Vegetables-- which ones to do you eat how do you prepare the

Maria052007
Maria052007 Posts: 41 Member
edited November 10 in Food and Nutrition
Hi!

I'm not a fan of vegetables, but I know they are good for you. If I'm eating a vegetable it's normally a potato, carrot, or lettuce. I'm considering bringing more vegetables into my life, but I've never been a big fan of them. How can I make them more enjoyable (less torturous) to eat?
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Replies

  • Kabula
    Kabula Posts: 97 Member
    Try roasted Brussel Sprouts and or grilled esparagus! they are delicious and good for you! Just add a litte salt and pepper and a little garlic!
  • kbw414
    kbw414 Posts: 194
    You can change your tastes. The more you eat something, the more likely it'll be that you will eat it.

    I used to hate mushrooms: the texture, taste, everything. But I know they're super healthy for you so I began eating them. At first just raw on salads, now I use them extensively in cooked dishes.

    Just keep eating vegetables and you'll start to appreciate them. Start with vegetables you like more. For example, begin by eating more potatoes, carrots, or lettuce, then work your way up from there.
  • huizenm
    huizenm Posts: 74 Member
    I love roasted veggies in the oven or grilled. Try grilling peppers, zucchini, squash. I love steamed broccoli too!
  • If you don't like eating them try juicing them, 3 carrots & 1 apple juiced makes a great drink & you get the vitamins though you miss out on the fibre but it is better then no vegetables.
  • SassyCalyGirl
    SassyCalyGirl Posts: 1,932 Member
    I roast all my veggies with a small amount of olive oil and salt/pepper. My favorites are eggplant, Brussels sprouts, carrots and cauliflower. 350° for 30 min.
  • wellbert
    wellbert Posts: 3,924 Member
    Hide them in food. Bell peppers are great for this. Make in a skillet with chicken or steak and a sauce.

    Roasted: Brussel sprouts or asparagus with salt and pepper.
  • BrandyontheRun
    BrandyontheRun Posts: 204 Member
    cucumbers- omgosh I just love them to pieces LOL. Throw some light ranch into the mix- ranch makes all veggies delicious lol. I also really like grilled peppers/onions (just grilled on our little home grill).

    Some people like to spice up their veggies- personally I'm not very experience with spices but heres a link to a chart with dif. spices and the veggies they go great with.

    http://www.spiceadvice.com/usage/chart.html
  • TammyW18
    TammyW18 Posts: 244 Member
    oh i agree, i sautee my brussels with garlic, YUM and asparagus on the grill with garlic mmmm:)
  • staceywtucaz
    staceywtucaz Posts: 36 Member
    bump
  • MaggieMay131
    MaggieMay131 Posts: 211 Member
    I have been loving spinach lately. It's SO easy to prepare, and it cooks down a lot so you can eat tons of servings! I heat 1-2 Tbls. extra virgin olive oil in a big pan on the stove (med-high heat) with some minced garlic to taste. Add in as many handfuls of spinach that will fit in the pan and cook. Stir occasionally, add sea salt to taste. It will seriously cook down to less then half the size so sometimes I add a couple more handfuls!
  • 2012x
    2012x Posts: 149 Member
    Im kinda the opposite, its fruit i struggle with.

    I have added alot more vegetables into my diet, tried few new ones.

    One thing ive learnt is i need to "try" after i feel happy enough ive had a try i dont feel as bad about it, however i do tend to revisit what i didnt like to try again.
  • auroranflash
    auroranflash Posts: 3,569 Member
    The boyfriend and I LOVE sauteed onions. Put a little oil in a saute pan, get it hot, add sliced onions and saute for 20 minutes. I have the heat on high at first to get them carmelized and then turn the heat down after they have some color. Because the pan is hotter I use vegetable oil instead of olive oil (smoking point is higher).

    Lots of veggies are great just chopped or cubed, tossed with olive oil, salt, pepper, and whatever seasoning (rosemary, garlic, basil, oregano, etc etc) and roasted in the oven. Times will vary.

    I love veggies of all sorts. Throw some baby spinach in your omelettes or on top of hot pasta and let it wilt.

    Try new things ... and enjoy. :drinker:
  • colochel
    colochel Posts: 263 Member
    Spices are your friend :)

    I used to be really picky growing up. But after trial and error with preparation techniques I have found that I like more than I thought was possible!

    Every day I eat mushrooms, a couple cups of baby spinach (cooked with the mushrooms) and maybe some onion. Huge fan of minced garlic, garlic powder, chili powder to season things up. I pair the mushrooms and spinach with egg whites, brown rice, whole grain pasta... very versatile.

    I also like fresh baked asparagus drizzled with a combination of sesame oil, soy sauce and sesame seeds.

    I get a sweet potato anytime I eat out at a roadhouse kind of place. And I keep several "Biggins" potatoes ready to throw in the microwave for 5 minutes.

    I've incorporated zucchini into stir-fry and sometimes in with chocolate chip muffins (with truvia vs. sugar) for a nice treat.

    And lastly, I make spaghetti squash once every other week or so. Usually lasts me at least 5 days and tastes great with chicken (or if I'm lazy with some laughing cow cheese)

    Hope you find some that you like! There's a whole world of deliciousness to be had when it comes to produce! :)
  • garnet1483
    garnet1483 Posts: 249 Member
    Roasted cauliflower (with a little bit of broth in the pan for flavor) and steamed broccoli are two of my favorites. You can also mash turnips, after boiling them in water with a little salt and sugar, and they approximate potatoes. They're not exactly the same, but you get used to it. I also love beans. I've started putting beans into most of what I cook. I also like to mince or food process veggies and include them in my cooking, if having chunks isn't appetizing for the meal, or if the texture of the veggie is disagreeable. It's the only way I typically eat any kind of cooked carrot, bell pepper, zucchini, mushrooms, or celery, as the texture of those is not up my alley. But minced and put into a stew, soup, pot pie, burrito, or casserole, it adds a great flavor. You can also put pureed or diced cauliflower in homemade mac & cheese. Yum! Cauliflower is nice because it's such a mild flavor, it takes on other flavors really easily.
  • Ditto the suggestion to roast them. Any vegetable + salt, pepper and olive oil + a 400 degree oven until things start to brown is a magic recipe.

    You could also try blending spinach into fruit and yogurt smoothies to get some extra veggies in your diet. I didn't believe it until I tried it myself, but even with just equal parts yogurt, blue berries, and spinach, you don't taste the spinach at all.
  • Green peppers are so taste put those diced tomatos and onions and cilantro in a plastic bag add a teaspoon of itallian dressing yummmm
  • Spinach is a great one, and you can use it in a lot of different ways: inside an omelette with cheese and onions, in a salad (instead of iceberg or red leaf lettuce, you can use spinach to boost up the nutritional value), or sauteed with a little bit of bacon and garlic and tossed with some couscous. You can also blend it into smoothies.

    Broccoli is a great vegetable too, and if you don't like the natural taste you can add a tiny bit of cheese for protein. My favorite way to eat broccoli is to roast it with walnuts and toss it with penne and a little bit of grilled chicken.
  • firesoforion
    firesoforion Posts: 1,017 Member
    I love pretty much any vegetable. Experimenting with them will really show you which you like best. Roasting works really well with almost any vegetable, just spray some olive oil on them, and a little salt and pepper, and put them in the oven until they are a little browned on the outside. Cauliflower, broccoli, sweet potatoes, squash, eggplant, asparagus, even carrots and turnips, all work well with this. Otherwise you can steam them, or even make soups/stews out of them by sauteeing some onion and garlic in a little olive oil, then add your vegetables (I use eggplant) and a can of tomatoes.

    Another really nice recipe is here http://ohsheglows.com/2011/10/24/black-bean-and-butternut-squash-burritos/ . Less vegetable-y and more burrito-y, they're seriously tasty (and to reduce calories even more, I cut out the rice and just increase the amount of squash.
  • becoming_a_new_me
    becoming_a_new_me Posts: 1,860 Member
    Hi!

    I'm not a fan of vegetables, but I know they are good for you. If I'm eating a vegetable it's normally a potato, carrot, or lettuce. I'm considering bringing more vegetables into my life, but I've never been a big fan of them. How can I make them more enjoyable (less torturous) to eat?

    My veggie list:

    brussel sprouts
    asparagus
    red, yellow, orange, and green peppers
    eggplant
    yellow squash
    zucchini
    spagetti squash
    acorn squash
    butternut squash
    romaine
    spring greens
    tomatoes
    onions (red, yellow, white, and green)
    leeks
    spinach
    carrots
    celery
    sugar snap peas
    corn (white and yellow)
    broccoli
    cauliflower
    cabbage (red and green)
    Chives
    Garlic
    Shallot
    Bok choy
    Artichoke
    Chard
    beets
    Cucumber
    Green beans
    rutabega
    turnip

    the list goes on...I have a zillion ways that I make them...I usually have 8-10 servings of veggies a day
  • shellma00
    shellma00 Posts: 1,684 Member
    I am a picky veggie eater also...I pretty well only like potatoes, green beans and the main salad veggies (lettuce, onion, tomato, and cucumber). I hate carrots, corn, peas, broccoli, cauliflower, ect ect.. you get the point.

    Here are some ways I try to get them in.

    Do you like tomatoes?? If so.. try drinking V8 instead. It tastes just like tomato juice to me and each can has 2 servings of veggies. I try to drink a V8 any time I do not have any veggies in my meals. They also have those V8 Fusion drinks that supposedly taste like fruit juice, I have never tried them, but they are worth a try if you dont like tomatoes.

    Also.. even though I do not like certain veggies.. I find that I can incorporate them into some of my favorite soups that they blend in with the flavor of the soup. So you could try that.
  • alneuby
    alneuby Posts: 28 Member
    I like to do one piece of center cut bacon in some stuff. It gives it a great flavor without adding very many calories. Just do one piece though :) I do it with leeks and with chard, makes it yummy.
  • angimac
    angimac Posts: 145 Member
    I've learned to love vegetables. Most any vegetable can be roasted in the oven. Drizzle or brush with olive oil, dash some garlic powder, salt, and pepper on it, and roast at 350 until tender...

    Spaghetti Squash cooked this way is amazing. Cut squash in half, scoop out the seeds, then do the above and bake for 45 minutes to an hour depending on the size of the squash. Shred the inside of the squash with a fork, and it comes out like spaghetti noodles. I like it plain, but you can have sauce and serve it like it really is pasta...
  • RumOne
    RumOne Posts: 266 Member
    try mixing spinich and then spring mixed greens in with your lettuce. Add sweet peppers in things with onions. Spaghetti Squash with your favorite Tomato Sauce (add shredded carrots instead of sugar if you make your own). Roasted Beets with Roasted sweet potatoes.
  • livestar
    livestar Posts: 140 Member
    I make a roasted veggie medley every other weekend, freeze the rest, and eat it intermittently so I am sure to get my veggies in.

    roasted root medley

    Brussel Sprouts
    Parsnips
    Turnips
    Broccoli and/or Cauliflower (added 1/2 way through roasting the roots)
    Butternut squash
    Golden Beets (color preference only)

    Trader Joe's Seasoning
    small Red onion or 3 shallots
    Smashed and sliced garlic (3-5 dep on pref)
    Olive oil

    Peel and cut to evenish 1" pieces
    Mix it all up in a bowl
    Bake at 450 for 45-1hour
    >covered for first 30min, turn them all over and add any non-root veggies like broc/cauli or any softer squashes
    >recover for 10-15 min to cook other sides
    >uncovered until soft

    portion those out, freeze, and you can heat and eat for at least 4-5 more times.
  • 0RESET0
    0RESET0 Posts: 128
    Pan fry some lean meat in a couple tbsp of roasted garlic olive oil then remove the meat. Dump about 4 cups of fresh broccoli, cauliflower and carrots in the pan and add water to about 1/2 inch deep. cover and let steam/boil for 5 minutes or until desired tenderness. If you want, you can add 2 oz (dry) or pasta to it at the same time. The vegies/pasta will soak up all the water and flavor from the meat. Good stuff.
    431608_242629562478304_100001937856446_521620_1027858106_n.jpg
  • thepetiterunner
    thepetiterunner Posts: 1,238 Member
    My list of veggies & preparations:

    Butternut squash - pureed in soup or roasted with a bit of olive oil, salt and pepper
    Kale - sauteed with copious amounts of garlic and a bit of olive oil
    Asparagus - marinated in basalmic vinegar and garlic and sauteed or steamed with lemon and a dab of butter
    Broccoli - steamed alone or with shredded cheese or mashed into a broccoli pesto (smash broccoli, add olive oil, garlic, grated parmesan cheese, serve with pasta)
    Lettuce of all varieties - salads mostly
    Spinach - sauteed or put into soups
    Carrots - sliced as snacks usually or cooked in soups
    Celery - cut into sticks with peanut butter usually or cooked in soups
    Tomatoes - diced into homemade pomodoro style sauces or in salads or on sandwiches
    Sweet potatoes - roasted whole like a baked potatoe or smashed like mashed potatoes or cut into fries with a bit of olive oil, garlic and basil
    Onions - sauteed and just dumped into any dish really
    Cucumbers - sliced as snacks
    Red bell peppers - sliced into sticks as snacks
    Zuccini - sauteed or roasted with lemon, garlic, olive oil, fresh herbs

    I think that's mostly it.
  • lmarshel
    lmarshel Posts: 674 Member
    I love all kids of vegetables! For dinner, I steam some broccoli, cauliflower, squash, zucchini or fresh mushrooms in the microwave. Just sprinkle with salt, pepper, garlic powder and put a few tablespoons water in the bottom of the bowl. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and nuke for 3-4 minutes (closer to 4 min for tougher veggies like broccoli). My hubby and I also love the Green Giant Just for One veggies. They are already seasoned or packaged with cheese or butter sauce and ready to microwave. Just enough for one person...so we each have what we like. These are also great for lunches at work.

    For lunch, I always bring some raw tomatoes or cucumbers. I slice them, add a little salt, and eat them raw. Raw broccoli or cauliflower dipped in light ranch dressing is also very good.

    For breakfast, I love omelettes with veggies. For convenience, I'll use canned mushrooms and bagged spinach in my omelettes. Sliced tomatoes are also very good, but add them once the omelette is cooked. I also eat cheese toast with sliced tomatoes rather often. That combination is delicious.

    Also try adding some veggie toppings to your pizza or to pasta dishes. Mushrooms , spinach and arugula are very good, but pretty much anything goes. Get creative! :)
  • I have found it easier to add to salads. I'm kind of surprised at how well veggies and fruit mix in and bring about a completely different taste to salads.
  • knelson422
    knelson422 Posts: 308 Member
    I love to drizzle a little olive oil over some zucchini, squash, and red pepper and grill them in a grill basket. Sprinkle them with salt and pepper, so good. Leftovers go great on pizza or in morning omelets. Good luck.
  • Try getting out your crockpot. That way you just thrown in a bunch of veggies at the start of the day with some veggie broth and switch it on low- by the end of the day you have an amazing vegetable stew. If you have a problem with textures- throw it in the blender (or invest in an immersion blender- best purchase ever)- and you can make a great tasting soup. I like to use a lot of root veggies in my stews- like parsnips, sweet potatoes, rutabagas, and carrots.

    Roasting and broiling is great too- I didn't like asparagus until I tried it roasted with some olive oil. When roasting try throwing in some raisins and almond slivers for a little sweet and crunch. Soak the raisins for about 20 minutes in warm water first.
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