Stupide Question: How to Like Veggies?

So I am committed to trying a new veggie every week (a SERIOUS downfall of mine).

The problem is I know I won't like them plain. I was going to get the steamfresh stuff so it is quick but I was wondering what I can put on them or how to make them more appealing.

I have green beans and snap peas coming up as examples. I should really give broccoli another try. Etc.

Suggestions?


EDIT: And of course the kitten helped me type so I have an "e" on stupid...*sigh*
«1

Replies

  • emmy3111
    emmy3111 Posts: 482 Member
    Green Giant Simply Steam veggies come pre-portioned and pre-seasoned... that may be something for you to look into :)
  • alicebud
    alicebud Posts: 72 Member
    Zesty Italian dressing to season green beans.

    Lemon juice and smart balance (butter) for brocolli

    Mix the snap peas with carrot pieces or kernel corn and the carrots/corn add flavor that the peas don't really have

    Also, experiment with relish, salsa
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    Try them raw, steamed, roasted, grilled, etc. Trying them ONCE ... does not indicate you will never like them.

    Steamfresh are great (for some things) ..... BUT freezing veggies changes the texture. Frozen peppers, carrots, & celery ... blech .... and I like veggies!

    There is no ONE exact recipe that will make you like veggies. It's a lifestyle change.

    Veggies roasted (cauliflower) with a bit of olive oil & garlic .... yum. Grilled veggies; I like asparagus with sesame oil & soy sauce. I love snap peas ....raw.

    Just keep plugging away......
  • Meaganandcheese
    Meaganandcheese Posts: 525 Member
    Is is texture you don't like? Or taste?

    I used to think I hated veggies, but over time I started trying different ways to cook them, season them, etc. I also tried lots of different things. If it's texture, then you can try eating them raw or steamed or roasted, etc. If it's taste, then you can try them with various dips, sauces, even puree or add them to soups/casseroles. Variety is everything, as well as trying to get things in season when the flavor is at a peak.

    Good luck!
  • spacecase76
    spacecase76 Posts: 673 Member
    some of the steam fresh ones come pre-seasoned. I really love the asian veggies. Jody really likes the broccoli w/ cheese sauce and the broccoli / cauliflower w/ cheese sauce. I usually prefer veggies lightly steamed with salt, but, I realize that I am in the minority with that.

    Treat yourself like a baby... try one new thing for a few days in a row, perhaps different ways, and learn to like it :flowerforyou:
  • PeaceCorpsKat
    PeaceCorpsKat Posts: 335 Member
    Sometimes veggies are hard because they have very strong flavors and if you are not used to them it hard to eat. Just keep getting them down, you will come to love the flavor over time.
  • postrockandcats
    postrockandcats Posts: 1,145 Member
    I like raw veggies a lot.

    I will also roast things like Broccoli and Cauliflower and Brussels Sprouts. I need texture and flavor! :)
  • Toss them with olive oil and herbs and roast them for 40 minutes. If you haven't done that with brussel sprouts, you don't know what you're missing!!
  • MB_Positif
    MB_Positif Posts: 8,897 Member
    I didn't read any other responses, BUT the yummiest thing you can do with broccoli is toss it in a bit of olive oil, garlic, salt & pepper, then roast it at 450 degrees until it starts to brown a little. Awesome. In fact, most vegetables are awesome when roasted with the same ingredients above.
  • LovePBandJ
    LovePBandJ Posts: 288 Member
    Try baking your veggies. Broccoli and cauliflower are amazing baked at about 400 with a little EVOO, sea salt, and garlic. Bake them until they start to brown on the edges. Can take a long time, easily upwards of 30 mins.

    Do the same with Kale, only bake the Kale for only about 10, until crispy like a potato chip.
  • sgaranzuay
    sgaranzuay Posts: 34 Member
    Salsa is YOUR FRIEND! Low in calories, high in flavor! I eat cauliflower and broccoli raw, with a good dose of salsa for dipping. Also, Edamame is quite good - and lots of soy protein to boot!

    Good luck!

    - Seve
  • douse asparagus with olive oil and pepper and fold them in tin foil and grill them. AMAZING!!
  • AnneC77
    AnneC77 Posts: 284
    I sometimes add tomato sauce to my veggies, Neapolitan I think it is called. The same stuff you put on pasta, it is yummy and healthy especially as I add no oil to mine.
  • pithole
    pithole Posts: 75 Member
    I suggest trying veggies raw first. When you cook them people tend to make them unhealthy with "seasoning" or rob them of their nutrients in the microwave.

    I started my diet with only ever eating potatoes and corn. Now there isn't a veggie I don't like.

    I would like to suggest you DO give broccoli another try. A cup of raw broccoli is a great snack. It'll take you at least 15 minutes to eat, is super healthy, and is about 20 calories.
  • Charlie003
    Charlie003 Posts: 1,333 Member
    Drowned in gravy and covered with bacon.
  • bizorra
    bizorra Posts: 151 Member
    Roasting with balsamic vinegar. Yummmmm!
    Or grilled on the bbq!
    And a little bit of butter or oil can go a long way when learning to love veggies. Don't drown them, just a bit.

    I want to commend you for committing to trying new things! And remember that how its prepared is just as important in liking something as the thing itself. I find steamed/boiled brussel sprouts nasty, but roasted to bring out the natural sweetness they are DIVINE.
  • shelbyfrootcake
    shelbyfrootcake Posts: 965 Member
    How do you know you won't like them plain? Veggies vary so much it's impossible to say without trying.

    Try asparagus wrapped in parma ham and/or griddled and dipped in the yolk of a boiled or poached egg.

    Make pea soup with some Thai curry paste in it.

    Brussels are great served with chestnuts.

    Maybe add a low fat cheese sauce to the broccoli, top with a little breadcrumb and bake.

    Spinach, mushrooms and courgettes are fab in a vegetable lasagne.

    Roasted aubergine is fab with a bit of crumbled feta and a toasted flatbread.
  • daisiemae123
    daisiemae123 Posts: 277 Member
    I am finding that I love all vegetables roasted right now. Drizzle with just a little olive oil and experiment with the seasonings. I use lots of garlic and a little salt and pepper. Bake at 450 until tender. Even my husband that is not a big veggie eater is liking them this way.
    I am also a fan of the Green Giant veggies that are pre-seasoned. All you can do really is experiment with different veggies and recipes.
  • 76tech
    76tech Posts: 1,455 Member
    Green beans are excellent tossed with some soy sauce. Here's how I make them:

    Rise and dry them very well. Saute in a dry pan, or a bit of oil/butter if you like. Right before they're done, toss in a bit of soy sauce.
    If steaming is easier, just steam then toss in a hot pan with the soy.

    Broccoli? I love roasted broccoli. I don't follow the recipes, just the method. Soy usually goes on that too. A bit of hot sauce helps everything if you are so inclined.
  • StarLeopard
    StarLeopard Posts: 80 Member
    I agree with the sauce ideas but I would use real butter also. You probably don't want to hear this and I may be out of order here, but you probably won't really learn to appreciate vegetables until you cut way back on sugar. At least that's me.
  • myofibril
    myofibril Posts: 4,500 Member
    "Fresh Flavours of India" ~ Das Sreedharan.

    Absolutely delicious recipes in here but if you can't be bothered with that then seasoning, herbs and spices are your friends.
  • I love veggies, but can't stand how bland they can be.

    I say roast in the oven or grill them. I know people who have hated veggies until they've been grilled.
  • ZombieChaser
    ZombieChaser Posts: 1,555 Member
    *sigh* Put your big girl pants on and eat your damned veggies! You're not 8 years old anymore.
  • sarah1334
    sarah1334 Posts: 77 Member
    Toss them with olive oil and herbs and roast them for 40 minutes. If you haven't done that with brussel sprouts, you don't know what you're missing!!

    This!!

    I cut those small red potatoes into halves or fourths, throw them onto a baking sheet with some baby carrots, toss with some olive oil and rosemary/thyme/salt/pepper, put the oven at 400 degrees for 40 minutes. DE-LISH. Yummy with some condiments like sour cream or BBQ sauce, just don't forget to log the condiments too :)
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    Your cat is a much better typist than any of mine. They tend to write like this:
    adlqpoj aq pgnkas-gn -bgrnqpn

    That said... I buy bags of frozen vegetables and mix them with another food so they're hard to avoid and take on the flavor of the other food. IE, Rice A Roni or Knorr Rice Sides (which are high in sodium, but I don't care), or in with a pasta and sauce. Like Italian Blend vegetables in with ravioli and vodka sauce, or Peking Blend in with Teriyaki Rice. It makes me eat more vegetables and less of the starch, so it's a win-win.
  • misfitswayoflife
    misfitswayoflife Posts: 134 Member
    lemon is awesome.. hummus is awesome on raw veggies and i like garlic powder on cooked ones
  • shelbyfrootcake
    shelbyfrootcake Posts: 965 Member
    Bolognase is fab with carrot and loads of mushrooms added.

    Roasted beetroot is great, especially with a little bit of goat's cheese.

    Stuff peppers with mince and quinoa, then grill or bake.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    So I am committed to trying a new veggie every week (a SERIOUS downfall of mine).

    The problem is I know I won't like them plain. I was going to get the steamfresh stuff so it is quick but I was wondering what I can put on them or how to make them more appealing.

    I have green beans and snap peas coming up as examples. I should really give broccoli another try. Etc.

    Suggestions?


    EDIT: And of course the kitten helped me type so I have an "e" on stupid...*sigh*

    OK - about green beans ..... my preference

    Fresh - steamed are the bomb. I bring them to work & use a Glad Simply Cooking bag. I add 1 teaspoon of water & a sprinkle of salt. Cook 3:30 minutes and season with butter when done. Nicely firm (not crunchy) texture.

    Canned (I know) - you can rinse the salt off & eat these cold (better in cold salad recipes).

    Frozen - these are kind of nasty - it's a texture thing. If these are way overcooked - I can overlook the texture. If you have to use frozen green beans, try french cut ones. They are not so "water logged." & squishy.

    Snap peas - I like to start with fresh & lightly steam them or add to asian stir fry. Frozen snap peas are not best texture because (in my opinion) they are already over cooked.

    Broccoli - Frozen / fresh / raw / roasted...it's all good. You can steam lightly, cool & add to cold salads. Asian flavors are good with broccoli (chicken & ginger stir fry).
  • foxyforce
    foxyforce Posts: 3,078 Member
    dips: hummus, mustard, sour cream

    i know you don't like them plain, but some are seriously good plain.

    pe-portioning: if i have peeled, washed, and cut my carrots. i will bring them to work with me. if i haven't, they will sit in the fridge till they are ugly looking.

    put veggies in everything, this morning i wanted to make myself an egg mcmuffin, so i scrambled an egg with a handful of spinach (love spinach). put carrots and spinach into everything.

    good luck!!!
  • There is no ONE exact recipe that will make you like veggies.

    I disagree, the one exact recipe that will make you like veggies is to dip them in chocolate; of course, that probably defeats the purpose of eating them in the first place.