Almost all of us grew up hating veggies. I know I did. But alas, now that we’re adults, we’re responsible for our well-being. And so we have to suck it up and eat our veggies to stay healthy.
The fun part is that now you can try different techniques to force yourself to like vegetables. Who knows? You may even start loving them.
It doesn’t matter if you’re here to be healthy or change your lifestyle to a vegan or vegetarian one. You’re here, and you have to start eating veggies. I can empathize, so I’ll give you some tips on how to eat vegetables when you hate them.
But first, let’s get into why you hate vegetables.
Reasons Why People Hate Vegetables
There are tons of reasons why people may hate vegetables. We’ll explore everything from having unpleasant childhood memories to having superpowered taste buds.
- Childhood Aversion to Vegetables
Kids don’t love eating veggies. It doesn’t mean they hate the taste, it’s just a preconceived notion. I don’t know why it happened. But whenever I heard we’d have veggies or even soup for dinner, I didn’t want to eat it.
Of course, there’s hope. Your taste buds change as you age. That means even if you hated kale or broccoli as a child, your palate might love them now.
Another reason kids hate veggies is that their parents make them finish their plates even if they’re full—thus establishing a negative relationship with food. This behavior can lead to various eating disorders, but that’s another discussion.
- You’re a Genetically Gifted Supertaster
Supertasters are people who have more taste buds than normal people. If you’re from this group, you can detect more flavors. Plus, these flavors tend to be more intense. If you belong to this category, I feel for you.
If you’re a supertaster, you’re less likely to smoke or drink because it tastes disgusting.
Some people can’t drink coffee unless it’s a fancy caramel latte. While I love coffee and learned how to love it over time (I’ve had to pull several all-nighters to stay awake), I still don’t know how some people, like my father-in-law, love the taste of red wine.
Maybe he’s on the opposite end of a supertaster.
Anyway, veggies like broccoli have an intense taste; they taste bitter for more sensitive folks. It’s especially obvious if you prepare them with light or no spices.
How Are You Getting Your Veggies?
Sometimes the issue may also be in how you get your veggies.
- Canned Veggies
Many people grew up eating canned vegetables. They’re fine if you need to stay within a budget. But honestly, they taste horrible.
They’re usually cooked after being canned, and the salt water takes on a metallic taste from the can. They’re usually safe but not very tasty.
- Frozen Veggies
Are frozen veggies good for you? Depends. If you go for frozen veggies with minimal additives, you’re okay. They’re not that different from fresh vegetables.
They’ll make a great addition to cooked recipes, though.
- Fresh Veggies
Fresh veggies are top-tier, no doubt about that. They taste immaculate and have all their nutrients. Try to get in-season vegetables. That’s because they taste best at that time, and I’d recommend you buy them directly from your local farmer’s market.
The only issue with fresh veggies is that you have to use them pretty quickly, otherwise, they’ll just go to waste.
Changing Your Relationship with Food
With all this said, it doesn’t matter why you hate vegetables because it’s time to change those feelings.
Vegetables are an essential food group, so you can’t keep skipping out on them.
Let’s see what tricks may work for you.
Elevate the Taste of Your Veggies
If you’ve been eating veggies without any seasonings, it’ll be harder to love them since they’ll have a pretty bland taste.
Here are a few things you can do.
- Add Spices
Adding spices to your veggies gives them a better taste. Okay, it can completely hide the actual taste of the veggies. But that depends on how hard you go with the spices.
You’ll have to look up which ones go with which vegetables, but you’ll get the hang of it.
Common spices include:
- Salt (not technically a spice, but it does wonders for the taste)
- Cumin
- Red Chilli Powder
- Garam Masala
- Paprika
- Turmeric, and more.
- Use Dips
You can take taste enhancement to the next level by using dips. Now, you can choose from a ton of options. I really love hummus, but you can also choose something else, like Ganoush, which is also relatively healthy.
Try Different Cooking Styles
Could it be that you’ve never eaten properly cooked veggies?
When we’re kids, we don’t have the option to try different cooking styles for our food.
But things are different now. You have your own kitchen. That means you don’t have to put up with boring boiled veggies.
I love stir-frying my veggies. But you can try other methods like grilling, steaming, and roasting until you find one you like. Remember, you may not like the same cooking method for every vegetable out there.
Hide Them in Sauces
Do you still feel icky about eating vegetables? Try hiding them in your food.
To be fair, you’re the one doing the cooking, so it’s not exactly hiding, but you know. Whatever works.
You can puree them and add them to strongly flavored sauces like tomato sauce. The sauce will mask the taste of the veggies, but you’ll still get all the benefits.
Blend Your Veggies Into a Creamy Soup
Blending the soup until it’s creamy is another cool strategy for those who despise the texture of vegetables.
The creamy consistency helps mask the presence of vegetables, which can be more appealing and palatable for those who dislike the feel of vegetables in their mouth.
Also, as the flavors of the veggies meld together, you may end up with a more complex and enjoyable taste profile.
Tossing in some chickpeas or white beans not only makes your soup more nutritious, but it also makes it extra creamy, and it helps disguise the flavors of the vegetables.
Veggie Snacks?
Try replacing your usual snacks with veggies. So instead of french fries, you’ll have kale or zucchini chips, which you can air-fry for an even healthier result.
Another option to consider is trying pickled vegetables, as the pickling process imparts a tangy, acidic flavor and transforms their texture, creating a unique and possibly more appealing experience compared to the natural taste and feel of fresh or cooked vegetables.
For a more creative snack, you can make stuffed mini bell peppers. Slice off the tops, remove the seeds and ribs, and fill them with a mixture of mashed avocado, lime juice, and your choice of seasonings like cilantro, diced tomatoes, or minced red onion.
If you’re still feeling creative, coat some cauliflower florets in buffalo sauce and bake until tender and slightly crispy. These are like Buffalo chicken bites but sans the chicken.
Recipes to Try If You Still Have a Hard Time
Your new habits will take some time. In the meantime, you can get some vegetables through these delicious dishes.
- Pizza
Go for a vegan pizza. You can skip the cheese and go for vegan cheese. If you’re feeling bold, replace the crust with a veggie crust. Pizza is everyone’s favorite. There are tons of vegetables, so it’s a relatively easy option.
- Chickpea Omelette
This is a pretty creative way to eat more vegetables. Almost everything goes with an omelette. Obviously, I don’t eat eggs, but it’s not that hard to whip up an omelette made with chickpea flour. You can add mushrooms, spinach, bell peppers, and more.
I even add herbs like mint and some green chilies for a better taste. Keep experimenting and trying a new version every day.
- Pancakes
We all love our chocolate chip pancakes. But adventure is a thing. And since we’re learning to try more veggies, how about vegetable pancakes?
You can use zucchini and wheat flour as the base. As a vegan, I don’t use any eggs to make my pancakes (I opt for alternatives like smashed bananas), but you do you!
- Salads
No matter where you go, you can order a salad. Keep trying different salads until you find a combination you love.
Use olive oil, balsamic vinegar, avocado, lemon juice, etc., to enhance the taste.
If you abhor the taste, you can try dressing the salad. It’s not the healthiest method (it depends on the dressing), but our goal is to increase your vegetable intake for now.
Keep Trying Different Vegetables
Here’s the thing! I don’t love every vegetable out there. You’ll have a hard time finding anyone who loves every vegetable on the face of the earth.
Our goal is to make you try different vegetables.
That means you must keep trying new vegetables until you find the ones you like.
Once you know what you can work with, you can experiment to find different ways to have them.
If you’ve got a huge supermarket with an international section or an Asian food store near you, try some unique veggies like okra, jicama, taro root, Japanese eggplant, cassava, and more.
Still Having Trouble? Drink Your Vegetables
If nothing else works, start drinking your vegetables. You can add them to your smoothies and drink them. If you’re thinking about something hard like carrots, you might have to boil them or something to soften them first.
Otherwise, things like cucumbers are easy to blend. Plus, they taste refreshing. If you still hate the taste, drink it like medicine. Alternatively, you can keep drinking your fruit smoothies and sneak in some vegetables. The fruits will mask the vegetables.
Some Final Thoughts
This whole thing is a process. You won’t find it easy to start eating everything at once. I just want you to know that that’s normal. Your goal is to keep trying and slowly increase your vegetable intake.
Stay consistent. Who knows? In just a short while, you could be an avid vegetable lover. I recommend buying food for at least a week and preparing ahead. You’re less likely to hate veggies if you don’t have to prepare everything from scratch after work.
You should also consider finding a support network. This journey is a lot easier if you’re doing things with someone. You can hold each other accountable and build positive experiences with your food. Good luck!
