I’ve always had trouble eating fruits and vegetables (with the exception of potatoes). I don’t like the taste and I don’t like the texture. In fact, I can hardly get a vegetable down my throat without gagging. I have no idea where this revulsion came from. When I was a kid, my parents often had to hold me down and force the peas and carrots into my mouth while I kicked and struggled, so I guess I’ve always hated them.
I’d really like to eat healthier, but I can’t see forcing myself to eat food that makes me gag.
My question is, how much damage am I doing to my system by not eating vegetables, and what can I do (aside from eating vegetables) to minimize this damage?
Aside from vitamins, there are all sorts of things in vegetables that are very beneficial to your health; anthocyanins(the compunds that give beetroot it’s colour) and dietary fibre for example.
Do you like pizza? - it’s possible to heap quite a lot of nice vegetables like peppers and mushrooms onto pizza without spoiling it at all.
If you make bread (and it’s really easy), then you could puree cooked vegetables and add them into the dough - believe me, it makes the bread look and taste fantastic.
If you can’t bring yourself to eat vegetables in any form, then you should consider taking a vitamin supplement.
I have the same problem. I’ve been trying the strategy of eating a little bit of something I’d LIKE to like, as often as possible. Someone told me once that after a few weeks, it stops being so unfamiliar and you start liking it. It does work, sometimes.
Well, if you don’t like veggies and fruits, you can eat more grains, breads, beans and nuts. There are different varieties of potatos, too…you mentioned you like them.
Some calcium, beta carotine and nutrients are in fruits and veggies…vitamin c is a biggie. Supplements like vitamin tabs don’t even come close to the real nutrition in food. Especially those supplements trying to boost anioxident level.
As for fiber, eating breads and nuts…and beans and cereals should help you there.
Add in more fish to you diet…like Salmon and other cold water fishes…the have valuable antioxidnt benefits and along with adding in the foods I mentioned above, you should be able to boost your immune system and maintain a healthy digestive track.
With this foundation of knowledge, you can now visit a nutrtionist for the specifics as they relate to you (your age, body type, family medical history, etc)
Look in the style section of your local daily newspaper on a Wednesday, or whenever there’s a special Food Section. Often, there are cooking classes listed for special needs such as: lowfat, diabetic, etc. Maybe there’s a dynamic chef who does wonders with vegetables. If you learn to cook with vegetables and like the results, you might keep it up. Also, check out any farmer’s markets near you. The fruits and vegetables are generally fresher and better tasting than supermarkets. One of my favorite fruits are perfectly ripe peaches. In the supermarket, I can always count on getting peaches that are rotten on one side and hard as a rock on the other side. But I get fragrant, juicy peaches at my farmer’s market in the summer. I guess there’s something good about hot, humid weather after all.
Unfortunately, no, although I find fruit less gag-worthy than most green vegetables. I can eat an apple if I set my mind to it, but it’s not a pleasant experience. I do like fruit juice though. Does one get the same things from a glass of orange juice as from the actual orange? Likewise, I eat a lot of tomato sauce and I’m wondering if that’s almost as good as eating a whole tomato.
I already take a daily vitamin supplement and I try to get as much fiber as possible from other sources (whole grain, bran, popcorn). I’m 25 and I seem to be in pretty good health – I only get sick about once every two or three years and I’ve never had any major medical problems. I’m a little worried about what will happen when I get older though. This can’t be good for my long-term health.
Okay, assuming I want to force myself to start eating vegetables, is there one particular fruit or vegetable that has all the important healthy stuff packed in it? I’d much rather focus on eating one veggie than the whole bunch ::shudder::
Your revulsion sounds psychological in nature. If your parents literally shoved veggies down your throat, I can’t say as I blame you. Maybe you should see a therapist.
I personally think the 3 MOST important veggies are carrots, broccoli, and kale and/or spinach.
Veggies are SO good for you!
You should really try to eat them.
Maybe you havent tried the right kind.
Have you tried lightly steaming fresh organic veggies in some olive oil and adding some garlic or light cheeses?
Fresh orgnic veggies have a MUCH better flavor (in my opinion) than regular veggies. And canned or frozen veggies are just disgusting.
Vegetables offer all kinds of nutrients, phytochemicals, etc. to keep you safe from cancers, heart problems, and other ailments.
So, you should try to eat some at least once in a while.
By the way, I think the most important fruit is the orange.
DP- You also asked "Does one get the same things from a glass of orange juice as from the actual orange? Likewise, I eat a lot of tomato sauce and I’m wondering if that’s almost as good as eating a whole tomato. "
Actually, yes… your in luck!
Canned and cooked tomatoes, like tomato or pizza sauce, actually have MORE healthy nutrients than a raw tomato. These processed/ cooked types of tomatoes contain more Lycopene and other vitamins and antioxidants. Lycopene helps protect men from prostate cancer and other problems.
Orange juice (with pulp) has almost the same nutrients as an orange. The without pulp type has less fiber, but just as much vitamin C, etc. So, I think drinking OJ is really good for you.
A thought- Could you mix other juices (like cranberry) in with the OJ? You might like it.
I don’t want to badmouth my parents – they did a good job raising me for the most part – but this is one area where even they admit they screwed up big-time. Nobody should ever force-feed a little kid.
As for the therapist, I can’t imagine what he or she could do to help me other than trying to desensitize me to fruits and vegetables, which I can do on my own (and I am currently attempting to do).
Thanks!
Again, I appreciate all the the advice and suggestions that have been posted so far.
Hmm. Well, you could eat more Chinese food. It usually has vegetables, but their flavors are somewhat muted and blended with the sauce and meat flavors.
Devilman! A kindred spirit! I have this EXACT SAME affliction - and do you know what it is???
It’s a phobia!
After realising this, it all made much more sense to me. If you really want to get over it, then you must treat it like a phobia, and get around it like you would any other - be it hypnotism (not really sure if that works or not) or psychology, or whatever.
I, personally, don’t care about my dietary intake. 32 years of this and I’m thin and healthy and as fit as you can expect for someone who never exercises.
So really, apart from socially, it’s not a big problem for us, I reckon.
Wow, GuanoLad (and you too, FisherQueen), it’s good to know that I’m not alone.
Yes, I would consider it a phobia, although vegetables elicit more disgust than actual fear. If someone puts asparagus on my plate, I’ll react to them the same way I’d react to a pile of dog turds – “EW! GET THOSE THINGS OUTTA HERE!” I’d have a big problem touching them, much less putting them in my my mouth.
I’m curious, do you have any childhood experiences with vegetables that you think might have contributed to your phobia?
It’s amazing that you made this posting… I was just about to make something almost identical…
I am exactly the same way! I only like potatoes. I do eat apples, but for the most part I don’t find them enjoyable. I also enjoy “processed peas”, but unfortunately they are hard to find in Canada (common in the UK).
I am 26 years old and have always been told by doctors that I’m very healthy. Like you however I’m concerned about my long term health in the future.
My question really was is it OK to eat chunks of raw vegetables? I was planning to cut up things such as carrots and sprouts into small pieces and swallow them with water like pills. However some friends of mine suggested that this is even worse because without chewing them my stomach would be creating too much acid to compensate. Anyone know if my idea is a good one?
Have you tried buying a juicer? We had one for a while, and I have to say, it’s a lot easier to drink carrot juice than it is to eat a carrot!!! There used to be some pretty good ones on the market, as it was a fad a few years ago, but I’m sure you could still find them.
Just a thought, since you like fruit juices already…btw, if you like apple juice, mix it with carrot juice…it’s terrific…
