[EmceeMavin]

hey I just became a vegetarian (cold turkey). im 20 years old and for my whole life i never ate any of my greens etc. now i am a vegetarian but im not use to the taste of vegetables...almost hate it. I know over time my taste buds will become used to the different foods but it is tuff!<br><br><br><br>
Im wondering if anyone has been in my situation<br><br><br><br>
I wanted to become a vegan but my friends and folks keep telling me it is alot wiser to start off as a vegetarian.

 

[kpickell]

There are many different types of vegetables. Try a pickle.<br><br><br><br>
I didn't like most vegetables either. I just started experimenting with brocolli for example, and found that I can tolerate it when chopped up and hidden in spaghetti sauce. Likewise, I started liking green peppers by adding them to my pizzas and chilis. Used to hate olives too till I started adding them to subs and pizzas. In other words, don't try eating them raw or plain...disguise the taste until you start to like them.

 

[Kataka]

You can get your greens with green smoothies!! Just make a normal fruit smoothie and add a handfull or two of greens!(spinach, kale, etc.) It turns green, but tastes like a delicious fruit smoothie! Can't even taste the greens, but you get all the benefits! Mmmmm!<br><br>
Hm, I tend to use a lot of exclamation points when I'm tired...<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/dizzy2.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":dizzy:">

 

[MaryC1999]

Yup. I became a vegetarian when I was 27 and I had never eaten anything besides potatoes, onions and corn. I'm 29 and a vegan now. I agree with kpickell, just hide them for a while.<br><br>
Is it just greens you're struggling with?<br><br>
I found a good one to start with is swiss chard. It softens right up when cooked and it has a nice taste to it. You can also puree them up and bake them in a lasagna. I have a vegan lasagna recipe I use that uses spinach (you can use chard though too).<br><br>
I've managed to find a good recipe for just about every veggie except Kale. I can't get kale to work for me. I'm still working at it though. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/shy.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":shy:"><br><br>
Also I think most people go vegetarian first but I say go for it. Try going vegan. If it doesn't work for you, you can always do a minimal lacto/ovo deal again until you get your footing. This doesn't have to be an all or nothing deal. If you don't fully succeed you can back up a little and try again. No big deal. My first few weeks as a vegan were sort of wobbly but I got my footing and I've done great for about 3 months now. Being a vegan though really forced me into getting used to the veggies and trying new things.<br><br>
I have great recipes for eggplant, carrots, green beans, broccoli, let me know what you're trying to try and I'll see if I can't get you a tasty way to make it. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=""><br><br>
Mary

 

[RunsWithFoxes]

Going veggie isn't about eliminating meat (and possibly dairy) from your diet. It's about <b>learning</b> a whole new way of selecting and preparing food, and this takes time. I suspect that the folks who try the cold turkey approach have a much higher probability of abandoning the diet after the novelty wears off.

 

[Vivian]

Try buying a juicer and mixing fresh fruit with your blends. The power of the fruit will overpower the taste of the veggies. A blend of spinish, carrot, beet, apples and pineapple is really delicious. ANd you really cannot taste the veggies.<br><br><br><br>
Peace,Vivian

 

[steinbock]

runswithfoxes- i went cold turkey...and i'm still going, stronger than ever <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=""><br><br>
but yeah, Emcee- i was never the good little girl that would pile greens on her plate and clean them off either. go kpickell and try hiding them for a bit. and you could try cooking them different ways. ie- i don't like broccoli cooked in anything but the microwave or steamed (a little bit), but i love it raw.<br><br>
i used to not be a huge fan of yams, then i started pouring pineapple sauce all over them, and i loved it (sounds weird, i know, but it's yummy <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="">)<br><br>
and corn, always seemed a bit bland to me, so i poured bbq sauce on it and voila yummy <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=""><br><br>
just keep trying, i'm sure you'll be great.<br><br>
as for the vegan deal, i really don't have any suggestions there, i'm sorry. i'm still a lacto-ovo, but i'm minimal, but i agree with mary, go for it, and if it doesn't work out, back off for a bit until you get more comfortable with cooking/eating veggie, and you don't have to keep drinking milk everyday or anything, find a happy spot between vegan and ovo-lacto (or ovo or lacto) until you get a firm foundation, but if vegan works for you, congrats!

 

[codemonkey]

You're just going to have to learn to like veggies but I'd tell that to an omni too. Everyone's had some really good suggestions and it sounds like you're at least open to trying. There's about a billion kinds of veggies out there so just keep trying them until you find the ones you like.

 

[synergy]

It is true that your tastebuds will change. About 3 years ago, I only liked a handful of vegetables. Now I like all of them, even my former most hated ones like eggplant and tomatos. Its all about the way they are prepared.<br><br>
I still don't like raw tomatos unless they're marinated, but that's ok.<br><br><br><br>
I found that a yummy sauce does help get your tastebuds acquainted with the veggies. One things I've heard people do is to buy a new one every week and throw it into a stirfry with their fav sauce. That way if you really hate it, you can just pick it out <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/tongue3.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="">

 

[MrFalafel]

Salad dressing is your friend.

 

[EmceeMavin]

thanks everyone for the advice :O)

 

[CherBear]

I was LO veggie for 8 years and recently decided to go vegan - <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/broccoli.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":bobo:"> Anyhow, there are a select number of veggies that I really enjoy and like synergy suggested, I just throw them in a stir-fry wit sauce. Yum! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":up:"> The main veggies I still can't eat is mushrooms <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/no.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":no:">

 

[MaryC1999]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>CherBear</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
I was LO veggie for 8 years and recently decided to go vegan - <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/broccoli.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":bobo:"> Anyhow, there are a select number of veggies that I really enjoy and like synergy suggested, I just throw them in a stir-fry wit sauce. Yum! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":up:"> The main veggies I still can't eat is mushrooms <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/no.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":no:"></div>
</div>
<br><br><br><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/hug.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":hug:"><br><br>
My life would be a lot sadder without mushrooms.<br><br>
And garlic. Boy do I like garlic. lol<br><br>
Mary

 

[CherBear]

Mary - awww thanks for the hug! I can handle mushrooms IN other things but not alone. Ohhh strange thing - I like portabello mushrooms but no others. I know, I'm weird <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="">

 

[courgette]

One of my favorite dishes is lo mein. Stir fry a meat substitute (I usually use seitan) or you can use tofu and stir fry that with your veggie. After your meat sub is done, move to the side of the skillet and saute your veggies. I use whatever I have on hand: always onions, peppers and mushrooms, then whatever else I have like zucchini, eggplant (peeled), broccoli, carrots, etc.<br><br>
I like to add some freshly grated ginger. Buy it in the produce section, peel, cut in segments and freeze. Take out what you need and grate.<br><br><br><br>
While all that is going on I bring a pot of water to a boil, and cook some whole wheat spaghetti. When done, drain the spaghetti and add to the skillet with the veggies (save a couple of tablespoons of the pasta water)<br><br><br><br>
Make a sauce of about 2 tablespoons of hoisin sauce and 3 tablespoons tamari sauce. Add the reserved pasta water. Pour over the pasta and veggies....this is delicious and a great way to eat a variety of veggies.<br><br><br><br>
When I was your age I was not a veggie eater either. I love almost all veggies now (except peas....I just can't manage peas). You will learn to love them too!<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/chef.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":chef:">

 

[Moechalatte]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>EmceeMavin</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
hey I just became a vegetarian (cold turkey). im 20 years old and for my whole life i never ate any of my greens etc. now i am a vegetarian but im not use to the taste of vegetables...almost hate it. I know over time my taste buds will become used to the different foods but it is tuff!<br><br><br><br>
Im wondering if anyone has been in my situation<br><br><br><br>
I wanted to become a vegan but my friends and folks keep telling me it is alot wiser to start off as a vegetarian.</div>
</div>
<br><br><br>
Ah, my boyfriend is in the exact same situation. I assume your parents never made you eat your veggies when you were younger? I'm very lucky that my parents loved vegetables and made me try all different kinds, but a lot of people, the boyfriend included, never tried more than some corn, lettuce and peas before trying to go veg.<br><br><br><br>
My guess is that you don't dislike vegetables, but that maybe you just need to try some of the 'better' ones aside from corn and broccoli. Also, if you lean how to cook veggies in different ways and with herbs and spices, I think you'll find you really like them!<br><br><br><br>
In the meantime, it wouldn't hurt to grab some veggie burgers and throw vegetables on top of them, or add veggies slowly into some of your regular meals (like pasta dishes, etc.).<br><br><br><br>
Hope that helped a little. Good luck!!

 

[MarrakeshXpress]

Point A) your friends are family are probably right. I first started giving up animal products five and half years ago and I'm still not a vegan.<br><br><br><br>
Point B) learning to like veggies may take time but remember, you are saving your life! At 20 years old, you probably haven't felt the effects of a poor diet, in 20 more years- when you look and feel 100 times better than all of your friends- you will be so glad you learned to like real food.<br><br><br><br>
Good Luck with Everything!

 

[HandcuffedAngel]

Your tase buds can adjust with time, but for a lot of people it is about the recipe.<br><br><br><br>
I cannot eat tomatoes in salad, but Olive Garden's Capellini Pomodoro is spaghetti covered in tomatoes and I love it!<br><br><br><br>
You just need to find good places to put your veggies. I also have a delicious vegan lasagna recipe with spinach in it. I also love spinach dip.<br><br><br><br>
Try looking on the web or finding a good vegan cookbook [other people on here know the good cookbooks better than me] and find good recipes that have greens incorporated. I still hate broccoli and cauliflower.<br><br><br><br>
It's all about figuring out better ways to incorporate it into your diet. Good luck!<br><br><br><br>
P.S. - [I went vegan cold tofurky and I don't regret it and didn't think it was so hard, either. You just have to check labels and understand what you can't have and find good recipes and good substitutes.]

 

[HandcuffedAngel]

Some resources that helped me:<br><br><br><br><a href="http://vegweb.com/" target="_blank">VegWeb</a><br><br><br><br><a href="http://www.cok.net" target="_blank">Compassion Over Killing [COK]</a><br><br><br><br><a href="http://www.veganchef.com/" target="_blank">The Vegan Chef</a><br><br><br><br><a href="http://www.veganmania.com/" target="_blank">Vegan Mania!</a>

 

[EmceeMavin]

again, thank you for the many advice. this is a grand place.<br><br><br><br>
what is one of the best vegan cookbooks out?