Suggestions to make veggies more appealing.

I am really trying to increase my veggie intake. Plain veggies just don't taste good to me...I usually dip them in salsa or hummus to make them taste better....does anyone have any other suggestions to make them more appealing! Thanks in advance.

Hmm...

Make a pot of rice.

Take your vegetable. Chop them to tiny, tiny size. Mix with Rice. Eat :D

Roast them! Roasting brings out natural sugars, concentrates flavor and produces a nice texture as well. My faves are asparagus, red onion, any kind of root vegetable--sweet potatoes, celery root, carrot. mmmm fennel is great, leeks, even spring onions and garlic (left in the skin).

Basically cut the veggies to largish bite sizes (peel if thick-skinned), toss with a little olive oil, roast in a 350-400 degree oven for about 15 minutes for thin delicate things, up to 45 minutes for thick dense veggies. Move them around in the pan about half-way through, and salt and pepper once they are finished.

yumm!

Hkellick - your suggestion actually made my mouth water! haha! I will definitly try that.

Librarygirl -  I have never even considered roasting veggies. That sounds so yummy! Thanks for the great suggestion!

How about tomato/ pasta sauce? Meat-free pasta sauce can have as little as 45 calories per 125ml serving (which is no more than you?d get from hummus), and can make just about anything taste better. It?s especially good when mixed with boiled broccoli or green beans.

Oh, and what Librarygirl said! Vegetables taste great on their own roasted, especially onions, zucchini, and bell peppers - better yet, try BBQing them in the summertime. Or you can do that now, if you live in Cali... 

Hit the farmers market and buy fresh ingredients in season, these always taste the best.  Also consider your issues, taste, texture?  How about a pureed soup, more like a sauce over chucky veggies or crisp over raw or cooked to mush?  I love to steam then drizzle w/olive oil, salt and basamic vinegar or lemon.

There is a great cookbook, Local Flavors by Madison, Deborah.  She has a great knack for infusing great flavors by using herbs, spices and a little splash of fat to make her recipes wonderful.  Great soups and varieties of dishes that make you wonder why everyone doesn't eat the veggies first!  She also wrote Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone. 
I have enjoyed both books, the first the most.

A light grating of parmesan cheese adds taste to any vegetable, and a little saltiness too. 

I love roasted vegetables with a little olive oil and minced garlic mixed in.  Yum!  I actually add a little shredded Parmesan too but I don't know if that helps the cause much ;-)

Definately go with the masses and roast your veggies! I use Mrs. Sash seasonings on mine ... they're very low sodium, if you're worried about your intake.

Also, try experimenting with veggies you haven't tried before and especially those in season, as those are the veg at their peak. I've newly discovered winter squashes (Acorn and Butternut) and must say I'm hooked!

Another great way to eat veggies is to turn them into "fries". Cut Yams, Butternut Sqaush, Parsnips ... whatever! into fry-sized strips, toss with a little olive oil and sea salt and roast in a hot oven, turning often so they don't burn. Delicious!

Buy organic if you can and don't overcook them. I steam them, and leave them a bit crunchy.  I thought carrots were carrots until I tried our local farmers market carrots - big difference from $1/5# sack Bunny Love tasteless carrots. I've found that most of the organic veggies taste way better.

Get to know your spices. I like putting basil or oregano or thyme on my veggies. It doesn't take much.  I also like to use flavored vinegars (raspberry is great!), various sauces like what you find in the asian food section, lowfat salad dressings - Newman's Own are good. 

Fat free yogurt with spices in it is good, so is fat free sour cream. You can mix either of these with salsa.

And I have to agree on the roasted veggies. Those are GREAT! I put in some onion, bell pepper, sweet potato, carrots, parsnips (looks like a white carrot but tastes different) and mushrooms.  If you like a mild licorice flavor add some fennel bulb to the mix. Yum!

Throw frozen vegies into the boiling water when cooking pasta

whole wheat pasta is great

drain and enoy

season with olive oil and herbs

i tend to love eating all my veggies raw so try fat free ranch salad dressing. it's great with veggies and that's what i use to eat my veggies with. also you can't wrong with onion dip.

also if you don't want to do frozen try steaming  your veggies it retains all the nutrients and add rice. yum 

You know I am a big fan of the organic veggie. I like taking raw veggies to munch on when cravings/hunger strikes midday at work.  I found that  dipping veggies in organic  almond butter is a good way to tasty up your raw veggies and get some of those important omega-3 oils from the almonds.  Plus it is much more filling!

I my veggies with cream cheese and mayo. May not be a low calorie solution, but it really does help get in those vegtables. Theres also recipes to hide vegtables in baking, like zuchini brownies. You can't taste the zuchini, but it's there.

wow, great suggestions!

i have trouble getting all my veggies in too. i try to find a way to add a vegetable to every meal. cans of or frozen versions of diced tomatoes, spinich, and green beans work for me.

sometimes i'll drink a v8.

for carrots or celery, try peanut butter (the natural kind) it gives you the veggies plus de good fat and it keeps you full for longer

try it. yesterday i was eating that and my friend thought it was disgusting but i made her taste and she's like "its too good"

wow,
i have trouble getting all my veggies in also. thanks for the great suggestion.

I love roasted veggies!  I experiment with fresh herbs on them.  Chop up some fresh rosemary (my favorite) and add to your roasted veggies, yummy!  I roast  a mixture of 1 inch cubes of beets, parsnips, rutabega, carrots, yams, turnips and any other root vegetable I can find.  That's good eating!

sprinkle cheese on them if you like cheese

Try steaming cut veggies with a little watter in the microwave then sprinkling lemon pepper on top.  Another option is to sprinkle Maggi  (a liquid seasoning I grew up using) on top.  Both taste great & go down easy!!!