I just don't like them...

BigDougie1211

Healthy Foods...
I really struggle here.

I'd love to enjoy a nice salad and be able to fill up on a healthy lunch, but I really can't stand them.
The only veg I can stand are potatoes, onons, garlic, peppers, scallions, leeks ( I can't just throw those in a bowl together and call it a salad can I? )

I hate the taste of brown/granary bread.

Can you see a pattern forming?
I've done well weight wise so far, I eat within my calories and work hard when I train, but I need a hand with the food as I do want to eat more healthily, but I love food and can't rwally get to grips with the whole food for fuel only concept.

I need some alternative healthy, convenient options beyond salad....

If I force it, am I going to " develop " a taste for salads - like I did with Guiness?

now_or_never13

What about soups? You can hide a lot of veggies in there.

Can you make meatloaf for lunches? You can either chop a bunch of veggies really small or puree them to add to the meat. You than get veggies in without really knowing it. You can do the same for pasta sauces and soups. Stuff a chicken breast with some broccoli and a bit of cheese. I'm assuming you have a way to heat things up at lunch so hopefully you do.

Another option would be a smoothie if you just can't eat veggies. Blend some up (spinach, kale, etc) with some fruit and water/milk/healthy juice. Or, if you are under sodium, would you drink something like V8? It at least helps you get the nutrients in.

I would also keep trying things. Your tastes change every so often. Also, experiment with how you cook things. The texture of veggies change with how you cook it which may be why you don't like them. Experiment with methods of cooking and spices/herbs etc that you use. You might just find something you enjoy. Carrots for example are great steamed than mixed with a little bit of butter/margarine and a touch of honey or brown sugar. Broccoli is great sauteed with a bit of garlic, onions and butter. Same with spinach.

MsLilly200

Have you tried to cook lots of different vegetables in lots of different ways?

Maybe you only like boiled carrots(or whatever) vs raw, baked or grilled, maybe you like them with a certain seasoning, or cooked and then cooled. And so on and so forth.
I like to make boiled carrots with some butter and parsley, it's delicious warm and cold.

If you make stews, soups and pastasauce yourself you can sneak in lots of finely chopped vegetables that you probably won't notice while eating.

EDIT: And someone just said basically the exact same thing as me 1 minute before me... -_-;;;

Whipppets

I hate all vegetables except cucumbers, and carrots.. but I put other frozen and fresh vegetables
in a smoothie... Broccoli, peppers, celery green beans... all things I would never eat.

jordanalexis90

have you ever tried greek yogurt? that's a great snack and full of protien. I eat the fage brand sometimes I get plain and add in my own fruit or other times I get the kinds with a sidecart of jam. Delicious. I also snack on string cheese. Or a cracker (such as wheat thins) and some sliced chese.

As far as tastes adjusting I will just say that growing up I insisted on white bread, I could not STAND the thought of grainy brown wheat bread. When I had my son I decided that there are just too many benefits of wheat bread over white bread to not go with wheat. So I made the change and maybe at first was bothered, but now three years later, I find white bread to be unsatisfying. I love whole wheat bread! My husband was the same way. So maybe try it out for a couple weeks and see if you can adjust to it?

BigDougie1211

We have one microwave in a building for 650 people so I can't really get heating my lunch up.
I think I'll try the smoothie idea though. I'm sure I could bury a few things that disquiet my taste buds.

Big problem is, after brakfast, lunch sometimes needs to be my " big " meal, as I have football training etc in the evenings and don't get home until after 10pm.

I suppose soups would be worth a try, a flask doesn't coat much.

I know I seemed to be asking daft questions. I know the nutritional basics, but I suppose if I don't eat the damn things, then other ways of geting the nutrience wouldn't really occur to me, so thanks for that.

micheleb15

I also juice veggies that I wouldn't normally eat, like kale, spinach, etc. I am not a big salad fan either, but I make sure to get veggies into every meal. I'll chop up some tomatoes, onions, cucumbers and add oil and vinegar and you have a small salad. Or you can make a homemade veggie salsas to add onto tacos or fajitas, even burgers.

I love throwing them into a pan and stirfrying carrots, brocolli and peas with some soy sauce and put it over brown rice. I also love steamed squash and zuchinni with a bit of butter and garlic.

One more idea is to make baked zuchinni dippers. Coat in egg whites, dip into a bread crumb mix and bake, you can dip it in a ranch sauce. There really are tons of ideas. Just try some out, you don't have to eat raw veggie salads just to get veggies in.

AmyRhubarb

Healthy Foods...
I really struggle here.

I'd love to enjoy a nice salad and be able to fill up on a healthy lunch, but I really can't stand them.
The only veg I can stand are potatoes, onons, garlic, peppers, scallions, leeks ( I can't just throw those in a bowl together and call it a salad can I? )

I hate the taste of brown/granary bread.

Can you see a pattern forming?
I've done well weight wise so far, I eat within my calories and work hard when I train, but I need a hand with the food as I do want to eat more healthily, but I love food and can't rwally get to grips with the whole food for fuel only concept.

I need some alternative healthy, convenient options beyond salad....

If I force it, am I going to " develop " a taste for salads - like I did with Guiness?

Hey, Guinness has protein! :drinker: LOL

Honestly, I rarely eat salads - my husband has had digestion issues for years, and eventually had his colon removed, so salad isn't really an option for him, so I quit making them. And my most often consumed breads? Sourdough and hamburger buns!

My favorite veggie prep methods are grilled or roasted. I grew up loathing zucchini, and mom cooked heaps of it fresh from dad's garden. Steamed, microwaved, mushy, icky, bleh. I grow it myself now, and eat it all summer from the grill! Cut it up, toss it with a little olive oil, balsamic vinegar and some herbs, and cook it in one of those grill wok.bowl things. Add mushrooms, bell peppers, cherry tomatoes - delicious! Or you can cut them into planks and grill them right along side the main course. I like to grill sweet potatoes too - cut them into rounds, 1/2-3/4 inch thick, a little olive oil, salt & pepper & garlic, and grill them with burgers - they cook fast, and are super tasty, sort of like grill fries.

Roasting brings out the sugars and sweetness of a lot of veggies. Butternut squash cubed & tossed with olive oil, mushrooms & pumpkin seeds is amazing, especially sprinkled with smoked paprika before roasting.

Branch out, try new things - I'll take roasted & grilled veggies on my plate over a salad any day!

now_or_never13

If it's tough to use a microave to heat up your food check stores around you for mini crockpots. I didn't have a microwave at my last job. At Bed, Bath and Beyond I found a mini crockpot... about the size of a bowl but a bit taller. I would put my food in that in the morning than when I got to work plug it in. It would be hot and ready to eat by lunch time. It also had a removable container inside with a lid so you could pop that in the fridge than plug in an hour or two before you eat. I was so happy I found that as it helped to bring better foods to work.

FredDoyle

I make soups and stews heavy on the flavours I like as a base. Garlic, peppers, onions etc...
Then toss in spices you like (hot pepper sauce, curry) and toss in a bunch of the ones you don't like so much.
Peas, carrots, squash, sweet potato, spinach, green beans, celery etc.
You won't taste them...
Add some tasteless stuff to thicken like chia seeds, quinoa, barley. Yum.

nokanjaijo

This may not help since cooling appears problematic but you can make vegetables seem very meat and potatoes if you lightly coat them in bacon grease and roast them. Wrap asparagus in a thinly sliced, cured ham and bake it. Do veg the way steakhouses to veg.

Shana82

You're taste buds absolutely adapt. Start with small salads. Don't make is be your whole lunch, have it along with something else. Put something on the salad you really enjoy. For me, I can make myself eat any salad if it either has warm chicken or feta cheese on it.

Small doses of veggies are much easier to take though if you are trying to teach yourself to try new things. Its a process. Also, if you can find it try white whole wheat bread, that is a step in the right direction as well

BigDougie1211

If it's tough to use a microave to heat up your food check stores around you for mini crockpots. I didn't have a microwave at my last job. At Bed, Bath and Beyond I found a mini crockpot... about the size of a bowl but a bit taller. I would put my food in that in the morning than when I got to work plug it in. It would be hot and ready to eat by lunch time. It also had a removable container inside with a lid so you could pop that in the fridge than plug in an hour or two before you eat. I was so happy I found that as it helped to bring better foods to work.

That sounds awesome!
I feckin love stews and chowders, could be a dfinite way o go, just plug in under my desk and let it heat gradually.

mtnmamastacey

I make muffins and hide veggies in them for my kids. There are tons of recipes online, many call for a jar of baby food in the mix or I'll use that in place of the oil. You can also use half white and half wheat flour and some rolled oats for extra grains. Muffins also freeze well so you don't have to eat them all at once, and are great to throw in your lunch. You could even add protein powder for a pre-football snack.

upgetupgetup

We have one microwave in a building for 650 people so I can't really get heating my lunch up.
I think I'll try the smoothie idea though. I'm sure I could bury a few things that disquiet my taste buds.

What the ****, is that legal?

Re bread: I used to love ONLY white bready things - baguettes, focaccia, sourdough buns, fresh kaiser rolls, croissants (pumpernickel was lovely too). Then I went to rye, or 12-grain breads (a lot of which still use white flour) and got used to the nuttiness and seeds. Then onto darker straight whole grain breads. Now if I eat more than a bite of some of those white breads, I'm just tasting paper or Styrofoam. The grainier stuff has a lot more to offer in terms of depth and texture. My tastes changed, but it took a bit of time

Veg: it really sucks that you don't have access to a stove Because Asian stiry-frys are a great way to get to love cooked veg - lots of flavour there. Or you could have roasted veggies (peppers, mushrooms) with a bit of garlic and olive oil. Or pastas with some veg thrown into a tomato sauce with some meat or shellfish.

For salads - what about ones with legumes? Lentils, feta, tomatoes? You can get some of those ready.

BigDougie1211

Folks, thanks a lot for this, it's all very much appreciated.
I work out very hard and am making progress with my weight, but I know the diet is going to have to alter drastically in the not to distant furture - so thankyou for all the suggestions.

rachel4304

Healthy Foods...
I really struggle here.

I'd love to enjoy a nice salad and be able to fill up on a healthy lunch, but I really can't stand them.
The only veg I can stand are potatoes, onons, garlic, peppers, scallions, leeks ( I can't just throw those in a bowl together and call it a salad can I? )

I hate the taste of brown/granary bread.

Can you see a pattern forming?
I've done well weight wise so far, I eat within my calories and work hard when I train, but I need a hand with the food as I do want to eat more healthily, but I love food and can't rwally get to grips with the whole food for fuel only concept.

I need some alternative healthy, convenient options beyond salad....

If I force it, am I going to " develop " a taste for salads - like I did with Guiness?

Hey, Guinness has protein! :drinker: LOL

Honestly, I rarely eat salads - my husband has had digestion issues for years, and eventually had his colon removed, so salad isn't really an option for him, so I quit making them. And my most often consumed breads? Sourdough and hamburger buns!

My favorite veggie prep methods are grilled or roasted. I grew up loathing zucchini, and mom cooked heaps of it fresh from dad's garden. Steamed, microwaved, mushy, icky, bleh. I grow it myself now, and eat it all summer from the grill! Cut it up, toss it with a little olive oil, balsamic vinegar and some herbs, and cook it in one of those grill wok.bowl things. Add mushrooms, bell peppers, cherry tomatoes - delicious! Or you can cut them into planks and grill them right along side the main course. I like to grill sweet potatoes too - cut them into rounds, 1/2-3/4 inch thick, a little olive oil, salt & pepper & garlic, and grill them with burgers - they cook fast, and are super tasty, sort of like grill fries.

Roasting brings out the sugars and sweetness of a lot of veggies. Butternut squash cubed & tossed with olive oil, mushrooms & pumpkin seeds is amazing, especially sprinkled with smoked paprika before roasting.

Branch out, try new things - I'll take roasted & grilled veggies on my plate over a salad any day!

I want to second this. I HATE lettuce. So I roast the veggies I do like, put it in a bowl and consider it my salad. You don't have to eat salad to be healthy.

aerochic42

As for not like the taste of brown bread, one thing I got my husband to try was the whitewheat bread. there's a couple of different brands out there, and the reason I was able to get my hubby to eat it is because it doesn't taste like brown Wheat bread. After comparing labels on the same brand of whitewheat and 100% whole wheat, it turns out they had similar nutrient levels (fiber, carbs, calories, etc) both of which were better than the white bread. Like anything read the labels to determine ingredients, health benefits. (I'm at work and can't remember what brand is currently in the house or what brands we used to get when we lived elsewhere)

AllonsYtotheTardis

I don't like salads either. They are not required.

Lots of other ways to enjoy the benefits of the nutrients in veggies though. Soups are a great place to start. Especially if you blend the veggies together - then you get the texture of a 'cream' soup, with out the calorie bomb of adding cream. Lots of your favorite spices in the soup will make it more tasty.

You can also puree veggies and mix them in your favorite foods.

Plus - try veggies in lots of different ways - there is no law that says you have to eat them raw.

K_Serz

Healthy Foods...
I really struggle here.

I'd love to enjoy a nice salad and be able to fill up on a healthy lunch, but I really can't stand them.
The only veg I can stand are potatoes, onons, garlic, peppers, scallions, leeks ( I can't just throw those in a bowl together and call it a salad can I? )

I hate the taste of brown/granary bread.

Can you see a pattern forming?
I've done well weight wise so far, I eat within my calories and work hard when I train, but I need a hand with the food as I do want to eat more healthily, but I love food and can't rwally get to grips with the whole food for fuel only concept.

I need some alternative healthy, convenient options beyond salad....

If I force it, am I going to " develop " a taste for salads - like I did with Guiness?

I think you might be better off at listing all the foods you do like to eat. Yes, all of them. Even ones that you think are bad for you.

Then look at their content. From here you can pick what combinations to eat each day. Maybe you just need to cut back on serving sizes?

Eating foods you hate every day just because they are healthy for you is no way to live and a surefire way to wind up gaining back anything you lose.

SnicciFit

I find that veggies taste better with meat! For example:

Saute some onions, bell peppers, garlic and chopped up cabbage with a pound of ground beef. Throw some salt & pepper on it. YUM!

I add veggies to my spaghetti sauce and then eat it over spaghetti squash instead of noodles (sneaky, huh?!)

Make an omelet with whatever veggies you like

...hope that helps!

now_or_never13

If it's tough to use a microave to heat up your food check stores around you for mini crockpots. I didn't have a microwave at my last job. At Bed, Bath and Beyond I found a mini crockpot... about the size of a bowl but a bit taller. I would put my food in that in the morning than when I got to work plug it in. It would be hot and ready to eat by lunch time. It also had a removable container inside with a lid so you could pop that in the fridge than plug in an hour or two before you eat. I was so happy I found that as it helped to bring better foods to work.

That sounds awesome!
I feckin love stews and chowders, could be a dfinite way o go, just plug in under my desk and let it heat gradually.

That's what I did! Worked great for soups and stews. I have also used it for stir frys and pasta... the only catch with these two would be to put some extra sauce at the bottom or the rice/pasta will stick to the container. It is such a great thing. I loved mine. I normally would put leftovers in it. The one I got was somewhat small so if you need something a bit larger look for a smaller rice cooker type thing. Those will work pretty much the same and would be a touch bigger. I found a thermos didn't keep food hot enough for me.

doubleduofa

You will begin to develop a taste for things. I used to hate avocados when I was a kid, but now, I LOVE them. Some things will just remain on the hated foods list - like for me, it's olives. I've tried to like them...I just can't.

My husband is a great example of this - he was a fast food junkie...ate it at least every day, doesn't like many veggies, doesn't snack on fruit (even though he likes it). Now that I cook most of the time and we have snacks on hand, he's getting better about things and his tastes are changing.

I also have many tricks up my sleeve to get use both to eat more veggies. It's like dealing with kids - I hide them in many dishes - for example, shepard's pie (I can add carrots, spinach, kale, squash) to the meat, onions, and potatoes. It all gets mashed up and he doesn't realize they are there. I throw lots of veggies in my lasagna sauce, add a shredded carrot and squash to my meatloaf, add a few spinach leaves to a panini sandwich... Soups and stews are also a great way to get in veggies.

I'm not a big salad person. I don't like to bring them for lunch because I don't think they pack well, but when I do eat them, I add things I like to make them a meal. I add cottage cheese instead of dressing, or make a great vinaigrette. I add cheese, dried fruit, nuts, seeds, etc.

I also steam broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots on occasion and just eat them as a side dish or snack (even cold). They aren't like "OMG my favorite EVER," but I don't mind them either. Some veggies, I can just cook as a side dish - like sauteed spinach, or carrots and a little butter.

Basically, everytime I make something, I think "how can I add veggies to this?" Pizza toppings, scrambled eggs, sandwiches - all easy way to add veggies!

Lastly, don't underestimate the power of a green smoothie. Add some fruit, and CHUG. :-)

liesevanlingen

I add pureed "baby food" vegetables to nearly everything. Aside from soups and stews, meatloaf, spaghetti or pizza sauce are good places to hide them--you just add a jar of pureed carrot, squash or pumpkin into the mix and you won't even taste it. I usually put this stuff in baked goods too, just adding it mixed with the liquid part. If a recipe calls for a cup of milk, you measure out the baby food then add enough milk to make 1 cup, for example. Even if you're using a mix, you can do this and they actually taste better. Look up recipes for zucchini bread or carrot cake as well. Experiment with lower fat recipes and try different things. And eat lots of fruit!

lobster888

You have some really good ideas in this thread. Remember sometimes it takes baby step to get where you want to be. Make changes to keep moving in the positive direction of a healthy lifestyle. My husband didn't like the wheat at first ... I kept trying different brands and even started to mix the two and found one he can eat. i also add in veggies with soups and red sauces and gravy's. I started to roast alot of veggies and that probqably the best way. I olive oil, lemon, salt and pepper and then add a little parmesian cheese .
For breads, try different types beside white and wheat. I get a bread from whole foods called seeduction bread that my husband couln't live without!!! There are make healthy food choice it just takes time to find one to work for you.

Good luck and have a happy healthy day!!!

doubleduofa

Oh, and bread takes awhile if you are used to white. Experiment with different ones. I personally like the "whole grain" labeled breads better than "whole wheat" labeled ones. I'd rather have a bread with seeds in/on it that is made with a little honey. I like the sweetness and heartiness of them - and they also tend to be softer. It might not be the perfect choice, but I'd rather enjoy my food than dread it.

Evachiquita

Stir frys are great for getting used to veggies. Throw in anything you like and add some seasonings like garlic, ginger, soy sauce or whatever you like. Also try using different seasonings and herbs. Start small and try new things every now and then. Even if you don't like something cooked or prepared one way doesn't necessarily mean you won't like it cooked another way. Keep experimenting. Your tastes absolutely adapt!! A few years ago I would never have eaten 2 cups of sauteed kale, and now I crave it!

superjean1

If it's tough to use a microave to heat up your food check stores around you for mini crockpots. I didn't have a microwave at my last job. At Bed, Bath and Beyond I found a mini crockpot... about the size of a bowl but a bit taller. I would put my food in that in the morning than when I got to work plug it in. It would be hot and ready to eat by lunch time. It also had a removable container inside with a lid so you could pop that in the fridge than plug in an hour or two before you eat. I was so happy I found that as it helped to bring better foods to work.

AWESOME idea!!!!

JingleMuffin

baked califlower is so nummy. i make it in the oven with a spritz of olive oil and spices,

bcattoes

Healthy Foods...
I really struggle here.

I'd love to enjoy a nice salad and be able to fill up on a healthy lunch, but I really can't stand them.
The only veg I can stand are potatoes, onons, garlic, peppers, scallions, leeks ( I can't just throw those in a bowl together and call it a salad can I? )

Yeah, sure. Why not. You could also roast or saute them together for a tasty and healthy side dish. Or add some meat chunks and broth/gravy and have a stew or soup.

I hate the taste of brown/granary bread.

My husband doesn't like the darker grainy breads either. But he likes the "white wheat" breads. He now uses Arnold's White Wheat sandwich thins to cut down on calories.

Can you see a pattern forming?
I've done well weight wise so far, I eat within my calories and work hard when I train, but I need a hand with the food as I do want to eat more healthily, but I love food and can't rwally get to grips with the whole food for fuel only concept.

I need some alternative healthy, convenient options beyond salad....

If I force it, am I going to " develop " a taste for salads - like I did with Guiness?

I rarely eat salad. It's just so much trouble prepare and to eat. And when I do have salad, it's usually bean or grain based. For example, today I have having a quinoa/bean salad for lunch. I prefer my leafy greens cooked or on a sandwich (I am partial to sandwich wraps because they let me add a lot of veggies in addition to the meat/protein).

Salads can be healthy, but healthy eating isn't all about salads. Try roasting some vegetables. They are sooooo much tastier when they start to brown in the oven. Add chopped leafy greens like arugula, spinach, kale, collards to pasta sauces, soups, stews, gravies, etc. Or to casseroles or lasagna. You don't have to eat like a rabbit to be healthy.

THExNEKOxCHAN

If you don't like the bread, awesome. You don't need the crap wheat and carbs from it. But it also means you should probably cut out the rest of the bread as well. If you live in the states, the bread will have a ton of extra sugar added, and be "enriched" this and "fortified" that. Bread in the US has become just another junk food. And if you drink beer a lot, you may want to consider cutting back, as beer tends to be carby as well.

All those onions and leeks and garlic that you like? They go awesome with tons of veggies. Try sauteing up onions and garlic with carrot, zuchini, and beef mince or chicken. Or, use some mashed potato and add eggs, a bit of browned bacon, and grated veggies to form pancakes or fritters. Steam broccoli and cauliflower and smother with butter and cheese for an awesome side.

Soups and stews are a good way to use veggies. Carrots, onions, garlic, potatoes, swede, pumpkin, etc.

Veggies aren't all about eating salads.