Invasion of the Vegetable...
In so many forms and colours, vegetables are a fountain of health. But what if you struggle to eat them??? When on a health kick it may seem that vegetables begin to invade your dinner plate a bit more than in the past... While this is a great thing which should be embraced and perhaps celebrated, if you’re a simple vegetable eater, a non vegetable eater or someone who hasn’t tried a range of different vegetables, invasion of the vegetable can be a scary phenomena! And even worse if you don’t eat vegetables...
Ok, perhaps the above description borders on extreme, however you still have the issue of knowing you should eat vegetables but a somewhat ?morbid? fear of trying new ones... Or perhaps you know someone who does or even worse...you cook for this person! Well here are some handy tips to help the transition from low vegetable eater to high vegetable eater!
- Identify the vegetables you do like!
Knowing the vegetables you do like can help you identify possible others that you may be willing to try. Try and eat a variety of different vegetables you like rather than the same one all the time.
- Identify the preparation methods you like using for these vegetables.
You may like certain vegetables but only when they are prepared in a certain way. By knowing the preparation methods you prefer, you may be able to sneak small amounts of other vegetables in and gradually build on quantity and types. Do this slowly and add small amounts so that it is less noticeable. You are more likely to tolerate a new vegetable if it’s prepared in a way you like!
- Identify any preparation methods that may allow you to want to eat new vegetables.
Perhaps you have tried cooking the not so loved vegetable(s) before and they tasted terrible. Could this be because they need to be cooked differently? Not all vegetables suit all preparation methods. You may just need to experiment with different cooking methods.
- Be prepared to try new vegetables and really give it a go.
Sometimes the first time you try a vegetable may turn you off, either being because it’s a new flavour that you are not used to or that it wasn’t prepared properly or the chosen sauce / added flavor didn’t suit it. But you shouldn’t give up on that vegetable just yet. Try experimenting with different cooking methods and flavorings, you may just find you get used to it or it tastes better when cooked differently! Knowing how to cook it properly may just make it taste a whole lot differently!
- Research new recipes.
Research recipes using one or two new vegetables that you may like to try. This will help show you how these are commonly prepared and what works. Check out our online recipes for some great ideas!
- Experiment with new flavors.
There’s nothing worse than a vegetable flavor that is either too strong or too bland so try experimenting with new flavors. Try using different sauces, herbs and spices to help make your vegetables more interesting. A bit of research can help you along. A sauce can really make a meal and transform almost anything from bland tasting to a delicious master piece! Herbs and spices can be used to enhance the flavor in a sauce or even disguise food flavors that may be slightly unappealing. So use sauces, herbs, spices to flavor up what might seem like a dull and tasteless vegetable!
- Make a sauce out of your vegetables!
Use tomatoes (herbs and spices of choice) as a base and blend a very small amount of vegetables into the sauce, add more gradually each time you make it and adjust to the flavor. Note it is best to begin only adding one or two vegetables in very small amounts, otherwise you may find the flavor too intense.
- If it’s a child you would like to get to eat vegetables, get them to grow the vegetable!
Children love making and growing things. So why not set up a project for them where they grow a vegetable or two of choice (perhaps give them a few options) and then work together on deciding how to cook them. No doubt most children will be so proud of their produce that they may want to eat it! If not, at least a new skill has been learnt and perhaps in time they’ll change their mind!
Some great ways to prepare vegetables both on their own or with meat or meat alternatives are available in the Weight loss Recipes section of our website, check them out!
Last updated 17 June 2009
