Topic: Vegitable problem

[aramil1986]

Ok so I am looking for ways to eat better and get back in shape like I was a year ago, but I have a problem, I don't like veggies, I have tried eating them repeatedly through my life and the only way I can stand the tasts and texture is if  I cover it with all kinds of crap like chicken dressing cheese bacon any thing, so I was wondering if there was some other diet out there I could use cause al the ones I have seen are focused on them

[Patrick Yang]

You probably haven't tried all the types of vegetables out there.  First, go read this thread.  Then record all the stuff you actually do eat over the course of a day or two (drinks count, too!) and post it here.

If you don't like eating vegetables, start by cutting out the crappy "food" you eat like chicken dressing cheese bacon anything.  You'll find that as you eliminate the non-food, your body may start to like the real stuff like fresh vegetables.

[Muse_of_Fire]

IMO, chicken, cheese, and bacon are all decent foods. The bacon may be iffy because of the fat but in moderation, and with lots of fresh vegetables, it's fine. Dressing is fine too, if it's a homemade vinaigrette or something similar, as opposed to like Ranch and 1000 island and stuff.

Patrick's post is filled with good info. Check out this thread also for cooking tips to make vegetables taste better and also to help with meal planning.

[ryan grice]

I sort of have the same problem but am forcing myself to overcome it. Just wondering what anyone thought about that V8 that tastes more or less like fruit juice, other than it tastes ok. I know it's got too much sugar for no fiber, but if you eat something fibery like your homework with it, would it be decent? Obviously not as good as the real thing, but better than no veggies at all, right?

[Patrick Yang]

IMO, chicken, cheese, and bacon are all decent foods. The bacon may be iffy because of the fat but in moderation, and with lots of fresh vegetables, it's fine. Dressing is fine too, if it's a homemade vinaigrette or something similar, as opposed to like Ranch and 1000 island and stuff.

Right, just to clarify: chicken, cheese, bacon, and homemade dressing is all great.  I assumed you meant premade dressings off the store shelf that contained chicken, cheese, and bacon flavourings.

I sort of have the same problem but am forcing myself to overcome it. Just wondering what anyone thought about that V8 that tastes more or less like fruit juice, other than it tastes ok. I know it's got too much sugar for no fiber, but if you eat something fibery like your homework with it, would it be decent? Obviously not as good as the real thing, but better than no veggies at all, right?

Want to save money and get tasty drinks?  Invest in a food processor or blender.  Then throw your veggies into it and flavour it with fruits to your liking, remembering to keep the pulp in the juice.  It'll be deliciously fresh, nutritious, and you can control the taste much more easily.  Furthermore, you can balance out the nutrition side of things more easily by adding in various other things — protein powder, nuts for fat, raw eggs if you're into that.

[ryan grice]

^Hadn't thought of that. Think I'll go get one.

[Liset Reep]

I don't like eating vegetables outright myself most times, so I add it to my other foods.
Like, a bunch of spinach and peas goes into my noodle dishes, or I have "lasagna" (more of broken up noodles than slices) with zucchini, peas, spinach, tomatoes...

I'm not quite sure if it affects the nutrition since I add it towards the end, but it works for me.
Ooh, or salads, I'll add fruits and nuts and tear up some spinach in some romaine.

[Chris Salvato]

Ok so I am looking for ways to eat better and get back in shape like I was a year ago, but I have a problem, I don't like veggies, I have tried eating them repeatedly through my life and the only way I can stand the tasts and texture is if  I cover it with all kinds of crap like chicken dressing cheese bacon any thing, so I was wondering if there was some other diet out there I could use cause al the ones I have seen are focused on them

Learn how to cover the flavor in a healthy way and you are ok.

Fat sources are great to cover the blandness of veggies.  I suggest you check out the fats in this article.   Cook your vegetables with them or put it on after the fact for a dressing.

You need to get creative, boy!

[Charles Moreland]

While you may actually just not possess a taste for vegetables, in most cases I have found that people don't enjoy the taste simply because of other factors in their diet (sugar?).

I absolutely hated vegetables until I was 19. I wouldn't eat them and would always avoid them. After researching and learning and deciding to change my diet, slowly my tastebuds started to change. In fact, I can recall the exact moment in time when I smelled a cucumber, and for the first time ever thought, "wow that smells delicious." It was a good day. Peppers too! I started eating raw peppers when I was visiting my parents for Christmas, and they didn't understand who I was!

Perhaps you just haven't given them the time or patience required? It took me several months after making very significant dietary changes.

[Andy Animus Tran]

Cucumbers have a taste...?

They're just really watery tubes to me.  I eat them when I feel a little thirsty but don't feel like drinking.

[TraceuseDS]

Or just learn to use spices creatively. They really make things taste A LOT better! Like Muse says in her thread, just keep trying new things until you find something you like. Look in lots of different cookbooks, or do a search online. There are lots of great recipes in the Recipies thread. Or just make something up!


I really like spicy foods, so I cook lots of my veggies this way:

1) Put a little oil in the bottom of a frying pan, and heat it up for a few seconds.
2) Slice up a pepper and add it; any hot kind works - serrano, jalapeno, etc. Add some onion here if you like. Stir.
3) Cut up some veggies (some of my favorites with this recipe: carrots, broccoli, green beans, eggplant...whatever, although not necessarily all at once ) while the stuff in the pan is cooking. When the onions/peppers have had time to cook a bit, add the veggies and stir them around.
4) Add *just a little* of each of these, in equal portions: cumin, coriander, chilli powder, turmeric, and salt. Mix it in well. You can always taste it and add more later, but if you add too much it's a disaster...
5) Cook until you're happy with the consistency.


There are lots of different variations you can do using this basic idea. Switch around the veggies you use. Add more than one kind at once. Add different spices. Add different amounts of spice. Cut up some garlic or ginger or even some cilantro and toss it in there. Whatever!

[Pave_the_Planet]

You can also puree veggies and mix some in with other foods. I do that when I make eggs sometimes. If you also hada little cheese, you can't taste the vegetables at all.

[Patrick Yang]

You can also puree veggies and mix some in with other foods. I do that when I make eggs sometimes.

Interesting.  Could you elaborate on this?

[Muse_of_Fire]

Cucumbers definitely have a taste. I like to include a few slices in my water, actually. If you buy them from the supermarket they can taste like watery tubes but if you grow your own or buy them from a farmer's market they are definitely tasty!

Charles makes a good point; if you are used to eating a lot of sugar in your diet the veggies won't taste like much except fiber. However if you break your addiction to sugar, the natural sugars in the vegetables will taste awesome in no time. You may want to try cutting out ALL carbs except for low-GI vegetables, for a full two weeks. And then you'll see. Once the withdrawals pass, a tomato will taste like candy.

Re: V8... I love the stuff. Of course it's no substitute for the real thing but it's a great snack option, with some cheese or plain yogurt and some nuts, it's a really easy/convenient healthy snack.

[Meshach]

You can put some salt and pepper on the vegetables.

I loooooove vegetables!