Vegetables are an acquired taste and it can be difficult to force yourself to eat certain foods you dislike. Chances are also that you’ve not mastered how to prepper veggies in a way you enjoy. For want of not sounding like your grandma at the dinner table, flat out exclaiming one’s disdain for vegetables is just childish.  

Yes, diet choice is complex as there are biological, social and cultural predispositions to disliking certain foods; that aside, a positive attitude towards change is needed as our bodies just aren’t built to thrive on just carbs, sugar and meat. Balance is needed. The human body is without doubt resilient but a diet void of a major food group will eventually catch up with you. To put it simply, vegetables aren’t an option. 

 I didn’t grow up on a regular consumption of veggies, but with a greater awareness of what constitutes healthy eating and the consequences of a diet void of vegetables I begun learning to prepare them in a way I would enjoy and eventually my taste buds caught along on all the subtle flavours that make veggies exciting and delicious!  I enjoy vegetables, they’re so good and I try to get them in everyday consistently. If you struggle to eat vegetables and are looking to change that, keep reading to learn the yummy ways to add oodles of flavour and creative ways to sneak them into your diet and increase your consumption.  

Seasoning 

Seasoning is the key to enjoying vegetables in all their various colours. Whether you like your vegetables sauteed, roasted or boiled, spicing them up in the following ways will take your veggies from ‘meh’ to ‘oooo’.  

  1. Add finely dice onion (I use spring onions, red and white onions) and garlic to salad mix, add a little salt and finish off with a drizzle of olive oil 
  2. Garnish salads and vegetable dishes with fresh herbs such as parsley, basil and coriander 
  3. Drizzle a little olive oil, sea salt and lemon or apple cider vinegar to salads 
  4. Soak them in flavour -Butter and cheese are a simple and delicious way to add flavour 
  5. Dried spices are quick and easy- try salt, black pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder. Ready made spice blends are handy too.  
  6. Dare to add fresh or crushed red peppers to wake up your buds  
  7. Boil or saute in broth- I like to save my meat broth to use in place of water 

Juice/ smoothie 

If you don’t enjoy eating vegetables, juicing is a great way to incorporate more of them in your diet. Blending into a smoothie or juicing makes it easier to palate different vegetables at once, and many that you wouldn’t normally eat. 

Try my tasty low iron green juice recipe 

2 handfuls of green leafy vegetable (I like to use spinach) 

1 peeled lemon 

1 green apple 

½ cucumber  

½ cup of fresh parsley 

Sneak them into dishes you already love 

Total diet overhauls can be overwhelming and difficult to stick with, so it’s best to ease into things by adding them to dishes you already love. These are just a few ways to get creative. 

Soups/ sauces /curries/ stir fries: I like to root about for left over and forgotten vegetables in the fridge and freezer- I chop them or blend and add. Don’t let your leftovers go to waste when they could be transformed into a tasty meal! 

Sandwiches/wraps/buns: Whether it’s a salmon, chicken or tuna sandwich, I like to layer up with veggies for extra flavour, texture and their nutritional goodness! – romaine lettuce, spinach, salad cress, avocado, cucumber, tomatoes, raddish are just some of my regulars. 

Cauliflower rice: I finely chop cauliflower, add to rice and boil. 

Burgers: Go half veggie and half meat on your home-made burger 

Omelette – Eggs are fine on their own but even more amazing with the extras. I usually keep a bag of spinach, tomatoes, mushrooms and bell peppers to really load them up with nutrition. 

There are a vast choice of vegetables and so you don’t have to be radical- choose a few you think you might like and start adding them to your meals.  It’s a learning experience! Learn with trial and error Happy eating and stay healthy!