spice up those veggies I dislike so much??? I need help

OK,so i really do not like veggies......  It makes me cry just thinking about it.  NO really   I guess it started when my mom force feed me veggies  yeah, but thats another story. 

Any how, I dont like veggies and my little girl does and I need to eat more vegetables no i need to eat vegetables period the closest thing to veggies in my house are canned string beans, corn and sweet peas.  And the occassional can of beans (spanish household LOL) 

I NEED HELP SERIOUSLY>>>>>> PLEASE HELP

I would say to buy fresh veggies if you can afford them, and if not, try frozen before canned.  Canned veggies are overcooked and taste...well...like the cans they're in.  (Though a few exceptions are tomatoes, which are great canned, and corn).

Then, especially when you're starting, you probably want to experiment with how you cook them and with dressing them up.  Steamed veggies are boring by themselves.  But veggies can be great if you steam them and then toss them with a little olive oil or butter.  You won't add too many calories that way, but you do add a lot of flavor.  Seasoning veggies (with salt) is important--it brings out the flavor in the veggies.  Another great way to add flavor is to add a little vinegar.  Some herbs go well with veggies.

Roasting vegetables is another good technique that brings out a lot of good flavors.  This is especially true with squash, green beans, brussel sprouts, broccoli, and cauliflour.

If you are a spanish household, maybe you can toss some peas, onion, and corn with black beans, tomatoes, and a little cumin.  That's a great way to get a whole vegetable salad that tastes great and has protein.

The main thing is that you just have to keep trying.  Don't give up on a vegetable until you've tried it at least 5-7 times!  A lot of vegetables are acquired tastes.

Good luck! 

Start with the sweeter vegetables...  carrots, red peppers... to go with the peas and corn.   Buy small size carrots (because they're sweeter), slice them and the red peppers thinly and then take a bite.  If you like, you could add a little tasty dip.  If the anxiety is standing in the way more than the flavour then take it slowly and gently.  If the texture is putting you off (and canned veggies suggests you don't like any crunch?) then try vegetables in a sauce or a soup.  Roasting vegetables gives them a completely different flavour and texture.  Here are a few suggestions.

Carrot and Coriander Soup

Roasted Root Vegetables

Spiced (Gujerati-style) Green Beans

But keep trying vegetables at any opportunity you get.  Practice makes perfect.

I just recently found a recipe for cajun ratatouille - it's fabulous.

And I'll second the recommendation for roasted veggies, especially cauliflour and squash.

I think it's significant that you said it started with what your mother fed you. I would suggest you approach your veggies from a very different direction than what you were force-fed. If it was warm veggies, then try eating them crisp and cold. If it was spoonfuls of something, try turning them into finger foods. If they were sweet (like canned peas), try some that aren't. You get the idea. I would suggest trying to eat them in another form morese than covering them up with things. Maybe you could start by incorporating more of them into other dishes if it's also a flavor thing... add a handful of frozen veggies to a casserole. Toss some fresh spinach into a lasagna. Dice 'em up and add them to a rice dish. Etc. Good luck!

If you can, buy Alice Waters' cookbook, "the Art of Simple Food." She has TONS of scrumptious vegetable recipes in it, I was reading over my new copy last night and actually longing for asparagus (which I hate!) The trick is buying very fresh, seasonal veggies and cooking them properly. Most of our mothers and grandmothers overcooked and under-spiced veggies, thus ruining them and making them unpalatable.

All you need are good ingredients and good recipes :) Slow roasted veggies in the oven is probably the best place to start. Put the oven on 425 degrees, put veggies (cut up onions, carrots, potatoes, maybe green beans and/or broccoli, and garlic) on a cookie sheets or in a baking dish in one thin layer, drizzle with olive oil, season with salt and pepper. Stir them every 20 minutes for one hour. Enjoy yummy roasted veggies!

How sad, I LOVE veggies!

I make a couscous salad with tons of roasted veggies that's pretty good.

I chop up zucchini, carrot, potato, parsnip, onion (anything that will hold up to a good roasting) and garlic.  Mix them in a bowl with canola/olive oil, salt and pepper, and some chili powder.  Roast them at about 300F for 1.5 hours, mixing them around a few times.  Then toss them into cooked couscous with raw cherry tomatoes and any vinegrette you like (you could even just make an oil and vinegar).  And you're done.

Maybe instead of forcing yourself to eat vegetables on their own, try new ways of sneaking them into things you already like, like casseroles and pasta sauces?  Maybe they won't be so gross to you that way?

I agree with everyone that has said DON'T OVERCOOK, overcooked, mushy veg is the worst. 

Have you ever heard of sneaking pureed veggies into foods? Try googling veggie puree or something of the sort.

Personally, I love microwaved frozen veggies with either just mustard or soya sauce. Simple and yummy!

thanks all.  I've really enjoyed reading some of your ideas..... I really want to try that cajun ratatoullie.  Mmmmm.  I will definitely try these out.  As for puree, I've done so in the past.  I use something called sofrito in my food which consists of peppers (red & green) ,onions, garlic, cilantro and this other little thing that looks like a mini pepper (dont know what its called i just buy it) 

So I usually use that but I like asparagus on the grill and in a homemade garlic sauce.  Mmmmm Asparagus

I still want to try new things please keep them coming. 

I like to get the bird's eye steamers with the carrots, water chesnuts, broccoli, and soy beans. You just pop it in the microwave for a couple of minutes. When it comes out, I toss it with some dark olive oil and the McCormick italian blend grinders. Delicious!

my boyfriends the same as you, wont touch vegetables, but i got him to try some stir fried!! a bit of broccoli, baby carrots, red and green peppers, peas, in a wok with a bit of soy sauce!!! delicious!!

i definitely grew up with over cooked veggies and didn't like many cooked vegetables because of it. fortunately my husband introduced me to properly cooked veggies.

here's a simple recipe for brussel sprouts. even if you have never liked this vegetable before you should try this recipe. it's been well received by many a self proclaimed brussel sprout hater, including my hubby. 

Have you ever tried good ol' bell peppers and/or cherry tomatoes? They are sweet enough to make you believe you are not even vegetables! They are also easy to fit into your day because they are easy to simply pop in your mouth whenever you need to satisfy your "munchies". 

Spaghetti Squash is also a great veggie that you can sub for pasta at ANY time and if you top it with pasta sauce or whatever you like on your pasta, it will be even more delicious! 

Good Luck! It is surprising your daughter loves veggies! I remember when I would not touch ANYTHING green until I was about 10 years old! ha ha! 

I agree with the Bird's Eye Steamers suggestion. To help with the taste I would start out with the preflavored stuff. I love the southwest corn that they have! Green Giant also has some low cal single serving veggies that have cheese on them. I am a huge fan of the cauliflower cheese servings! That would be a great way to ease into it. Right now I am having a yummy snack of celery sticks scopping up Paul Newman's pineapple salsa. Only 15 calories per serving and it is amazing!!!!

MMMmmmmm I'm getting hungry again.  I've had cherry tomatoes I LOVE TOMATOES!!! I can eat them like apples.  I'm going to a local street farmers market tomorrow. Hopefully I can be tempted there to buy a few veggies.  I'm willing on giving it a try.  I'm not going to buy too much but I am going to buy a couple of things. 

and that Paul Newman's pineapple salsa sounds awesome.  I'm going to have to go over to stop and shop for that kind of stuff.  My local market is very limited. 

i hate vegetables just as much as you do! so i've made it in a way that iw ill actually eat some....i make a vegetable soup...i boil celery and brocoli until they are soft (i know that boiling veggies isnt really good because ur boiling most of the nutrients out, but im still getting some right?!)...and then once thats done, i drain it in cold water, throw it in a big bowl, then throw in 4 cans of green breans with that...i started using frozen beans because their better for you...then i would put in 2 chopped green peppers and 2 red peppers...then i would throw in 2 cans of crushed tomatoes and voila! my soup lol...i just slap some in a bowl and heat it up...it makes a pretty big batch so u can even freeze some too...u can add a bit of water to it if u find it too thick or beef broth and watever spices u think will make it taste better.

another way i would eat veggies is adding baby spinach to my meals...its one the best things u could eat, and it doesnt taste like anything...i add it to the bottom of my plate, then i would chop up a chicken breast and add some Uncle Ben's tomato and basil rice on top...to make the rice more healthier i suggest using half brown-half uncle bens...mix it all up and it makes a warm spinach salad..and its good! u can even eat it with steak or pork..even instead of rice add a few small roasted potatoes and it is still good....i hope this helps!

Mmmm veggies..

Corn is good.  I agree with the person who said try sweeter veggies first.. those colorful peppers can be put in almost anything.  Then corn and tomatoes and maybe chickpeas?  To me, chickpeas taste like peanuts a bit.  My friend cooks those with brown rice and adds coconut milk and a little bit of curry sauce, and I think turmeric and it is soooo yummy.  You can also try cooking with onions, they're great.  And for the greens, I recommend throwing nuts in there.  Green beans with walnut pieces, spinach and sunflower seeds, asparagus and pecans.  Also, I find the best things to cook vegetables with are usually honey and olive oil, sometimes one sometimes both.  But be smart about those and measure them before you cook with them.

Good luck to you!

I bought some fresh veggies yesterday.  I'm going to try and roast some up with chicken cutlets and maybe whole grain pasta.  My DH hates whole grain pasta, says that it tastes raw. 

Any how, I bought fresh green beans, snow peas, carrots, cherry tomatoes, frozen broccoli, more garlic ( i LOVE garlic)  and asparagus.  I also picked up a bit of fresh spices: Rosemary, thyme and something else (sorry I forgot). 

I'm gonna look up some receipes for the chicken

I'm cooking up some veggies now.  I'm also baking a chicken cutlet with garlic and the house smells yummy!!!