You have been told to eat your vegetables but you just don’t. Explore some reasons why you don’t want to eat your vegetables and some new thoughts you can take. Learn some tips for adding more vegetables into your life.
Why You Don’t Want to Eat Your Vegetables
One of the main reasons you don’t want to eat your vegetables is because you only know of and prepare a limited amount of vegetables. If you have only ever had corn and peas from a can, mashed potatoes from a box, and broccoli and iceberg lettuce, the vegetable world may seem bland. It is hard to expand the vegetables you eat when those vegetables are not in your area stores or you’ve never tried them.
Maybe you have thought about trying an artichoke, napa cabbage, or asparagus but don’t know how to prepare it. One time you probably bought a vegetable and it just sat and rotted in the fridge because you didn’t find a recipe to make it.
You might have tasted squash, okra, or kale and wondered how anyone could ever eat them. Your body may not be used to more intense bitter tastes. There is even a taste gene that for some people makes bitter foods seem more bitter until you have eaten them a couple of times.
It seems easier to just grab the normal food you already eat. You are used to the salty or sugary taste of those foods in bags and containers.
You think maybe I’ll add green pepper to my chili but think your dollar would be better spent somewhere else. A dollar for 1 pepper. Seems too expensive.
Exposure to, how to prepare, costs, your current tastes, and reliance on convenience foods are some of the main reasons you might not eat vegetables.
Why You Need to Eat Vegetables
The recommendation is to eat 5 a day of fruits and vegetables with vegetables being about 2-3 cups depending on gender and age. Only about 1 in 10 adults end up eating the recommended amount of vegetables per day.
Vegetables provide a great variety of nutrients your body needs. Some of the benefits of eating vegetables include lowering disease risks. Including diseases like heart disease, stroke, and some types of cancers. The fiber in vegetables helps with some digestive issues. Some non-starchy vegetables and leafy greens may promote weight loss, have a positive effect on blood sugar, and decrease hunger and appetite.
Change Your Thoughts About Vegetables
Vegetable Variety and Preparation
If you have a limited variety of vegetables you typically eat and know how to prepare, you can enjoy trying new vegetables. You don’t need to be afraid of trying something new. There is a lot of information online on how to prepare vegetables. Ask a friend what vegetables they eat. If there is one you haven’t had often, ask them how they prepare it. That way you can tell yourself that a person recommended it to you so it can’t be all that bad. This makes it easier to give it a try.
If you would like to try preparing a new vegetable, tell yourself it is not hard to do. Find a recipe and follow the instructions and it will be fine. You can do it.
Taste
What if you think certain vegetables are too bitter? Tell yourself that you haven’t eaten them enough or in enough different ways when you have the opportunity to try them again. Also, tell yourself that the more times you try a bitter vegetable the more your taste buds will get used to it and the bitterness will not stand out as much.
You can also tell yourself that there is a secret taste that will come out once your taste buds change. Often bitterness is hiding the true taste of the vegetable which can be brought out by how it is prepared. Sometimes the curiosity of finding that new taste will allow you the opportunity to try a bitter vegetable more often.
Used to Processed Foods
If you are just used to the convenience of boxed and bagged foods, you can change your thoughts about those foods. These foods are no longer convenient if they are causing you pain, weight gain, and increasing your disease risk.
Many of these packaged foods were created as an easy alternative to preparing something fresh. Tell yourself that they are not the best for your health. That doesn’t mean you can’t ever get them but consider getting the ingredients and making the foods you like from scratch.
Expensive
Finally, let’s talk about cost. It does seem like fresh vegetables are more expensive. Actually, when you get them in season, the price drops. Additionally, you can get them from a local farmer or farmers’ market. Tell yourself that you can try new vegetables in season when they cost less and take action to do it.
Tips for Eating More Vegetables
Try a new vegetable recommended by friends in the way they prepared it or from a recipe online.
Remember it is not hard just different to prepare a new vegetable. Just follow the recipe.
If a vegetable has been bitter before, add flavor with spices, herbs, and salsas. Try different ways to prepare it. Keep trying it to see if the taste changes. If you’ve tried it 15 times prepared in different ways and you still hate it, let it go and try another new vegetable.
Decide to increase the number of vegetables you eat in a week. Start with 1 serving. It doesn’t even have to be a new vegetable. Just add one more in the week and see how you feel. Over time you will find vegetables that you want to have every week.
Remember convenience foods are often not convenient for your health and find a recipe for one you get often using fresh vegetables. For example, if you often make boxed scallop potatoes, use fresh potatoes and slice them to make the recipe.
If cost is a problem then consider getting frozen vegetables when they are out of season. Vegetables are generally frozen at the time they are best from harvest. This is especially useful when using them with other ingredients.
If you’re struggling with getting in your 2-3 cups of vegetables a day and would like some help click this link to set up a consultation call so we can determine if we are a good fit for what you need on your health journey.
