How can I eat more vegetables when I don't like the majority of them?

[scaryclare]

I want to eat more healthily but the majority of recipes I see are made up from salad, green vegetables, cheese, fish and therefore pretty much everything I don't like eating.  I will eat potatoes until they come out of my ears but only like onions, mushrooms, leeks, peppers, carrots and peas if they are cooked and mixed with other food.  I do try to eat a fairly healthy diet but I know I never get my 5 a day due to not liking enough to hit that target.

I am a size 10 but have a plump middle I would like to reduce!

 

Clare

[Guest TrishE]

Hey Clare, 

This would be a good question for the paleo life-stylers out there because the only advice I can give is just to hold your nose and get through it. Much like drinking water. I hated drinking plain water but I forced myself to drink only that and now I cant drink anything else except coffee. Make veggies a habit like your running and soon it wont be all that tough to eat em. 

Good luck! 

[KellyAnn]

I have actually slowed down on eating so many vegteables myself. There is a group out there that swear by Zero Carbs. I did it and lost 10lbs in 9lbs, they eatvlike this all of the time. I dint want to and i eat the veggies i love, cauliflower, spinach, stuff out of my greenhouse. Eat what you like to eat and forget the rest.

 

Do lookup Zero Carbs too. I love Shakeology and if i feel like i need lots of vitamins one day, i drink a shake. Zenlabs here sells Shakeology. This zero group swears you dont need. Im on the femce on that one, bit maybe because i likke veggies.

[scaryclare]

It looks a bit extreme as surely going back to eating normally would then just put the weight back on and eating a special diet when I also need to feed my kids who are nearly 6 and 8 seems a lot of hard work.  Then again most days just getting them to eat is a battle in itself!

[KellyAnn]

I do find it extreme. I just alternate my days doing it. I stick to a few vegetables amd thats it. Do your kids like veggies? Mine loved them all. Every kid is different. I never fed my kids thing s they didnt like. But they sure didnt get pizza at every meal either.

 

Do thy like raw veggies over cooked? Veggies with low cal dip??? I dont like broccoli but love broccolini. Love cauliflower, mashed like taters, as a pizza crust. You cant tell its cailiflower. Roasted with garlic and parmesan cheese. I have a few recipes on cavegirlcancook.com.

 

I know as a Mom and we had 26 Foster kids and my own kids too that feeding them was a battle in itself. Breakfast was cereal, fruit. Lunch was healthy mac and cheese, sandwiches, soup. Dinner was meat, potato, or rice and a veggie. My kids played oitside for hours and were famished when they came in so they ate it up. Nowadays kids cant play like that because of safety anymore. But if they are into sports and not obese from playing video games, dont worry Mama. You stress yourself out. Why feed them brussel sprouts when they hate them??? We are just now liking brussel sprouts shredded and cooked with bacon.

 

If one kid loves raw cauliflower, then offer it up all the time. Now if you have a kid that absolutely refuses anything but junk and crap, then omit it from the house, period and refuse to give in. Offer it as a treat once a week when they eat everything else. You are the boss and stop the battle. I have so been there. I feel for you parents nowadays with all of th temptation out there. I will eat soooo good, i lost 10 lbs in 9 days, and dangit, I drive by a Taco Bell, of course I stop, its my 1 indulgence. Then just pick myself up and get right back to eating healthy.

 

You got this Mama!!! And I havent gained the weight back. Its all in moderation. Hugs. I love helping.

[Guest TrishE]

I actually just an email from Color Me Rad, they are hosting a green smoothie challenge. When you sign up they send you a shopping list and smoothie recipe. The goal is to have one smoothie a day for thirty days. It starts May 11, I signed up this afternoon and its something to look into especially if you hate eating greens like i do haha

[KellyAnn]

Awesome TrishE. when i make a shake for breakfast sometimes. Ill add spinach, kale, or swiss chard to it too. Cant tell its in there. Ill chekc out this challenge. Ive done one before.

[Maizie88]

Hi Clare. For someone who hates most veggies, I suggest juicing. It's unbelievable the amount of veggies you can combine in one drink and all you have to do is throw in an apple or 2 and it changes the taste so much you wouldn't believe you are drinking all the veggies you hate I always put in an apple, some celery and a bit of lemon in with whatever greens i'm juicing and it always tastes good to me. Tastes like apples really Try it....you'll be surprised!

[RunningforHealing14]

Smoothies smoothies smoothies!!! They help with the taste and it's a good way to create a power house of nutrients by combining them. I also suggest Shakeology. It has tons of nutrients and surprisingly has a good taste (I like the chocolate flavor but there are many others to choose from)-- It is a little on the expensive side though so be careful. Supplements are all well but I still suggest throwing in some "non powder" veggies. If you keep eating something you don't like, your body will eventually grow to like the taste. I used to hate salmon, but I had heard so many good things about its nutritional value! I really wanted this in my diet! It took a while, but after forcing it down once a week I actually started to like it. Hope this helps Clare and good luck!!!

[wishlake]

I add a scoop of Isagenix Greens! To a protein shake. It has the nutrients of 30 vegetables, contains antioxidants for immune healthy and probiotics for gut health and digestion. Of course I eat fresh veggies too--the ones I like. Sometimes it's easier to drink the ones you don't care for but are good for you!

[Mike12582]

Clare,

 

From someone who grew up on meat and potatos and many veggies, I can say i feel your pain.  One thing i know as the more you eat them and cut out the other foods your body will start to crave the veggies.   You will develop a taste for them.  The hard part is the beginning.  My  wife and I started doing smooties in the morings.  Strawberries, kale, banana, mango along with almond milk.  I hated kale in the beginning.  Now i eat kale chips like candy when i need a pick me up. I also stated by grilling my veggies like peppers and onions the sweetness of the onions and peppers made it easier to eat.  I can say we grill all year round and do kabobs  at least once a week even when it is below freezing.  It took a while but it can happen.

[Monkee18]

Check out the site ohsheglows.com or the book. She has great recipes that are all delicious and step outside the standard "veggies" that you think of. It's healthy and vegan but you don't need to be vegan to try or eat the recipes.

[Kathi]

You might look into JuicePlus too..,,,veggies in capsule form! And start grinding zucchini into spaghetti sauce, kale into your smoothie, etc and you won't even know it's there.

[Kathi]

You might look into JuicePlus too..,,,veggies in capsule form! And start grinding zucchini into spaghetti sauce, kale into your smoothie, etc and you won't even know it's there.

[Kathi]

You might look into JuicePlus too..,,,veggies in capsule form! And start grinding zucchini into spaghetti sauce, kale into your smoothie, etc and you won't even know it's there.

[SpecialKH]

While I love every vegetable, my daughter did not.  Here are ways I got more into HER - maybe you can use these for you!

 

BTW, potatos are technically a vegetable but nutritonally they are a starch.  So are peas and carrots. 

 

I put broccoli slaw (grated broccoli stems, carrots and cabbage) into spaghetti sauce.  I usually steam or sautee in non-stick pan to soften and then add to the sauce.

 

I use HALF (not all - she caught on) spaghetti squash for pasta - works with white sauce or marinara.

 

I make quiche (or fritatta - crustless) a lot and use spinach, broccoli or broccoli slaw in it - the egg/cheese sort of masks the veggie flavor - the only way to get spinach in her but it works great!

 

I also use the broccoli slaw with rice - make brown rice, sautee the slaw, toss together and add turkey keilbasa for a one-dish quick meal.  Keilbasa has a strong flavor that sort of overpowers the veggies.  If too bland you can add some beef bouillon to the rice mixture for more flavor, but that makes it really high in sodium.

 

Last trick is using cauliflower to make "potato" cakes.  Blanch large florets (bigger than ping pong ball, smaller than base ball.  Using a parchment covered baking sheet place florets and mash with large spatula for flat bottomed glass, etc.  Spray with Pam or brush with a little olive oil and sprinkle with parmasean cheese, salt and pepper (or any other seasoning you like or other cheese you like - kiddo liked parm + lower fat) and bake until cheese melts and a little golden around edges.  Remove with a spatula and serve. 

 

I've heard using cauliflower instead of mashed potatos and rice but never have.  But these were good ways of getting some veggies in her.

[Linita&i]

Hello Clare. I don't know where you're from but I have travelled the world a bit and have noticed that different countries cook and prepare vegetables differently, my personal opinion about British cuisine is that it is all very basic and blandly cooked when it comes to vegetables, take a look at the Sunday roast, fish&chips+mushy peas.. It can be a bit boring, that's why Brits generally aren't big fans of vegetables..

I've tasted salads made out of vegetables I've never been offered in an English restaurant menu, you just need to give it a twist, experiment and find out what you like. Take for example green beans, cook them well in salted water, transfer to a pan, add a bit of olive oil and vinegar, delicious! Not a fan of vinegar? What about fried onion or garlic on top of roasted vegetables? It completely changes the taste, you should try, just think of what you like first and then just cook your veggies according to that. Somebody replied to you at the top that you should just give it a try, I agree, I've been a juice and fizzies drinker for many years, I don't anymore, I Sri k coffee and tea a all the water I can, that's it and no longer enjoy artificial drinks, when I'm thirsty I can only think of water, I guess the same happens with food, just introduce vegetables so many times a week, you'll see at some point you won't be able to have it any other way. Lots of luck

[Photoyogi24]

So I grew up with a mom who is a very picky eater.  As a result, I myself am quite the picky eater.

 

I found that I had to tiny amounts and gradually increase.  When I first moved out on my own, my plant diet was carrots, corn, celery, onions, garlic, potatoes, apples and bananas.  I gradually started adding little nibbles of others and now I'm a fan of many.  Having friends who are willing to let you try a little nibble off their plate also helps.  As someone else said, different cultures prepare things vastly different and you may find that you like something just now how you know how to prepare it.  I also found that I was reluctant to try things because I didn't want to waste money if I ordered something at a restaurant and hated it, and I feel super guilty about throwing out food.

[Xray Lady]

I am not a big veggie eater. I have tho found sucess with smoothies. I blend kale, zucchini, and red bell peppers with V-8 low sodium tomato juice. I can guzzle it down more easily than eating veggies on a plate. Sometimes I add baby beets and tomatoes. Add some ice cubes. It's not as bad as it sounds!

[Maizie88]

I am not a big veggie eater. I have tho found sucess with smoothies. I blend kale, zucchini, and red bell peppers with V-8 low sodium tomato juice. I can guzzle it down more easily than eating veggies on a plate. Sometimes I add baby beets and tomatoes. Add some ice cubes. It's not as bad as it sounds!

Oh I love the sound of that! I'd think that the V8 taste would completely take over, so i bet it's not bad at all I'm trying it! Thanks.

[Jorge Gonzales]

You can have vegetable juice or can make some yummy pies, that will completely change the taste of veggies and you'll get all the healthy factors of the same with good taste as well. 

[KellyAnn]

Yum Xray lady. That sounds great. They also have v8 in other juice forms too.

[Hmcd]

My hubby hates veggies so I always put them in food he can't get the out of, like mixed veggies in hamburger helper. I also do stirfries with lots of veggies in a sace. You can also put cheese sauce on them to make them more palitable. Garlic and butter help too. Or things like squash and turnip with brown sugar and butter (my fav). It's just trying out different things and different ways of preparing them and seeing what you like.

[Hmcd]

My hubby hates veggies so I always put them in food he can't get the out of, like mixed veggies in hamburger helper. I also do stirfries with lots of veggies in a sace. You can also put cheese sauce on them to make them more palitable. Garlic and butter help too. Or things like squash and turnip with brown sugar and butter (my fav). It's just trying out different things and different ways of preparing them and seeing what you like.

[Hmcd]

My hubby hates veggies so I always put them in food he can't get the out of, like mixed veggies in hamburger helper. I also do stirfries with lots of veggies in a sace. You can also put cheese sauce on them to make them more palitable. Garlic and butter help too. Or things like squash and turnip with brown sugar and butter (my fav). It's just trying out different things and different ways of preparing them and seeing what you like.