Very Fussy Eater - Ways to eat Veg?

BKWDR

Hi All,

I am 30 years of age, fairly active, wouldn't consider myself overweight for my size although i'm sure if i wasn't as active that would all change.

My trouble is, i have never eaten vegetables bar potato (mash / chips etc). It doesn't stop with veg, i probably would have a very poor diet but am looking to vary what i eat.

My question, for people who are similarly fussy but changed, is how to get about eating or introducing veg to your meals? I've juiced and that was grand as it is really the crunch or consistency that makes me gag when i think of eating veg.

Just looking for ways or techniques or recipes to broaden my diet.

Thanks in advance

Stench Blossoms

Would you eat soup?

There's many different ways to cook veg and not all veg are the same. Experiment with steaming/roasting etc.

It's not the best suggestion but I know one of my friends wouldn't eat veg and I put the Green Isle roasting vegetables in front of her and she managed to eat them. Maybe try them?

BKWDR

Stench Blossoms wrote: »

Would you eat soup?

There's many different ways to cook veg and not all veg are the same. Experiment with steaming/roasting etc.

It's not the best suggestion but I know one of my friends wouldn't eat veg and I put the Green Isle roasting vegetables in front of her and she managed to eat them. Maybe try them?

I did try soup a year or so ago and gave up on it but is something I could revisit. I might have just had a bad soup and the one I did like was riddled in cream so was counter productive.

I will put the green isle ones on the list to try. Thanks

thegreatiam

it's psychological.

you probably do eat a lot of veg but its cooked into a meal and you aren't consciously aware of it. Spag bol for eg should be made from carrots/celery/onion chopped fine and softened in butter before the meat is added. actually a lot of sauces in italy are made like this.

But you probably weren't aware that spag bol has this much veg in it.

most likely you are afraid of the stuff that was forced on you as a kid: sliced carrots, peas, sprouts all boiled to death on the hob until all flavor is removed and then splatted on your plate were you were forced to eat it. even to this day I can't eat peas like that without gagging.

steam them add a little mint, some grated lime zest and chilli flakes and topped with butter and they're lovely tho.
fry carrots in butter in a pan with a lid, add a little cinnamon and they are great.
Sprouts fried in garlic oil, with thin slices of bacon, then simmered in a little chicken stock will change a Sunday lunch.

stir a load of veg (carrots, peppers, garlic, sweet peas, onion) into some cooked chicken slices, add soy and chilli, salt and pepper, a little white wine and its a homemade stirfry.

Most of your dislike in veg is in your head.

It does make me wonder tho, why ive never heard someone say "im a really fussy eater, I only eat fresh vegetables and quality meat and dairy, none of that fast food junk."

bluecherry74

If you like mashed potato, try mashing other kinds of veg. I make a butternut and potato mash regularly in place of ordinary mash. Just cut up your spuds and butternut (make the butternut pieces a bit bigger than the potato as they cook faster), boil or steam them and then mash them together. Add in some salt, black pepper and a tablespoon of creme fraiche. It's delicious and much tastier than mashed potato on it's own.

Mashed carrot and swede are lovely together as well.

Susie120704

Soups and roasted veg is the way to go. I am picky when it comes to veg so I make my own soup where I can disguise veg I am not too keen on and I often roast veg too as it changes flavour and texture

Bag of frozen roasting veg with herbs on them - delicious, try those. Or the frozen stir fry ones stir fried with lovely spices

BKWDR

thegreatiam wrote: »

it's psychological.

you probably do eat a lot of veg but its cooked into a meal and you aren't consciously aware of it. Spag bol for eg should be made from carrots/celery/onion chopped fine and softened in butter before the meat is added. actually a lot of sauces in italy are made like this.

But you probably weren't aware that spag bol has this much veg in it.

most likely you are afraid of the stuff that was forced on you as a kid: sliced carrots, peas, sprouts all boiled to death on the hob until all flavor is removed and then splatted on your plate were you were forced to eat it. even to this day I can't eat peas like that without gagging.

steam them add a little mint, some grated lime zest and chilli flakes and topped with butter and they're lovely tho.
fry carrots in butter in a pan with a lid, add a little cinnamon and they are great.
Sprouts fried in garlic oil, with thin slices of bacon, then simmered in a little chicken stock will change a Sunday lunch.

stir a load of veg (carrots, peppers, garlic, sweet peas, onion) into some cooked chicken slices, add soy and chilli, salt and pepper, a little white wine and its a homemade stirfry.

Most of your dislike in veg is in your head.

It does make me wonder tho, why ive never heard someone say "im a really fussy eater, I only eat fresh vegetables and quality meat and dairy, none of that fast food junk."

100% agree with you that it is in my own noggin but for different reasons. I would accept that there is veg in most sauces etc. but I'm terrible, if i saw onion within a sauce it would put me off it, or i would have to blend it or if i was out and had ordered a burger and when i bit into it there was onion through the mince i would probably leave the rest of the burger

I want to get beyond that mental block and start eating it but just want to know different ways that people similar to me have done it.

BKWDR

Susie120704 wrote: »

Soups and roasted veg is the way to go. I am picky when it comes to veg so I make my own soup where I can disguise veg I am not too keen on and I often roast veg too as it changes flavour and texture

Just diced veg and into the oven? Do you add anything? Which veg is best to start with*


*read will have the least taste!

BKWDR

bluecherry74 wrote: »

If you like mashed potato, try mashing other kinds of veg. I make a butternut and potato mash regularly in place of ordinary mash. Just cut up your spuds and butternut (make the butternut pieces a bit bigger than the potato as they cook faster), boil or steam them and then mash them together. Add in some salt, black pepper and a tablespoon of creme fraiche. It's delicious and much tastier than mashed potato on it's own.

Mashed carrot and swede are lovely together as well.

I will definitely try the butter nut squash and potato, although with the creme freche it would take away from the nutritional element.

This one
http://www.tesco.ie/groceries/Product/Details/?id=263194263

thegreatiam

BKWDR wrote: »

100% agree with you that it is in my own noggin but for different reasons. I would accept that there is veg in most sauces etc. but I'm terrible, if i saw onion within a sauce it would put me off it, or i would have to blend it or if i was out and had ordered a burger and when i bit into it there was onion through the mince i would probably leave the rest of the burger

I want to get beyond that mental block and start eating it but just want to know different ways that people similar to me have done it.

my mum makes a really lovely onion gravy. its beyond tasty.
But, my sister is like you. she would not eat veg. infact for as long as i remember she would only eat sausage and mash even well into her 20's.

my parents used to trick her into eating the onion gravy by telling her it was apple. "want some more apple gravy for your sausage and mash?"

were both in our 30's now and she still insists its an apple gravy, although she does eat veg now.

you just have to get over the block, most veg is really tasty, especially when cooked right, asparagus and butter sauce is my current favorite.

although sweet potato, carrot, and squash bake with honey and cinnamon, is close.

or baby carrots and beetroot in a balsamic glaze. lush!


start small, add some spring onions to your mash. then add some veg to a meaty stirfry. build it up as you go.

bluecherry74

BKWDR wrote: »

I will definitely try the butter nut squash and potato, although with the creme freche it would take away from the nutritional element.

It wouldn't really, creme fraiche isn't a bad food by any means and a spoonful in the entire recipe is hardly anything. I've made it a few times without it though and it's still great. You could use a spoonful of natural yogurt instead.

BKWDR

thegreatiam wrote: »

my mum makes a really lovely onion gravy. its beyond tasty.
But, my sister is like you. she would not eat veg. infact for as long as i remember she would only eat sausage and mash even well into her 20's.

my parents used to trick her into eating the onion gravy by telling her it was apple. "want some more apple gravy for your sausage and mash?"

were both in our 30's now and she still insists its an apple gravy, although she does eat veg now.

you just have to get over the block, most veg is really tasty, especially when cooked right, asparagus and butter sauce is my current favorite.

although sweet potato, carrot, and squash bake with honey and cinnamon, is close.

or baby carrots and beetroot in a balsamic glaze. lush!


start small, add some spring onions to your mash. then add some veg to a meaty stirfry. build it up as you go.

I had to laugh reading your post. If it wasn't for sausage and mash / chips / bread i dont know what i would've eaten to date!

I hand on heart don't mind eating something once it is out of sight. Like if someone told me there was onion in pepper sauce, i would still eat it so long as i couldn't see the shiney crunchie nastiness haha

Im gonna go try the roast veg a previous poster had suggested. See where i go from there.

Wish me luck!

Stench Blossoms

BKWDR wrote: »

I will definitely try the butter nut squash and potato, although with the creme freche it would take away from the nutritional element.

Have a read of the stickies. A lot of the things you thought were bad for you (Eggs, cream, creme freche) aren't the worst. Cereals such a special k would be a lot worse.

BKWDR

Stench Blossoms wrote: »

Have a read of the stickies. A lot of the things you thought were bad for you (Eggs, cream, creme freche) aren't the worst. Cereals such a special k would be a lot worse.

I have slowly come around to some new food items, such as eggs. I had never touched an egg until a year ago i had french toast. Last week i had scrambled egg and a couple days later i had a cheese omelette.

Yeah i've been told a lot of what i am eating is loaded with salt and sugar but appear healthy.

Mr. CooL ICE

You sound like me until I hit my 20s

Agree that it is purely psychological. But just try different ways of cooking them, and do it all yourself. I found that I would always ignore the single sprig of broccoli, cauliflower or carrot/parsnip that my mother would try to get me to eat. Ever since I started preparing the veg the same way but making it myself, it made it easier to eat. Nowadays, I don't care who makes it; I will still eat it.

Soups are a great idea and if you prepare ahead and make a big batch at the weekend, you can have a small portion every day. One of my quick meals is a steak with carrot and broccoli - parboil for 2 mins before removing the water and lashing on butter with salt and pepper. Don't worry about the fat content of the butter

the keen edge

If you like curry its a great medium to hide the vegetables.

BKWDR

LordChessington wrote: »

You sound like me until I hit my 20s

Agree that it is purely psychological. But just try different ways of cooking them, and do it all yourself. I found that I would always ignore the single sprig of broccoli, cauliflower or carrot/parsnip that my mother would try to get me to eat. Ever since I started preparing the veg the same way but making it myself, it made it easier to eat. Nowadays, I don't care who makes it; I will still eat it.

Soups are a great idea and if you prepare ahead and make a big batch at the weekend, you can have a small portion every day. One of my quick meals is a steak with carrot and broccoli - parboil for 2 mins before removing the water and lashing on butter with salt and pepper. Don't worry about the fat content of the butter

I take it the parboiled takes the crunch out of them?

BKWDR

the keen edge wrote: »

If you like curry its a great medium to hide the vegetables.

See if it was, i would be forking around it to try and find any veg to push to side of plate

seosamh1980

But, you're an adult, you know it's psychological. So would you not just try a tiny piece of an onion etc and eat it, or try to, and just get used to it? I hated avocado for a long time, and I loved raspberries when with chocolate but would never eat them on their own, it's like they tasted like a different thing altogether on their own. Slowly I started eating more avocado, and now I could eat a whole bowl of home made guacamole...still wouldn't just eat a piece of avocado though, too mushy. With raspberries I started eating them with a tiny scoop of chocolate icecream, enough to coat them a bit, and I slowly reduced the amount of icecream, now I can eat nearly a feckin punnet of raspberries on their own

It's just mind over matter, don't force yourself but just taste things a few times, get used to the textures and flavours and what you like them with.

teacosy

Repeated exposure is the way to go here. You'll find it difficult to ever accept a food without smelling chewing tasting and swallowing it, ...on it's own. Hiding or masking the taste of foods you are averse to isn't a waste of time exactly, but it won't solve your problem in the long term.

This paper illustrates it a bit

http://www.nature.com/ejcn/journal/v57/n2/abs/1601541a.html:


and this book is aimed at parents of very restrictive eaters (eg those on autistic spectrum), it describes strategies to overcome the aversions

http://www.amazon.com/Just-Take-Bite-Effective-Challenges/dp/1932565124

Feets

Jerry seinfelds wife wrote a book on hiding veg in kids food. Recipes were tasty tho. Im sure they can be googled...cant remember her first name..

BKWDR

seosamh1980 wrote: »

But, you're an adult, you know it's psychological. So would you not just try a tiny piece of an onion etc and eat it, or try to, and just get used to it? I hated avocado for a long time, and I loved raspberries when with chocolate but would never eat them on their own, it's like they tasted like a different thing altogether on their own. Slowly I started eating more avocado, and now I could eat a whole bowl of home made guacamole...still wouldn't just eat a piece of avocado though, too mushy. With raspberries I started eating them with a tiny scoop of chocolate icecream, enough to coat them a bit, and I slowly reduced the amount of icecream, now I can eat nearly a feckin punnet of raspberries on their own

It's just mind over matter, don't force yourself but just taste things a few times, get used to the textures and flavours and what you like them with.

I know it sounds stupid and i know i sound simple asking for help. In my head i compare it to asking someone to roll their tongue when they can't.
I've tried things, i've jumped straight in and then i've just put my toe in the water and wussed out.

teacosy wrote: »

Repeated exposure is the way to go here. You'll find it difficult to ever accept a food without smelling chewing tasting and swallowing it, ...on it's own. Hiding or masking the taste of foods you are averse to isn't a waste of time exactly, but it won't solve your problem in the long term.

This paper illustrates it a bit

http://www.nature.com/ejcn/journal/v57/n2/abs/1601541a.html:


and this book is aimed at parents of very restrictive eaters (eg those on autistic spectrum), it describes strategies to overcome the aversions

http://www.amazon.com/Just-Take-Bite-Effective-Challenges/dp/1932565124

Thanks for the links , gonna check them out tomorrow at lunch time. You are kinda right, i find if there is something hidden in my food it makes me more anxious to look for it.

Feets wrote: »

Jerry seinfelds wife wrote a book on hiding veg in kids food. Recipes were tasty tho. Im sure they can be googled...cant remember her first name..

Sounds strange, but i actually just want to sit down and eat veg. I dont want to start looking for something i dont know whether or not its in my food if ya know what i mean

seosamh1980

I can't roll my tongue, but that is a biological fact, not a psychological decision, if you know what I mean. You can overcome your limited diet, I can't make my tongue longer or flexible enough to roll :P

My kids are not veg eaters, so I disguise veg in meals. I chop finely or grate carrots, parships, turnip, celery, etc into bolognaise sauce or stew. Stew can be beef, lamb or chicken. It's a pain in the butt, but at least I know they're getting nourishment. I've started putting lentils and sweetcorn in too. They'll eat peas, so I reckoned the sweetcorn would be ok.

BKWDR

seosamh1980 wrote: »

I can't roll my tongue, but that is a biological fact, not a psychological decision, if you know what I mean. You can overcome your limited diet, I can't make my tongue longer or flexible enough to roll :P

I knew as i typed it that it was a bad comparison. Hard to explain, i know its psychological but just trying to overcome it feels like the inability to roll your tongue (if you couldn't)

homemadecider

To be perfectly honest,I think you just need to come to terms with the fact that this is totally all in your head, then suck it up and get over it. It will take time but you just need to keep trying vegetables until you can eat them. Try them every single day and don't let yourself stop trying.

You are an adult and your body requires essential minerals and vitamins from vegetables, not to mention fibre. Be a grown up about it, push yourself, and best of luck.

seosamh1980

homemadecider wrote: »

You are an adult and your body requires essential minerals and vitamins from vegetables, not to mention fibre. Be a grown up about it, push yourself, and best of luck.

+1

V123

when i was younger i hated carrots and whenever i stayed in my aunts she would put loads of carrots on the plate and go on at you if you didn't eat them! I used to dilute the taste by mashing them into my potatoes! you could barely taste them. eventually i got used them and now i love carrots and all veg

BKWDR

homemadecider wrote: »

To be perfectly honest,I think you just need to come to terms with the fact that this is totally all in your head, then suck it up and get over it. It will take time but you just need to keep trying vegetables until you can eat them. Try them every single day and don't let yourself stop trying.

You are an adult and your body requires essential minerals and vitamins from vegetables, not to mention fibre. Be a grown up about it, push yourself, and best of luck.

I appreciate the advice, thanks. I guess i know exactly what you have said is true, accept it 110%.
I guess i just posted here to ask others who were in my boat, how they over came it or the easiest way to introduce vegetables into their diet.

BKWDR

Thanks guys for all your help and advice. I am going to give your suggestions a shot over the next week or so and see how i get on and sure I'll post again if im successful : )

Go raibh maith agat

homemadecider

Here's a few easy ways to start:

- Roasted sweet potato. Peel the sweet potato, cut into quarters and rub with olive oil. Put on baking sheet and sprinkle lightly with salt. Put in the oven for 30 - 40 minutes until the potato is soft all the way through and it is starting to turn brown/black on the outside (this is the natural sugar in the potato caramelising and it is DELICIOUS).

- Carrot and parsnip soup. Chop up 4 carrots and 1 parsnip and chuck them in a saucepan. Pour in chicken stock (try buying the Knorr Stock Pots, they are excellent) until the veg is just covered. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer until all the veg is totally soft. Transfer to a blender/ food processor and blend really well until velvety smooth. Right at the end add a tablespoon of butter or cream to finish.

- Stir fry a mixture of veg and dress with hoisin and soy sauce. Try the following: Chop 1 onion into large chunks, thinly slice 1 carrot, thickly slice 1 courgette and then slice a handful of mushrooms. Put about a tablespoon of oil in a wok and turn the heat up full. When the oil is really hot, chuck in the onion and carrot and cook, stirring regularly, for a couple of minutes until the carrot has softened. Add the mushrooms and courgette and cook for another couple of mins. To finish, add a good splash of soy sauce and a tablespoon of hoisin. Hoisin is very sweet and will make your veg taste bloody amazing! Serve with noodles or rice.

I hope this helps. I'm a bit of a veg nut so any more questions please just ask.

BKWDR

homemadecider wrote: »

Here's a few easy ways to start:

- Roasted sweet potato. Peel the sweet potato, cut into quarters and rub with olive oil. Put on baking sheet and sprinkle lightly with salt. Put in the oven for 30 - 40 minutes until the potato is soft all the way through and it is starting to turn brown/black on the outside (this is the natural sugar in the potato caramelising and it is DELICIOUS).

- Carrot and parsnip soup. Chop up 4 carrots and 1 parsnip and chuck them in a saucepan. Pour in chicken stock (try buying the Knorr Stock Pots, they are excellent) until the veg is just covered. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer until all the veg is totally soft. Transfer to a blender/ food processor and blend really well until velvety smooth. Right at the end add a tablespoon of butter or cream to finish.

- Stir fry a mixture of veg and dress with hoisin and soy sauce. Try the following: Chop 1 onion into large chunks, thinly slice 1 carrot, thickly slice 1 courgette and then slice a handful of mushrooms. Put about a tablespoon of oil in a wok and turn the heat up full. When the oil is really hot, chuck in the onion and carrot and cook, stirring regularly, for a couple of minutes until the carrot has softened. Add the mushrooms and courgette and cook for another couple of mins. To finish, add a good splash of soy sauce and a tablespoon of hoisin. Hoisin is very sweet and will make your veg taste bloody amazing! Serve with noodles or rice.

I hope this helps. I'm a bit of a veg nut so any more questions please just ask.

I will definitely try 1 & 2 over the next week. Thanks for your help

ShelTomato

My bf has the same problem, he despises crunchy veg but wants to eat healthier. Lately he has discovered that he actually LOVES roast carrots and parsnips, I parboil then roast them and season them so that they come out as soft as chips. I also throw in any auld veg to a pot and blend to make veggie soup and then add in some chunks of ham, he loves that too.
Also I mash mushy parsnips, carrots or peas into his spuds and he barely notices (except fot the change in colour)

(sorry if this has all been mentioned, too tired to read through the thread)

thegreatiam

BKWDR wrote: »

Hi All,
My trouble is, i have never eaten vegetables bar potato (mash / chips etc).

I've juiced and that was grand as it is really the crunch or consistency that makes me gag when i think of eating veg.

BKWDR wrote: »

i would still eat it so long as i couldn't see the shiney crunchie nastiness haha

Im gonna go try the roast veg a previous poster had suggested. See where i go from there.

BKWDR wrote: »

I take it the parboiled takes the crunch out of them?

ShelTomato wrote: »

I parboil then roast them and season them so that they come out as soft as chips.

You guys know chips are supposed to crunch right? A soggy floppy chip is a bad chip

tunguska

BKWDR wrote: »

I appreciate the advice, thanks. I guess i know exactly what you have said is true, accept it 110%.
I guess i just posted here to ask others who were in my boat, how they over came it or the easiest way to introduce vegetables into their diet.

When I was a kid I was a very fussy eater. My mother literally forced me to eat veg and I think as a consequence of that I developed an aversion to all things green and healthy. What changed it for me was getting into sport in a big way and as a knock on effect of that realising that if Im healthy I'll perform better come race day. And when I made that realistion the mental block I had for vegetables disappeared. I could literally eat any veg, even a lot of them raw, and I enjoy them because I knew they were contributing to my health and subsequently to my performance.
It sounds like you need to come up with a good reason to eat vegetables BKWDR. Not just because everybody tells you thery're good for you and you should eat them. Alarm bells always go off for me as soon as I hear the word should. You shouldnt do anything only what you wanna do and your block will be removed when you decide to eat vegetables for your own reasons. Having said that a great way to get veg into you every day without having to eat it is to make a smoothie. You can throw in any veg you like, spincah, kale, carrots, tomato, cabbage, and mix it with a strong flavored fruit like pineapple and I guarantee you all you'll taste is the fruit not the veg.

ShelTomato

thegreatiam wrote: »

You guys know chips are supposed to crunch right? A soggy floppy chip is a bad chip

I know this. But it's the way the bf likes the roast veg. I LOVE a bit of crunch and hate sogginess, he can't stand crunch and loves his food soft.

We should have our own sitcom :rolleyes:

seosamh1980

I put sweet potato chunks, carrots, parsnips and baby potatoes into a roasting dish, throw on rosemary and thyme, garlic and a small bit of oil and roast for as long as it takes, delicious. Goes with so many dishes, and has great flavour.

frag420

HI Frag,

I say that as I may as well of written your post OP!!

Like you I was not the best veg eater. I still cant to an extent, let me explain. I cant eat a salad, I wont eat boiled carrots, broccoli etc as its tastes like crap. However I agree with what a lot of other posters have said, there are ways around it and it is all in your head. If I make myself chicken fajitas I will end up eating a min of two full peppers and an onion in that meal. If i make stew I will pack it full of carrots, onions etc. Stir fry's are the same I tried making my own soup but it was always bland..........until someone told me a trick to ad a flavour boost to it and now I have soup most days as my veg injection. So here is my recipe and I hope you enjoy it...

Grab the following veg and dice it all up, 10 med - lrg carrots, a full head of broccoli, three peppers, a red onion. Add whatever veg you want really to these. Then fry them of in batches in coconut oil until they start to get soft and then transfer to a large pot one batch at a time. What I usually do after I transfer the first batch is ad 200ml of boiling chicken stock and cover as the steam will infuse with the veg adding more flavour. When all the veg had been fried of and added to the pot blend up two tins of peeled plum tomatoes and add to the veg and stir well.

lastly the flavour boost....grate a lump of ginger into a bowl. add a tablespoon of tumeric, garam massala and cumin seeds and mix all together. heat some coconut oil in the pan and over a med eat add the spice mixture, keep stiring it. you will get a savage nice aroma from this. After about 2-3 mins take it of the heat being careful not to burn it and add it to the pot of veg, cover and simmer over a med heat for a an hr or two until the veg is soft. I usually leave it overnight to cool and let the flavour enhance some more before I blend it up, add it to several containers and enjoy over the week!!

I hope this helps!

frAg

Dark Phoenix

Try the forzen veg that comes in the pouches that you microwave. I am not a big vegetable fan and hate them hard / crunchy but find with these they are softer. Also if its the texture you don't like I find carrots or brocolli cooked for a little longer become more soft and less crunchy.

Also dont force yourself to try and eat all vegetables. I dont like a lot of them however I've found a few I do like and I stick to those because I figure thats no harm you dont have to like everything and everyone has some that they dont like

hardCopy

For most of my life I had an extremely restrictive pallette.

I would eat a lump of cheddar cheese and chips for dinner. As I got a little older my poor mother got me to progress to plain cheeseburgers (no sauce allowed!) or sausage sandwiches. Dry, chopped chicken breast on a baguette was a "favourite".

The only food I ever enjoyed was crap like chips, pizza and crisp sandwiches.

About three years ago I got sick of trying to "diet" by cutting back on portions while still eating crap. I realised that if I wanted to be able to eat until I was full every night I would need to change the way I thought about food.

The first few things I tried were a strange selection of roast sweet potato, raw peas, raw baby spinach. I made a commitment that even though the thought of a lot of these foods disgusted me I would just try small amounts of them until I adjusted.

I'm now about three stone lighter than I was, I cook as a hobby, I eat fruit and veg every day, I can eat out wherever I want. Some of my favourite dishes include stuff I couldn't look at a few years ago. Today I had a wrap with roast beef, tomato, spinach and onion mayo; I wouldn't have eaten any of those ingredients a few years ago.

The really weird thing was that I would regularly watch cookery shows, even though I never had any interest in food! Now I get to cook pretty much everything I see on TV (except Fish - The Final Frontier)

Start small OP, add small portions of the least revolting vegetable you can think of and just keep building on it. Learn to love food.

ShelTomato

I remember reading somewhere that it takes 19 times eating something you don't like for your taste buds to grow accustomed to it and you begin to enjoy it. That's 19 times within the space of a couple of weeks now, not spread across your lifetime :P

Mr. CooL ICE

I wouldn't eat beef steaks or apple tart until I was 15.

15!!!

thegreatiam

LordChessington wrote: »

I wouldn't eat beef steaks or apple tart until I was 15.

15!!!

i was 22 when I started eating steak. Was given it as a kid and hated it, parents were dismayed when I refused to eat these occasional family "treats" But considering my dad likes his steak extremely well done I really dont blame the younger me. Now its one of my all time favorite things, properly cooked steak not well done boot leather.

Learn a new way of cooking something you and you may like it.

BKWDR

I have started small, mostly taking off my gf's plate and then introduced it onto mine. But started with butternut squash and then courgettes mixed into a pasta dish and last night I ordered a thai curry and instead of ordering just the processed chicken off the kids menu i got a full curry and just asked without onions. So there were long green beans (crunchy) butternut squash and chillis in it. And i ate it, so that's where i am at.

Thanks all for your tips and help, i will be following up on some of your recipe tips and thanks for your advice. I am genuinely thrilled with my progress and i hope to keep it up and look back at these posts with embarrassment in months to come.

laoch na mona

i'm terrible at eating veg as well what works for me is cutting the veg as small as i can and mix it through the meal

seosamh1980

BKWDR wrote: »

I have started small, mostly taking off my gf's plate and then introduced it onto mine.

I'd stab you with my fork if you tried to take food off my plate.

hardCopy

Brilliant, that's great progress and remarkably quick. I love curry now, one of hundreds of dishes I wouldn't have looked at a few years ago.

Onions were absolutely, categorically off the menu for me for a long time, even when I tried to branch out I'd hit a brick wall if a meal had onions in it (they seemed to be in every dish at times). Somehow I got over them, initially they had to be finely diced and fried before going near my dish but now I'm easy, I'll even eat them raw occasionally.

gymprincess27

BKWDR wrote: »

Hi All,

I am 30 years of age, fairly active, wouldn't consider myself overweight for my size although i'm sure if i wasn't as active that would all change.

My trouble is, i have never eaten vegetables bar potato (mash / chips etc). It doesn't stop with veg, i probably would have a very poor diet but am looking to vary what i eat.

My question, for people who are similarly fussy but changed, is how to get about eating or introducing veg to your meals? I've juiced and that was grand as it is really the crunch or consistency that makes me gag when i think of eating veg.

Just looking for ways or techniques or recipes to broaden my diet.

Thanks in advance

Hi here's an idea for you I make this myself every so often and its delicious.

Ingredients:

Red onion
White onion
Sweet potato
Mushrooms
Red pepper
Green pepper
Jar of dolmio or pasta sauce
Chili flakes (optional)

Directions:

Chop all veg into cubes (try keep all to similar size), put on oven tray, cover with sauce and sprinkle on flakes (again optional), place in oven at about 210-220dgs, cook for about 40 mins, serve and enjoy

It makes a lot so it can do for 2 days or 1 big meal and a small snack, depending what size you want the portion.

Alf Veedersane

gymprincess27 wrote: »

Hi here's an idea for you I make this myself every so often and its delicious.

Ingredients:

Red onion
White onion
Sweet potato
Mushrooms
Red pepper
Green pepper
Jar of dolmio or pasta sauce
Chili flakes (optional)

Directions:

Chop all veg into cubes (try keep all to similar size), put on oven tray, cover with sauce and sprinkle on flakes (again optional), place in oven at about 210-220dgs, cook for about 40 mins, serve and enjoy

It makes a lot so it can do for 2 days or 1 big meal and a small snack, depending what size you want the portion.

Would it not be better to use passata or blended up tin of chopped tomatoes rather than Dolmio? Just so you know what's going into it.