actually started to want them. I HATED kale, but I read about how nutritionally sound it is, and made myself eat it. Now, I like it. I am fortunate that there is an oil and vinegar shop next to my job that sells very delicious (ie not bitter or pungent) vinegars and olive oils. Right now I'm snacking on some greens with just a sprinkle of strawberry vinegar on them, which makes them much sweeter for maybe 1 calorie. Not that you have to do that, but experiment with flavors as others have suggested. I no longer do the Weight Watchers program, but here is a link to a really good vegetable soup recipe that I recommend:

http://www.food.com/recipe/weight-watchers-0-point-garden-vegetable-soup-318471

Sililily115

Open mouth... put veggie in mouth... close mouth... bite... move jaw up and down several times... swollow.

thats how I do it.

Haha so true, the more I eat something the better it tastes. Also if I am more hungry more things taste good

kdiamond

Try cutting them very small and adding them to soups and pasta sauces.

You just reminded me I will cook and puree carrots and throw them into my tomato sauce...pumpkin tastes good in there too.

Here's a nice article with some ideas.

http://greatist.com/health/40-unexpected-ways-to-add-veggies-to-a-meal-031212/

nosey_rosey

Juicing has helped me a lot!!! Try adding things in that hide the taste like pineapple and lemon I hate veggies to but I am getting better

escolol

dont look at it as food or veggies, look at it as fuel and nourishment, just down it with water