Make Vegetables Taste Good

3. They help you body run efficiently

When you eat vegetables they help regulate your plumbing aka your digestive system. Vegetables help keep everything running smoothly. This is probably the biggest difference you will notice when you regularly eat vegetables.

4. They are delicious

Seriously, vegetables are quite delicious. Right now seeing a plate of vegetables might make you gag, but here’s how you can overcome your veggie aversion. 

How To Start Trying Veggies: Goal 1

Time to start trying some vegetables but you might be like, “John I don’t like vegetables!” That might be true right now but let’s switch that phrase up a bit to “I haven’t found a vegetable I like yet.” This simple mindset shift leaves you more open to trying new vegetables instead of closed off to the whole idea.

With this mindset shift, let’s find your gateway vegetable! Your first goal is to commit to trying vegetables, even in the smallest amounts. Go into every new experience with an open mind. Know that you might or might now like that vegetable and that’s ok. Just trying a vegetable is a major victory at this point.

Find at least one vegetable that you find tolerable. For me it was green beans. I tried some at Thanksgiving one year and was instantly hooked on them. Finding one vegetable that you tolerate will help you become even more open to the idea that vegetables can be delicious. 

Buying Vegetables: Goal 2

Buying vegetables can be a daunting task:

– Which vegetables should I buy?

– How can I tell if the vegetables are fresh?

– How long can I keep vegetables before they go bad?

Let’s start with some vegetables that you can choose from:

• Carrots
• Cucumbers
• Mushrooms
• Broccoli
• Spinach
• Brussel Sprouts
• Green Beans
• Red Peppers
• Tomatoes
•  Green Peppers
• Asparagus
• Beets
• Collard Greens
• Kale
• Onions
• Romaine Lettuce
• Cabbage
• Eggplant
• Peas
• Cauliflower

Now it’s time to buy one of these vegetables!

1. Pick a fresh vegetable

Don’t overthink picking out a fresh vegetable. If you are going to a reputable grocery store, most of their produce should be fresh. Make sure to avoid any obvious signs of rotting, bruising, or moldiness. 

A big sign of freshness is firm vegetables. You want firm vegetables not squishy or soggy vegetables. Over time you will become better at assessing the quality of your vegetables.

2. Considered pre-cut vegetables

If you are afraid that you won’t pick a fresh vegetable then pick up some pre-cut veggies. They might be a little bit more expensive, but that’s because most of the work is done for you. It takes out a couple of steps to get those vegetables in your tummy faster.

3. Learn how long you can keep your veggies

Once you get your vegetable, go to StillTasty.com and see how long it will stay fresh. A good rule of thumb is that it will stay fresh for at least 3 days.

If you are unsure if they are still fresh, look for any sogginess and give it a smell. If it seems a bit funky then it probably isn’t good anymore. Don’t worry if this happens, it happens to me all the time. Next time you just have to eat them a bit sooner.

Some of the best advice I was given was, “If in doubt, throw it out.” You don’t want to eat bad vegetables. That definitely will not help you like them more.

A good way to avoid vegetables going bad is to batch cook them. Once vegetables are cooked they will last for a few more days.

4. Consider frozen vegetables

Frozen vegetables are a staple in my house. They are a super convenient option to get your vegetables in especially if you get “steamable” bags. It doesn’t get any easier: take the bag out of the freezer, place in the microwave, rip open the bag, eat vegetables.

5. Consider canned vegetables

These might not be as fresh as the other options because of the methods used in keeping the vegetables from going bad. However, I would rather you pick up a can of vegetables than no vegetables at all.

Now it is time for you to pick your path. Commit to bringing home at least 1 vegetable and giving it a try. It doesn’t matter which vegetable you decide to bring home, but I want you to commit to at least bringing one home.

How To Make Vegetables Taste Better

Now that you are committed to trying some new vegetables that doesn’t necessarily solve the problem of you not liking the taste of the vegetables. I want to share with you some of my clients and mine favorite ways to make vegetables taste better.

• Add Spices

Your vegetables don’t have to stay plain and boring. Add a bit of seasoning to give them some extra zing. Some of my personal favorites to add are salt, garlic, cayenne pepper, onion powder, and everything bagel seasoning.

• Add Sauce

This is the same premise as adding spices, give your vegetables some added flavor. Add a little hot sauce, BBQ sauce, soy sauce, etc. to your vegetables and watch how much more you enjoy the taste. Just be careful of putting a lot of high calorie sauces on your vegetables because that will add up quickly.

• Try different Cooking Methods

There are tons of different ways that you can cook vegetables so don’t limit yourself to just eating them raw. You can saute, bake, steam, or grill them. Try out different methods because each can bring out a different flavor in the vegetables.

• Combine with other dishes

This is a stealthier way to get more vegetables into your diet. Adding them to the dishes you are already cooking will help mask them. Some ways to do this:

– Add spinach to smoothies

– Put a bit of kale in your chile or guacamole

– Take a bite of your protein and vegetable

– Add cheese to the vegetable

– Cook with bacon (everything’s better with bacon)

• Dip Them

Nothing is better than dunking your food and veggies are the same. Instead of covering them in a sauce or dressing try dunking them yourself. Try dunking them in some hummus, guacamole, or ranch dressing and bring your vegetables to flavor town!

You get to now eat your vegetables. You might not like them all that much at first, but don’t give up after trying just once. Try different vegetables and try them in different methods. You never know what will be your gateway vegetable. Always remain open to the possibility and you will find some vegetables that taste good to you.

Looking to continue to upgrade your diet?

In my free Fat Loss Cookbook there are 20 recipes that will instantly change your boring diet food into delicious and nutritious meals. These meals are simple to make and pair well with many sides (including vegetables).

Get your free copy of the Fat Loss Cookbook today!