Physically can't eat vegetables?

El Inho

I'm just about to turn 24, and am a student.

When I was younger, under protest, I would eat a veg, but was never a fan. The older I got, I ate less veg, to the point were around the age of 14 maybe, I just completely avoided it like the plague.

It was the texture of veg. Would make me gag, and want to vomit for just biting into it. So I just ate **** for the past few years. I've heard this to be a common problem. People hate the texture, or the juices, or something else, and they believe they physically CANNOT endure eating it.

That was until last Sunday.

I was in the library, absolutely starving. For once the cafe was actually open on a sunday, so i mustered up some change to take a break from studying for the exams.

Chillie chicken an chips. I had gotten this before. Honey in the sauce....was lovely. Had a piece of chicken, some chips...looked at the plate at stared down the veg. Remember for about 10 years i would meticulously remove all traces of veg from a piece of chicken before eating it.

I got some onions, some green peppers, some chicken and dipped it in the sauce and ate it. The crunch was loud...i was expecting it, but because i was so hungry and just said feck it and went for it, i didnt gag.

Cleaned the plate, and told my shocked gf, who to be fair had been trying to inspire such a revolt for me for some time.

Last night I could finally have wraps...something I've always thought looked lovely but was afraid the veg would ruin it. Fair enough, I've only had green, red and yellow peppers and onions (all new to me), but last night while eating the fajitas i just couldnt believe one thing:

I have been missing out on AWESOME food.

So I'm going to work my way through veg and exercise for the summer in an effort to lose 2 stone before my graduation in August. Kicking the smokes. Simply can't believe I have been so stubborn about veg for this long.


A I know its a common problem, for a long time I found solace in knowing other people 'cant' eat veg....but im sorry, if i could finally do it, anyone can. It is in fact all in the head.

olaola

I cannot stand fussy eaters... I always think it's 'in their head'. Your post pleases me somewhat!

El Inho

olaola wrote: »

I cannot stand fussy eaters... I always think it's 'in their head'. Your post pleases me somewhat!

it's still very early in my veggie eating career, but i plan on trying stuff over the summer...

i am pretty sure i dont like lettuce, and mayonaisse...but everything else is fair game right now

spinage is top of the must try list.

frag420

I am in the same boat. not until my mid twenties did I start eating somne veg. Still dont eat enough but try to get one portion in a dat either via a veg soup, some peas or grean beans with my fish in the evening or maybe fajitas(about two peppers and an onion). Also I recomend honey roasted parsnips, tasty!!

Next on my list is brocolli and apparently it is a super food!! I am resigned to the fact I will never eat leafy salady stuff like lettuce. I tried but did not like it at all and it ruined my burger. Also cauliflower is a no no for me.

Keep upm the good fight op!!

frAg

Plazaman

Mod Edit: Trolling post deleted.

But back on topic, I was (and still am to some extent) a fussy veg eater. I will eat onions, peppers and turnip but the rest not so much. I would eat carrots in a stew but would never have them on their own or as a side. Peas are banished from my kitchen as are leeks and any of those pulses. Cucumber can fúck right off (pardon my french) as far as I'm concerned.

Still, I'm always in the mindset that I will try anything once. Definitley OP you are opening up your palate to new delights, go for it and as I said, try it at least once, you'll never know till it's tasted.

El Inho

frag420 wrote: »

I am in the same boat. not until my mid twenties did I start eating somne veg. Still dont eat enough but try to get one portion in a dat either via a veg soup, some peas or grean beans with my fish in the evening or maybe fajitas(about two peppers and an onion). Also I recomend honey roasted parsnips, tasty!!

Next on my list is brocolli and apparently it is a super food!! I am resigned to the fact I will never eat leafy salady stuff like lettuce. I tried but did not like it at all and it ruined my burger. Also cauliflower is a no no for me.

Keep upm the good fight op!!

frAg

well the simple truth is we are both well behind the majority! we have to learn an entire food group, and just like anything else need to uncover whats nice and what isnt!

there was honey in the chillie chicken i had last week, so that sounds like an absolute plan! thanks for the encouragement

El Inho

Plazaman wrote: »

Because he wouldn't eat his vegetables either. No veg angries up the blood.


But back on topic, I was (and still am to some extent) a fussy veg eater. I will eat onions, peppers and turnip but the rest not so much. I would eat carrots in a stew but would never have them on their own or as a side. Peas are banished from my kitchen as are leeks and any of those pulses. Cucumber can fúck right off (pardon my french) as far as I'm concerned.

Still, I'm always in the mindset that I will try anything once. Definitley OP you are opening up your palate to new delights, go for it and as I said, try it at least once, you'll never know till it's tasted.

well the best thing is, and with a troll following this will be a disaster, but the gag reflex i had with the texture of veg.

im much more open to the idea of trying something new. like the wraps last night i was picking at the raw peppers just trying everything that was being cooked, even going back for seconds. my mindset has just changed completely! sad to say it, but im looking forward to googling recepies for the summer!

Swampy

El Spearo wrote: »

well the best thing is, and with a troll following this will be a disaster, but the gag reflex i had with the texture of veg.

im much more open to the idea of trying something new. like the wraps last night i was picking at the raw peppers just trying everything that was being cooked, even going back for seconds. my mindset has just changed completely! sad to say it, but im looking forward to googling recepies for the summer!

Get some roasted sweet potato into you. Great veg.

ElleEm

If you like peppers, you will probably like other sweet veg like sweet potato, butternut squash and carrots.

Oh you'll be so glowy and lovely after eating veg now

El Inho

ElleEm wrote: »

If you like peppers, you will probably like other sweet veg like sweet potato, butternut squash and carrots.

Oh you'll be so glowy and lovely after eating veg now

yeah like im leaving college next week to go back home for the summer...and lets just say my mother is already stocking the house with veg. yeah i live at home = :cool:

but it should be perfect to work on my own cooking. see my missus is german and when i visit her family always makes such an effort to cook for me...i just wanna enjoy german cuisine, and not there is a real chance i can let my palate give everything a fair chance.

El Inho

ElleEm wrote: »

If you like peppers, you will probably like other sweet veg like sweet potato, butternut squash and carrots.

Oh you'll be so glowy and lovely after eating veg now

Did your name just change

Faith

Troll posts (and replies to it) deleted. Please don't bring it up again.

ElleEm

El Spearo wrote: »

Did your name just change

No.

I am confused!

El Inho

ElleEm wrote: »

No.

I am confused!

thought it was pearl a second ago and it changed...

glitch in the matrix job.

El Inho

But yeah, open to more ideas...

i like the connections between peppers and sweet potatoes, and even the honey turnips sound quite nice!

keep em coming

BunShopVoyeur

Your health must be shocking?

El Inho

BunShopVoyeur wrote: »

Your health must be shocking?

not really...great immune system, weighing 15 stone, full of energy. It's like my body just adapted to shíte.

but my target weight is 13st by august, and i think this new found want for veg should help with that.

ive always liked potatoes and mushrooms and they were literally the only things that hadnt died that i eat...excluding bread obv!

I think it was just luck im so healthy now, but that health is relative to my diet...i can become a lot healthier!

hardCopy

I'm on a similar journey, just started eating veg last year. I had been eating sweet potato for a while and an occasional carrot but went all out and added greens, peppers, lots of tomato.

I still don't love onions or broccoli, but I love things like peas (Garden, Petit Pois, Mangetout and my favourite; Sugarsnaps) spinach, butterhead lettuce (not a fan of iceberg).

A lot of things take a few tries to get the hang of but some I'm not sure I'll ever really like but at least I'll try them now.

You'll now be able to make all sorts of stir fries. Try one with julienne carrots! Keep a bag of frozen peas in the freezer and you'll be able to green up any meal even if you're out of fresh veg.

There are so many nice things you can put in a salad too: rocket, spinach, pine nuts, cashews, grapes, bacon, grated carrot...mmmmm.

emeraldstar

El Spearo wrote: »

sad to say it, but im looking forward to googling recepies for the summer!

You should have a look here too: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055634281

Lots of tasty ideas for veg that you mightn't think of (and which you can always add meat to, of course).

Fair play, OP

Solair

It's definitely a purely psychological thing and it's also definitely worth getting it dealt with.

A friend of mine had a similar problem and when we sat down and analysed it, the original problem stemmed from being forced to eat vegetables as a kid, and they were particular vegetables he really did not like the taste of.

It's worth figuring out what started your dislike of vegetables, as it is usually some early experience that results in a reaction that isn't really very rational.

Having a parent who is really bad at cooking vegetables or who cooks some awful vegetable dishes and then forces someone to eat them is usually the start of it!

If you want to really get into fruit and vegetables, pick up a really good veggie cookbook e.g. I would recommend any of Dennis Cotter's books (Cafe Paradiso in Cork). Or do a bit of Googling for free recipes. There are some great ones in the Guardian.

Also, try and check out a veggie restaurant (a good one e.g. Cafe Paradiso) and you will have a totally different view of vegetables. These guys can produce absolutely amazing dishes that are most definitely not just a vegetarian compromise, they are absolutely amazing flavours combined to perfection!

This blog is also pretty good for recipes : http://adventuresinveg.com/ (She's an Irish journalist and does some pretty interesting veggie cooking on her blog)

Alun

Also bear in mind that, as we've discussed already in another thread, your tastes change with age, and something that you're absolutely convinced you won't like because you hated it as a child, might pleasantly surprise you.

El Inho

Solair wrote: »

It's definitely a purely psychological thing and it's also definitely worth getting it dealt with.

A friend of mine had a similar problem and when we sat down and analysed it, the original problem stemmed from being forced to eat vegetables as a kid, and they were particular vegetables he really did not like the taste of.

It's worth figuring out what started your dislike of vegetables, as it is usually some early experience that results in a reaction that isn't really very rational.

Having a parent who is really bad at cooking vegetables or who cooks some awful vegetable dishes and then forces someone to eat them is usually the start of it!

If you want to really get into fruit and vegetables, pick up a really good veggie cookbook e.g. I would recommend any of Dennis Cotter's books (Cafe Paradiso in Cork). Or do a bit of Googling for free recipes. There are some great ones in the Guardian.

Also, try and check out a veggie restaurant (a good one e.g. Cafe Paradiso) and you will have a totally different view of vegetables. These guys can produce absolutely amazing dishes that are most definitely not just a vegetarian compromise, they are absolutely amazing flavours combined to perfection!

This blog is also pretty good for recipes : http://adventuresinveg.com/ (She's an Irish journalist and does some pretty interesting veggie cooking on her blog)

yeah i think it was just all me. rather than eat food that took effort i would eat what tasted good. fast food became a habit, one im looking forward to breaking!

Alun wrote: »

Also bear in mind that, as we've discussed already in another thread, your tastes change with age, and something that you're absolutely convinced you won't like because you hated it as a child, might pleasantly surprise you.

yeah lots of foods falling into that category. even pasta i wouldnt eat, but thats next on my list too.

emeraldstar wrote: »

You should have a look here too: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055634281

Lots of tasty ideas for veg that you mightn't think of (and which you can always add meat to, of course).

Fair play, OP

meat is always essential :P thanks for the link and the support

hardCopy wrote: »

I'm on a similar journey, just started eating veg last year. I had been eating sweet potato for a while and an occasional carrot but went all out and added greens, peppers, lots of tomato.

I still don't love onions or broccoli, but I love things like peas (Garden, Petit Pois, Mangetout and my favourite; Sugarsnaps) spinach, butterhead lettuce (not a fan of iceberg).

A lot of things take a few tries to get the hang of but some I'm not sure I'll ever really like but at least I'll try them now.

You'll now be able to make all sorts of stir fries. Try one with julienne carrots! Keep a bag of frozen peas in the freezer and you'll be able to green up any meal even if you're out of fresh veg.

There are so many nice things you can put in a salad too: rocket, spinach, pine nuts, cashews, grapes, bacon, grated carrot...mmmmm.

this all sounds good!

carrots im wary of, but i know i will like them. brocolli and carrots i just to eat younger alright, and apparently i liked them!

its just good to know there are others had the same thing and that i can change my ways !

thanks for the replies everyone and keep me coming

Dermighty

In my experience most people that dislike food do so due to associations rather than the food itself.

Mayonnaise, tuna, brown sauce etc being examples.

I like most foods, smoked salmon doesn't really do much for me, nor does egg salad or quiche. I'm sure if I had a really nice egg salad or quiche it'd be grand.

El Inho

i take back something i said earlier...

just went to subway and im okay with lettuce. :P

tSubh Dearg

Good for you having a go at something new.

My OH is not the best for eating veg and when we started going out he would pretty much only eat carrots. Now he eats loads more, spinach and green beans being some of his favourites.

You might try spinach wilted down with a little butter, black pepper and a pinch of nutmeg - it is delicious. My top tip for broccoli is to roast it with garlic and cumin seeds (about 20 - 25 mins in hot oven) - it is a revelation of flavour, much nicer than just steamed or boiled.

Mellor

It's perfectly fine to dislike the taste or textrue of individual vegetables, or any food.
But some veg are nothing like other in either area. I've always seen it as a mental thing.
For example you like onion and peppers and onions in the fatijitas (actually my favs along with mushrooms too btw). They taste or feel nothing like green beans or broccolli for example.

Also, a lot people were probably served poor food growing up which won't help their impression of food.

El Inho

should have added earlier, someone commented on fruit...

i absolutely love fruit! pretty much all fruit.

apples, pears, oranges, bananas, strawberries, kiwis grapes...name it i like it...absolutely no problem there...

going for lunch at 3 now, and going to see what i can get on a brown roll with some chicken or ham. thinking lettuce, onions, corn, and maybe cucumber.

El Inho

back from lunch..

dont laugh but i never had lasagne before.

was lovely. had peppers onions and peas with a side of fries...

pea's added to the list!

this also paves the way for pasta dishes. pasta was a no go for me due to the texture.

Stench Blossoms

Easy on the pasta, it won't help with weight loss.

I eat all veg apart from turnip. I had a bad experience once but you've inspired me to try it again

hardCopy

Stench Blossoms wrote: »

Easy on the pasta, it won't help with weight loss.

I eat all veg apart from turnip. I had a bad experience once but you've inspired me to try it again

Nothing wrong with pasta, it's quite possible to eat pasta and lose weight. Just eat appropriate portions and get the wholegrain stuff.

El Inho

Stench Blossoms wrote: »

Easy on the pasta, it won't help with weight loss.

I eat all veg apart from turnip. I had a bad experience once but you've inspired me to try it again

hardCopy wrote: »

Nothing wrong with pasta, it's quite possible to eat pasta and lose weight. Just eat appropriate portions and get the wholegrain stuff.

yup i know to take it easy on the carbs!

i have two family members have had great success with weight watchers, and ill be asking them for recipes and advice too...no point in me spending money on it myself :P

and yeah, when i get home ill be getting all the proper veg...

ill give turnip a proper go if you do

Maldesu

I used to have real issues with veg and its only since I've moved far away from my relations that I can actually enjoy them. I never liked the way they prepared them so now I've my own way and it works great for me. Slowly working back to the turnips and carrots.

Great veggie dish:
Peppers, mushroom, courgette, aubergine, tomato, sometimes a bit of red onion, garlic. Pepper, some herbs (I used a mix I get in Lidl) some olive oil. Stick in the oven.
Lovely.
2 years ago I'd have bolted the opposite direction to a courgette or aubergine. I've been missing out.

Gbear

If you or anyone else are having problems eating onion - raw onion is caustic stuff with a really strong flavour and there's no shame in not eating them like apples. :pac:

However, cooked onions and garlic are a necessity in nearly all savoury dishes. You can also treat celery and carrots the same way to a certain degree. I put very finely diced celery and grated carrot in my Spaghetti Bolognese and Chili Con Carne recipes, for example.

If you need to trick yourself chop them very small like this:

They become one with the sauce and aren't noticeable but give a base to the flavour.

Roast root veg with a little honey over them
carrots, parsnips, fresh beetroot (not pickled!), sweet potato are all magnificent with a roast dinner and dead easy.

On the health front. Don't buy tins of readymade sauces or soups or any of that lark. It's not as nice or as healthy as fresh stuff.
This forum is great and of course if you're looking for recipes there's many seriously good cooks with a huge range of knowledge.

A well rounded tomato soup:
1 medium celery stick
1 medium carrot
1 medium onion
4 cloves of garlic
4 tomatoes (remove skin by dipping the tomatoes in a pot of boiling water for about 25 seconds and then quickly removing and putting under the cold tap or by dunking in a bowl of ice water - skin basically falls off)
1 chili (optional but delicious)
1 Pepper
3 bay leaves

Basically, chop up and fry all the vegetables at a fairly high heat stirring them around so as not to burn, for about 10 minutes.
Then add a jar of tomato passata and the same amount again of water, salt, pepper and simmer for about 30 minutes.
Take out bay leaves and blend with a hand blender until it's the consistency you want. Add water if needed to thin the sauce. Season as necessary. If it's too bitter use a tiny bit of honey.

Throw in some chopped coriander or basil if you want. Yum.
And you can fiddle around with the recipe and throw in any other vegetables that take your fancy.

El Inho

i was using that trick of making the onion disappear alright. The smell of them cooking with a steak was simply amazing!

But yester had a subway with big chunks of red onion and i could even feel them in my mouth under my teeth and they were grand!

username123

Green beans steamed for 10/15 minutes (keep them crunchy), drizzled with fresh garlic butter - heaven on a plate.......

mark17j

Try 'Honey roasted parsnips' you will love them
Glad you got over your veg hating phase.

Wafa

I love most veg but I can't stand fruit.

El Inho

Wafa wrote: »

I love most veg but I can't stand fruit.

have you tried smoothies ?

last summer i went of a kick of yoghurt, strawberries, bananas, apples tropicana...and bunged all into a blender...

guts of the 5 a day in one go and it was delish!

Kimia

I was exactly the same OP. I used to literally gag when I ate vegetables. I read somewhere that your taste buds are different when you're young and things that adults can eat, children will find taste awful or bitter etc.

I also read that it takes you eating something 10 times for your palette to get used to it. Well i was out recently and ordered a steak and as my side I had a big plate of broccoli. I'm used to forcing myself to eating broccoli - it had never been a very regular thing to me, but when I tasted it that time, I couldn't believe it. It was delicious!! WTF like, broccoli.

It can be done!

BroomBurner

Wafa wrote: »

I love most veg but I can't stand fruit.

Yeah, I can't eat much fruit either, think it's too acidic or something.

Veg though, I love. OP, welcome to the wonderful world of deliciousness! Good luck with all the new foods.
Roasting vegetables tend to be sweeter than just boiled or steamed, especially carrots. Also, sweet potato, turnip and butternut squash make a lovely mash, with a little cinnamon or nutmeg added.

Oh, and roasted aubergine... oh my God, I could eat that every day. It has to be really well roasted though, almost liquefied. Baked with tomato and red peppers and covered in mozzarella cheese nom nom nom Roasted aubergine = bone marrow of the veg world.

Truley

Mellor wrote: »

Also, a lot people were probably served poor food growing up which won't help their impression of food.

This is so true. Growing up the only vegetables in my house were boiled cabbage, boiled turnip, boiled carrots or broccoli, that was it. I never saw sweetcorn, courgette, aubergine (oh la la!) peppers, any herbs or spices, peas that weren't marrow fat from a packet. My mother only really cooked stews with grisly meat and she'd happily serve the same meal for days at a time, we were never exposed to different foods. All three of us kids grew up chronically fussy eaters, my youngest brother in particular to the extent that my parents thought he might have autism.

I know from the outside I would have come across as spoilt and attention seeking but honestly I was such an anxious, quiet child I hated that I couldn't eat food and would nearly have panic attacks at the thought of visiting friend's houses. It's hard to explain to a non-fussy person what it's like to have to eat something that in your head is inedible. Even back then I knew it was psychological but a psychological aversion is every bit as real as a physical one and they become one and the same, especially to a child.

For us three kids we all changed when we moved out of home and started experimenting with things like stir fries and fajitas, new was of cooking vegetables and *shock horror* adding herbs which my mother would never have done. Now all three of us are great adventurous eaters and my brother who wouldn't have touched a potato is like a bottomless pit who'll eat mussels off rocks at the beach.

There are still three things that I'll no, nay never put past my lips and that includes peanuts, cucumber and raw tomato. Which means I'm not great with salad-y food but apart from that most foods are fair game. Still wont eat my mother's cooking though - yeuch.

El Inho

no big updates on the veg, but had sweetcorn yesterday...was nice!

there was something else in it too along with mushrooms, but i already knew i liked mushrooms.

broke now, so its gonna be an unhealthy few days until i finally get home from college!