An odd question, considering the community :)

[drm6735]

Hello, I came across this site through my reading of Erin Pavlina's husband's blog http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/ (which I've found to be an incredibly helpful site on personal development).

Over the past couple of days, I've gone though every page of the general forums as well as the articles and QnA, checking especially for noobie posts but also for any others that looked interesting. There is a wealth of information here, and I will certainly be checking back for referece quite often. I am of such a level of noobness in these respects that I didn't really see anything that addresses my situation. I didn't exactly expect to, but I was hoping that someone out there might have gone though a similar progression and could offer some advice.

Basically, I've always been about as rabid of a carnivore as one can imagine. The only plantlife to enter my diet consisted of potatoes, some bread, and the occasional tomato in salsa or tomato sauce. Of course, this hasn't exactly sculpted me into the perfect picture of health. Health is becoming more of a priority for me finally, and I realize that the carniverous lifestyle really has to go.

Needless to say, it's more than a little traumatic. My main problem is with raw vegetables. I'd really like to be able to enjoy a salad or something of that sort, and turn it into an essential staple of my diet, but I've never been able to stomach raw vegetables (and only a very few, when cooked actually). Even a small bite can make me instantly nauseous. So, if anyone happens to have any tricks or ideas on how to completely overhaul one's pallate, I would be very eager to hear them :)

[Ckflew]

My palate has changed SLOWLY over the nearly 13 years I've been a vegetarian. If you like veggies cooked over raw, by all means eat them cooked! Defrost a box of frozen chopped spinach, squeeze out the water, and add it to your mashed potatoes (add some garlic, too, if you'd like). Get the canned spaghetti sauce that has extra veggies in it - you'll find ones with chunks of zucchini, onions, mushoom and/or carrots in them. Or add your own veggies. Put veggies on your pizza. I find that lightly stir-frying veggies (so they're crisp-tender) is a great way to have them in-between cooked and raw. Snow peas, sliced carrots, broccoli, and cauliflower all work well with these. (The trick to this one is to realize that some veggies like onions and mushrooms need more time to cook than others - put them in the pan first.) Veggies with tofu and rice is one of my favorites.

[NYCVeg]

I don't know if this will work for everyone, but...when I don't like something, I just constantly reintroduce it to myself. I used to not like lima beans, but I would make them about once a week--I didn't always eat much, but I kept making them regularly, and now I LOVE them.

I definitely agree with adding veggies to stuff you already eat. If you like mashed potatoes, for instance, then make them with half potatoes and half cauliflower (mashed up and mixed in--you won't be able to tell the difference). What about vegetable soup? Or adding new kinds of veggies (different greens, tomatoes, avocado, sprouts, shredded carrots, cabbage, peppers, whatever) to sandwiches? Substitute veggies (mushrooms, olives, peppers, broccoli) for meat on pizza.

You also might want to consider investing in a good veggie cookbook. I think many people don't really like vegetables, because they grew up eating overcooked carrots, canned green beans, etc. When you learn to cook fresh vegetables properly, you'd be amazed at how flavorful they can be. The book _How to Cook Everything_ might be a good resource for you--it's very comprehensive.

Don't forget though, that if you just don't love veggies, there are other ways to improve your diet. Subsitute whole grains (whole wheat bread, pasta, and couscous; oatmeal; whole grain, all-natural cold cereals; quinoa, barley; brown rice) for refined grains. Eat more fresh fruit--it's also packed with nutrients, and even veggie haters like fruit!

[Erin Pavlina]

To someone not used to eating raw vegetables, it can be a shock to your system. If you are seriously used to eating only meat and dairy products, without much plant life, then I can definitely see how eating something like salad could cause you gastric upset.

I would say to start slowly, and start with cooked vegetables. A baked potato with some margarine. Steamed or sauteed broccoli with a high-fat sauce (like cheese or ranch dressing). Baked zucchini with a dipping sauce, etc. It's not terribly healthy but for transitional purposes it will set you off on the right track.

Then, over time, experiment. Put some cookied veggies in with your rice. Make a vegetable stew.

Fruit... start with fruit! Make a fruit smoothie in the morning and drink it. Here is a link to some great smoothie recipes. http://www.vegfamily.com/vegan-pregnancy/fruit-smoothies.htm

I developed a love of vegetables after I went vegan. It took a while but it did happen. Even brussel sprouts... oh my goodness, they are soooo good. Who knew?

Make small changes now and in time they will add up to big changes.

Welcome to the boards, by the way. Feel free to ask us anything. We are friendly and non-judgmental.

[aspiringvegan]

I ate a few veggies before I went veg, but not much. It was mostly burgers, pizza, meat and potatoes, etc. I found that when I hadn't eaten meat for a while, I started to like foods I previously found revolting...like broccoli. It used to make me gag to taste it, but now I eat it a lot. I think your tastes will begin to change the less you eat meat. I also used to hate drinking water...it always tasted weird to me! Now I love it. I say give it a little time and continually try things you formerly didn't like. You may find you like them better over time. Also, maybe start out making veggie burgers with tomato and lettuce or tacos with veggie crumbles and some veggies. The pizza ideas and spaghetti sauce ideas are good too. Even lasagna disguises the tastes of spinach, etc you might add. Don't rush yourself or it will be easy to give up all together. Just try to eat all the healthy things you already like and add new stuff as your tastes adapt to it. Good luck! And let us know how you're doing. Everyone here is very supportive.

Jen

[thecatspajamas18]

What do you do with little kids who won't eat veggies...... you HIDE them! Cut up some carrots or celery, etc. realllllly teeny sized, and mix them into your mashed potatoes, or noodles. You probably won't notice them, and you can put more and more in each time you cook, until you're used to them.

I have a veggie problem too. So I do that trick to myself a lot. Also, I try to focus on the vegetables that I DO like. I may never love asparagus, but I do like peppers and tomatoes, so I load my food with the things that I do like. Try to take advantage of the vegetables that youre willing to eat.

Plus, good sauces can disguise the strong taste of almost any vegetable. Have you ever tried spicy thai peanut sauce? It's

[xmysticprincessx]

check out your local farmer's market. they usually have them on saturday and sundays, so that would be something good to do this weekend. plus, you'll get outside and get some fresh air and exercise.
you probably wont find a better tasting veggie than one that had just been picked earlier that day. some of the farmers may even give you some new ideas on how to eat or cook their produce.
they may even have some new things for you to try which you may end up liking a lot. my parents raised me on the typical SAD, and we had the typical boring salad, corn, peas, carrots, etc. one of my absolute favorite foods now are avocados. i dont think i had an avocado till i was in college.
depending on where you live, you may still have time to start a garden. as a kid, it was a big deal to be the one to pick the 1st tomato, cucumber, etc. my mom used to send me into the garden to pick some veggies for the salad for dinner. if you have kids, that might be a good motivator to help them want to eat veggies too.
if you buy lettuce, get something like romaine or something dark green. iceberg lettuce has no nutritional value (plus i think it tastes kinda blah).

[ariix]

I agree with the others who said to start gradually with small amounts and keep trying things again even if you didn't like them last time.. If you experiment with a new veggie dish and don't really like it, just eat a little, and you can always freeze the leftovers and try it again next week...
I know I wasn't too impressed the first time I tried stuff like kale and collard greens, and now I absolutely love the stuff and crave greens!

[Astrophe]

Be prepared for a change in your digestive flora as it adjustes to a plant based diet.

Expect the change to cause bloat, gas, and poop changes too.

It happens going in either direction -- animal-based diet changing to veg or veg changing to animal.

Some soy yogurt with live cultures might help with that.

GL!
A.

[drm6735]

Thanks for all of the great advice :) I'll do my best to take it and start working whatever plant life I can into my diet and trust that the veggie hating part of my brain will eventually come around hehe.

[Janine]

I don't exactly have any advice for you, but I was raised to eat the same way that you do. I was really picky and ate only corn and potatoes. I ate nothing green until college. I would be pressured into trying veggies once in a while and I, too, had a gagging response. And I remember thinking to myself that these foods objectively really did taste bad, and that it wasn't mental.
So, once I went to college and became involved in an animal rights group (where everyone was vegan), I realized that I would have to go that route, too, in light of all the things I was learning about meat production. The strange thing is, once I made that decision I was able to accept veggies quite readily. I started trying everything in the dining halls and lost my pickiness practically overnight. So, for me, it definitely was mental. I'm guessing that what made this method work for me was my control over the whole thing, since I was eager to make the change myself. I hope it's easier to change your tastes than you're anticipating!
Janine