How can I start eating vegetables?

skazen21
skazen21 Posts: 1
in Food and Nutrition
I lost some weight last year but slowly gained it back. I want this time to be different. I know the fact that I don't eat fruits or veggie is my problem. I want to start so badly. But the texture has always freaked me out. How can I get over this?
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Replies

  • mlt2908
    mlt2908 Posts: 123 Member
    I eat a lot of fruit but also have trouble with veggies - especially cooked. I like salads but can't choke down cooked green beans, broccoli, etc, and really wish I could. I do like fresh spinach so add that to eggs, sandwiches, and use it for salads. I find chopping up raw veggies into small pieces help with adding them to salads and so on and then gradually adding more. Same goes for adding some to cooked dishes....add a little at first, and chop them into small pieces.
  • misseaves123
    misseaves123 Posts: 56 Member
    Try blending about 3 cups of spinach with some vanilla protein power and a handful on mango. The fruit and vanilla COMPLETELY cover up the taste of spinach.. And by drinking it.. all those veggies are down the hatch QUICKLY. Instead of having to chew on something you don't like. Also for dinner I sautee veggies with spices and its so yummy. I have a hard time with raw veggies.
  • heatherutopia
    heatherutopia Posts: 78 Member
    You can start small, just grate some courgette up, stir fry until cooked and mix into some couscous (cooked in chicken stock), add some lemon & chicken and your good to go! It's delicious and you'll have eaten one of your five a day!
  • liznotyet
    liznotyet Posts: 402 Member
    Agree that chopping up veg and adding them to things is a good way to build more in. Another good way is soup. My favorite cooking gadget is an immersion blender that once a soup is fully cooked, you can blend it into a warm smoothie. The flavors of the individual vegetables get lost, and if they looked a little sad from the fridge going into the soup, that doesn't matter. Get all the old jars of salsa and spaghetti sauce out of the fridge, rinse them out with water to add the last bits to the soup.

    One other use for immersion blender that multiplies vegetable awesomeness - turn basil and olive oil into pesto.
  • lisaabenjamin
    lisaabenjamin Posts: 665 Member
    I really don't get it when people say they don't like/can't eat fruit/vegetables!! There are SO many to choose from and they all have different flavours and textures, and those flavours and textures change depending on how you cook/prepare them so how can you not like them all?!

    Maybe get hold of a vegetarian cookbook for some inspiration?
  • Telomin
    Telomin Posts: 45 Member
    I also had that problem. The worst thing I Know is sallad.

    But if one want to be healthy (get vitamins and minerals and good energy)one has to incoorporate it in their foods.

    I started making asian dishes, eastern-asian, wok dishes, there's the vegetables are just as important as the meat in the dishes, so it really helped me getting started.

    And for fruit you could just make blogilates belly detox water, she has like a few slices of fresh mint, lemon, orange and cucumber with water in a glas for like 2 hours, then drink it. You will have tasty water that has a lot of minerals and vitamins in it! :)

    Good luck!
  • lilmissmanx
    lilmissmanx Posts: 81 Member
    Turn them into a different texture? Soups, smoothies etc are all good for getting veg and fruit into you. Although eating the whole veg or fruit in its normal unprocessed form is probably better for you as you get the benefit of the fibre and the nutrients etc along with everything else.

    I have the opposite problem, no problem eating whole fruits and veg but won't drink smoothies (too thick to be a drink, too thin to be a food in my opinion. Bleurgh!)

    I would also try chopping them up small and adding them to foods you already enjoy. Things like chilli and lasagne are easy to pack a load of hidden veg into without necessarily getting a taste or texture you don't want.
  • rainydays5
    rainydays5 Posts: 217 Member
    I have made a couple times a week "meatless" days. So lately I have been trying to find new recipes and have even incorporated things I have never tried. Yesterday I made these amazing grilled eggplant and mushroom sandwiches. Making the eggplant made me a little nervous as I wasn't sure I would like it but it was really good. Not sure what next weeks new thing will be.

    Unlike a previous poster, I like veggies better cooked. I do not like raw carrots at all but love them cooked. I think that might be one of the only veggies I do not eat both raw and cooked.
    I say google some recipes and find things that you would be willing to try. You might surprise yourself with what you really do like to eat.
  • joeyzuraski
    joeyzuraski Posts: 47 Member
    Chop it up and mix it with dressing. I find that putting all your veggies you loathe to taste into a bowl, then using a chopper to cut it up, and shaking it with fat free dressing as much as 3 tablespoons worth, hides the hideous taste.
  • WVmom24
    WVmom24 Posts: 266 Member
    Veggies come in a variety of textures. Avocado is a good one, in moderation because it's kinda high in calories. I use avocado a lot in salads and sandwiches. It's so creamy it is a great replacement for cheese or mayo in a sandwich. Grilling portabella mushroom caps gives them a meaty texture. All natural spaghetti sauce is a good source of vegetables. Vegetable/fruit juice mixtures are great (either store bought or home made).
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    Fruits and vegetables all have a wide variety of textures and flavors. I don't understand the concept of making a sweeping generalization about foods that are so different.
  • joanie5356
    joanie5356 Posts: 1 Member
    Why not try making a veg soup with a tasty stock....then whizz with a blender to the consistency you like. It can be like baby food puree or almost a drink. Try adding something tasty like cheese or chorizo...something strong in flavour to get you started.
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  • ChaiyaChaiya21
    ChaiyaChaiya21 Posts: 37 Member
    Growing up all vegetables at my home were boiled to within a inch of their life and soggy/mushy. Not very appetizing so I never really learned to love vegetables the way I probably should of.

    But once I got out on my own and started cooking I just tried new methods of cooking started small sauteing and baking. And discovered the vegetables and can actually taste really good if they are treated with a little bit of patience and love.

    It doesn't have to be complicated. Try different dips if you like raw veggies buy them pre-cut to take some of the work out so it isn't a "hassle" as well as something to stress about.

    Also the internet is a great place to find awesome simple 3 or 4 ingredient recipes that you can make with veggies. I use veggie times as a start.

    You could just find one vegetable you like and try new ways to enjoy it. ie potato ~ baked, roasted, mashed, wedges, scalloped etc.

    Hopefully you will learn to like ( maybe even love???) vegetables once you discover all the wonderful things you can do with them.

    Cheers!!
  • AllOutof_Bubblegum
    AllOutof_Bubblegum Posts: 3,646 Member
    I really don't get it when people say they don't like/can't eat fruit/vegetables!! There are SO many to choose from and they all have different flavours and textures, and those flavours and textures change depending on how you cook/prepare them so how can you not like them all?!

    This. Does not compute.

    I always have to assume people who say this actually have never eaten vegetables, save for a bad experience with badly cooked slimy spinach as a child, or something. There's no way you can hate ALL vegetables, ANY way they're cooked.
  • TinyBriony51
    TinyBriony51 Posts: 6
    Have you tried chopping up things like carrots, celery, cucumber and dipping them in a low fat hummus or something?
  • rm33064
    rm33064 Posts: 270 Member
    I really don't get it when people say they don't like/can't eat fruit/vegetables!! There are SO many to choose from and they all have different flavours and textures, and those flavours and textures change depending on how you cook/prepare them so how can you not like them all?!

    Maybe get hold of a vegetarian cookbook for some inspiration?

    It's a mental thing, some people have it really bad where they get physically ill or have panic attacks if you force them to eat what turns them off. It's kinda like a phobia. IMO the best way to get the benefits of fruits and veggies is to make and drink fresh juice. You can literally get all the vitamins and nutrients of a whole days worth of veggies and more in one tall glass of juice. The drawback is you miss out on the fiber though. If you can get a glass of fruit juice down, you can do the veggie juice no problem. It tastes great in combinations that appeal to your palate.
  • gaelicstorm26
    gaelicstorm26 Posts: 589 Member
    I really don't get it when people say they don't like/can't eat fruit/vegetables!! There are SO many to choose from and they all have different flavours and textures, and those flavours and textures change depending on how you cook/prepare them so how can you not like them all?!

    This. Does not compute.

    I always have to assume people who say this actually have never eaten vegetables, save for a bad experience with badly cooked slimy spinach as a child, or something. There's no way you can hate ALL vegetables, ANY way they're cooked.

    Well there is a way if you have sensory issues. My youngest son has severe sensory issues with food. Unless the veggie/fruit is pureed, he will gag and throw up. Same with pasta/rice. There are legitimate sensory issues, and once people have a bad experience, it can be hard for them to give things a second chance.
  • tr66
    tr66 Posts: 23 Member
    I bought Mrs Dash spices and sprinkle that liberally on my raw or cooked veggies. I will say too that eating veggies and even fruit is an acquired taste. We have become so used to processed foods and heavily flavored dishes, that we think food is bland otherwise. Give it time and you will start to re-discover the natural taste of food.
  • gaelicstorm26
    gaelicstorm26 Posts: 589 Member
    OP, I really LOVE some veggies throw into some foil and sprinkled with herbs, spices, or some soy sauce and thrown on the grill. So delicious. I still enjoy broccoli with cheese at times too. There are some really great veggie recipes out there that can give you a lot of variety. I get tired of steamed veggies too, so I have to keep finding ways to make them fun for me (though my husband and oldest son are purists in that manner and just like them steamed). And we don't all like veggies done the same way. I cannot stand raw broccoli, but cooked broccoli is delicious to me. I won't touch brussels sprouts at all. You don't have to like everything, but maybe experiment with a few things?
  • yayamom3
    yayamom3 Posts: 939 Member
    I just posted this on another thread yesterday. Hope it helps!

    For many people, the texture of vegetables is what bothers them--not the taste. This is something I would fix often when my picky son was younger. I would throw two bags of frozen vegetables (usually the cauliflower/broccoli/carrot blend) in a big pot with a box of vegetable or chicken broth and a package of dry onion soup mix and cook until tender. Then I'd add 1/2 bag of sharp shredded cheddar cheese. Threw it in the blender to puree it, and called it cheese soup. He loved it, and went on and on about Mom's awesome cheese soup.
  • gaelicstorm26
    gaelicstorm26 Posts: 589 Member
    I just posted this on another thread yesterday. Hope it helps!

    For many people, the texture of vegetables is what bothers them--not the taste. This is something I would fix often when my picky son was younger. I would throw two bags of frozen vegetables (usually the cauliflower/broccoli/carrot blend) in a big pot with a box of vegetable or chicken broth and a package of dry onion soup mix and cook until tender. Then I'd add 1/2 bag of sharp shredded cheddar cheese. Threw it in the blender to puree it, and called it cheese soup. He loved it, and went on and on about Mom's awesome cheese soup.

    I'm stealing this idea. My son will eat almost anything pureed, so it is not the taste that bothers him. I have tried cooking things so many different ways (raw, steamed, roasted, grilled, etc). We have been at this for almost 3 years now and at least he can now touch veggies without gagging (he used to be the kid who couldn't play with playdoh without gagging and almost throwing up). He has always been like this. I know it can be hard for people to wrap their heads around if they haven't experienced it.
  • Jestinia
    Jestinia Posts: 1,153 Member
    I also had that problem. The worst thing I Know is sallad.

    But if one want to be healthy (get vitamins and minerals and good energy)one has to incoorporate it in their foods.

    I started making asian dishes, eastern-asian, wok dishes, there's the vegetables are just as important as the meat in the dishes, so it really helped me getting started.

    And for fruit you could just make blogilates belly detox water, she has like a few slices of fresh mint, lemon, orange and cucumber with water in a glas for like 2 hours, then drink it. You will have tasty water that has a lot of minerals and vitamins in it! :)

    Good luck!

    This. Asian and Indian dishes are how I first introduced those evil plant things into my diet at the ripe old age of 18. A friend of mine would drag me to various restaurants and eventually I developed a taste for them in other dishes or even *gasp* by themselves.

    Try to go high quality if you do this, avoid the MSG laced all you can eat places. Since my friend is allergic to MSG, I learned from her. Later, when I ate at places that weren't so healthy, I noticed I didn't feel well after I ate, something to avoid if you're trying to learn to like a food.

    Edit in the interests of being totally truthful: I still have a limited repertoire as far as veggies go. Some of them still bother my tummy and others I don't like the texture unless I alter it. And my favorites are the really spicy, pungent ones. However, those also happen to be very healthy.
  • pinkshiningstar
    pinkshiningstar Posts: 141 Member
    I love my veggies, but I get BORED of them quickly.

    How I solve for it? I cook them/use them in a variety of ways:

    *Fresh (with dip or plain)
    *Steamed
    *Roasted (my favorite)
    *Stir fried
    *Hidden (blended into a smoothie, cauliflower pureed like mashed potatoes, spaghetti squash instead of pasta, etc)
    *Soup
    *Grilled (veggie & chicken kabobs = awesome!)
    *The occasional cheese sauce!! Yes, cheese sauce. On occasion when I really, really don't want to eat my veggies, I'll toss on a little shredded cheese, occasionally melt up a T of Cheese Whiz. Whatever gets the job done.

    Overall, I encourage you to just TRY. Try things a variety of ways. One bite at a time. You'll find something you can tolerate, I'm sure.

    Good luck!!! :wink:
  • MichaelRobinson1994
    MichaelRobinson1994 Posts: 83 Member
    My girlfriend and I often boil/steam broccoli and Green beans together, then chop them up so that they're almost shredded and mix them into brown rice, problem solved for me, it's worth a try!
  • nomad1000
    nomad1000 Posts: 206 Member
    Eater with texture issues signing in for this one.

    I can do raw veggies without a problem but have issues with veggies cooked too long (the mushy feeling in my mouth makes me physically shudder). So I steam or stir fry slightly so they still have a bit of crunch or puree and then incorporate into soups or sauces, basically anything to avoid the mushy feeling on my tongue.

    That being said, there are still veggies that I don't like the taste of. Broccoli is one. Just can't stand it. Even covered in cheese sauce...still nope. :)
  • SillyC2
    SillyC2 Posts: 275 Member
    skazen21! Try this cookbook!

    She "hides" vegetables in different familiar dishes.

    http://www.amazon.com/Deceptively-Delicious-Simple-Secrets-Eating/dp/006176793X
  • norulesjustplay
    norulesjustplay Posts: 27
    You put them in your mouth and start chewing, a lot of veggies don't even require cooking.
  • nancy10272004
    nancy10272004 Posts: 277 Member
    skazen21! Try this cookbook!

    She "hides" vegetables in different familiar dishes.

    http://www.amazon.com/Deceptively-Delicious-Simple-Secrets-Eating/dp/006176793X

    I second this. I use it on my niece (3 yr old) and nephew (5 yr old) and it gets them every time. Suckers!
  • Amitysk
    Amitysk Posts: 705 Member
    My Mom sent me a cookbook when my fiancé moved in called "The Sneaky Chef". It has some great recipes that incorporates veggies in unexpected ways.

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