Veggie Suggestion?

hdg1822
hdg1822 Posts: 75 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Hi. Not a huge fan of veggies but well aware that I need to change and increase my veggie and fruit intake. I need to up my fiber, potassium and other vitamins...naturally. I know mushrooms will be a popular answer but I cannot stand them. I can barely stand the smell to cook them for my husband and I can taste them if they get "slipped" into my food. Any suggestions would be helpful.
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Replies

  • Greenrun99
    Greenrun99 Posts: 2,065 Member
    Mushrooms are actually not one of the higher fiber ones.. its more the green ones so broccoli and the like.. not corn (corn is kinda useless) but any of those are good items... Just find veggies you like and start adding them.. they even make some spray butter that doesn't have calories you can use on them to add some more flavors.
  • hdg1822
    hdg1822 Posts: 75 Member
    Thank you! I will have to find that spray butter. I think that would help me out a lot.
  • lpeace2u
    lpeace2u Posts: 94 Member
    Broccoli, asparagus, cabbage and zuccini are some of the favorites in our house. There are so many ways to prepare them. Search for recipes you like. We make an "unstuffed cabbage" with ground turkey which everyone loves, even the teenagers. We put all kinds of veggies on our grill with a little olive oil, salt and pepper and are delicious.
  • MinnieInMaine
    MinnieInMaine Posts: 6,400 Member
    There are so many options out there! Specifically for the nutrients you listed, here are some good options:

    Fruits: bananas, oranges, raspberries, pears, apples, strawberries, figs, raisins, apricots and tomatoes

    Veggies: white potato with skin, artichokes, winter squashes (acorn, butternut, buttercup), peas, broccoli and sweet potatoes

    Also: almonds, legumes and whole grains like buckwheat, barley and oat bran
  • agamache12
    agamache12 Posts: 1
    Baked brussels sprouts are delicious! I know I sound crazy and up until a few months ago (before i had even tried them) i would have thought i was crazy too but i assure you, it's worth a try. Add a little extra virgin olive oil, salt , pepper & a sprinkle of garlic powder and they are a delicious side dish to go with any meal.
  • Iwishyouwell
    Iwishyouwell Posts: 1,888 Member
    Spinach is your best friend. So versatile culinarily and so incredibly nutritious that it's almost obscene.
  • GingerLolita
    GingerLolita Posts: 738 Member
    I always add tons of veggies to homemade brown fried rice and to bolognese sauces for pasta. Also, have you tried roasted veggies? They're delicious. :)
  • knra_grl
    knra_grl Posts: 1,566 Member
    Spinach is your best friend. So versatile culinarily and so incredibly nutritious that it's almost obscene.

    I like spinach - and you can hide it in stuff if you don't care for it that much
  • Margiewar
    Margiewar Posts: 15 Member
    Try stir frying bok choy, celery, and onions and than make a chow mein sauce with sherry, cornstarch, a little garlic and ginger to taste, a little chicken broth and it's delicious.
  • hdg1822
    hdg1822 Posts: 75 Member
    Thank you all! These are some great suggestions. I will have to work on adding in the spinach. Sounds like it is a great place to start along with some of the fruits and other veggies listed. I appreciate the help!
  • jorralee
    jorralee Posts: 74 Member
    frozen peas! Add them to your fried rice :D
  • hdg1822
    hdg1822 Posts: 75 Member
    Thanks. I do like peas. That would be a great way to get them more in my diet!
  • JenMc14
    JenMc14 Posts: 2,389 Member
    FYI - Spray butter does have calories. But because one spray has less than 5, they can label it as 0 calories. I used to use it a lot, but I haven't been recently.

    Roasting veggies with a little oil makes them really tasty. Broccoli, cauliflower, sweet potatoes, asparagus, zucchini, all delicious.
  • chad_phillips1123
    chad_phillips1123 Posts: 229 Member
    I go with spinach (usually in some scrambled eggs..maybe with some diced tomatoes), broccoli and cauliflower (steamfresh bags; hated the stuff as a kid, but now I love them as a side, just nuke, cut them a bit, and some salt), and green beans.

    One thing I would suggest is if you want to add a vegetable to your diet, but haven't or don't like it, search out some recipes. Sometimes the way it's prepared is everything.
  • JenMc14
    JenMc14 Posts: 2,389 Member
    Weird duplicate post. Sorry.
  • lynn1982
    lynn1982 Posts: 1,439 Member
    These are all great suggestions! (And I second the suggestion for roasted veggies - really brings out the flavour! And spinach is super easy to "hide" in things like smoothies if you don't like the taste.) Are there veggies that you particularly like? I found that really helped me when I was trying to increase my fruit and veggie intake. Rather than trying to eat things because you "have" to, focus on healthy veggies that you actually like and then have fun trying new recipes with them!
  • nickylee76
    nickylee76 Posts: 629 Member
    My new favorite veggie is Brussel Sprouts... Always swore I hated them then I had the baby ones in the butter sauce (green giant)...now I can't get enough. I make them all sorts of ways. Roasted is the best with some onions. peppers olive oil and spices.
  • MrsBrown424
    MrsBrown424 Posts: 12
    Have you tried green smoothies? They're surprisingly and amazingly delicious. My current favorite is blueberry/banana/kale.
  • hdg1822
    hdg1822 Posts: 75 Member
    FYI - Spray butter does have calories. But because one spray has less than 5, they can label it as 0 calories. I used to use it a lot, but I haven't been recently.

    Thanks for this info!
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    Roasting veggies with a little oil makes them really tasty. Broccoli, cauliflower, sweet potatoes, asparagus, zucchini, all delicious.

    This ^^ Just about any vegetable is great roasted. There are some vegetables that I only like roasted, such as brussel sprouts.

    Stir fry is also a good option. Putting vegetables in soups, chilis and stews is also a good.

    If you like mashed potatoes, try mixing equal amounts of cauliflower, turnips and potatoes to lower the carb and calorie count and add more vegetable variety. The potatoes have a stronger flavor so the taste isn't much different.
  • sarabethclark1
    sarabethclark1 Posts: 9
    this was my dinner last night:

    Small head of cabbage cut in 1 in slices - brushed some EVOO on the pan. put the round slices of cabage on the pan and brushed 2T of EVOO on all of them. Sprinkled with some coarse Sea salt, pepper and celery seed (recipe called for carraway or fennel seeds but I didn't have them) delicious!

    Our "main" course was 3 oz of organic pre-cooked frozen chicken strips, red pepper, green pepper, yellow squash, zuchinni and onion sauted in 1T of coconut oil. Once tender but still slightly crispy i put in 2T of Newman's Own reduced fat seaseme giner dressing to add some great flavor! I got my protein and PLENTY of veggies!

    I am now stearing clear of unhealthy carbs for dinner, unless I just have a craving and then it's in small portion!

    Good luck!
  • MissTeeolivia
    MissTeeolivia Posts: 1
    Spinach, avocado and also edamame beans :)
  • hdg1822
    hdg1822 Posts: 75 Member
    Are there veggies that you particularly like? I found that really helped me when I was trying to increase my fruit and veggie intake. Rather than trying to eat things because you "have" to, focus on healthy veggies that you actually like and then have fun trying new recipes with them!

    I like potatoes, peas, some beans, aspargus and some squash. I need to add to what I like. Thanks for the trying new recipes idea.
  • Greytfish
    Greytfish Posts: 810
    Try grilling large slices of red/yellow/orange peppers on the grill. Very tasty.

    Spaghetti squash baked is quite nutritious and yummy.

    Either compliment a salad well.
  • baileyang33
    baileyang33 Posts: 131 Member
    I like to hit the local market & get in season veggies!!!!! You can find a million recipes for anything & whatever level of food preparation you have or desire to put into the task. I personally love a challenge & Pinterest for new veggies or fruits I haven't used.
  • LoosingMyLast15
    LoosingMyLast15 Posts: 1,457 Member
    Hi. Not a huge fan of veggies but well aware that I need to change and increase my veggie and fruit intake. I need to up my fiber, potassium and other vitamins...naturally. I know mushrooms will be a popular answer but I cannot stand them. I can barely stand the smell to cook them for my husband and I can taste them if they get "slipped" into my food. Any suggestions would be helpful.

    i hate mushrooms so i'll never recommend them.

    edamame slipped into stir fry
    peas (and i don't like them but will eat them in stuff)
    carrots (shave them into tomato sauce)
    green beans are my favorite love love love them
    greens (kale, mustard are my two favs)
    spinach
    sweet potatoes
    squash
    zucchini

    there are tons of veggies out there. give them a try. root veggies are great roasted.
  • rockmama72
    rockmama72 Posts: 815 Member
    How about soup? It's easy to make and there are a zillion great veggie soup recipes out there...
  • Chelseraptor
    Chelseraptor Posts: 27 Member
    I used to eat only raw carrots, cucumbers, and lettuce because I hated everything else. Eventually I started just eating them because I knew I should. I was actually really surprised how many veggies I thought I hated that I really like now. I love grilling kabobs with chicken, squash, peppers and onions and serving it over rice. I think most veggies taste better steamed, too - not too crunchy, but not soggy either. And if you cook them in something with some flavor, like making a stir fry or something, it helps to cover up the taste a little bit.
  • qtgonewild
    qtgonewild Posts: 1,930 Member
    i love shaved brussel sprouts sauteed in coconut oil with bacon as well. IT IS AMAZING. i could eat it everyday. I also have just recently tried spaghetti squash and now im addicted. i have ate it every night for like a week straight. i just put a lil olive oil and salt and pepper while baking and then eat it that way. mmmmm.
  • amoffatt
    amoffatt Posts: 674 Member
    To increase my veggie intake and limit my carbs (I'm not low carb, I just tend to eat over my allowance.. :ohwell: ), I started to do lettuce wraps. I take almost anything I would put on a sandwich or in a wrap and use lettuce instead. I even cook chicken, cut it up in slices, top with olives, or a little cheese, ect and wrap it in either romaine lettuce or iceberg.

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