Learning to Love Vegetables

If you’re anything like me, you grew up on TV dinners and frozen pizzas. There weren’t too many vegetables around in my house. It’s not that my mom didn’t care about our health, but she was a single parent struggling to make ends meet and those were quick meals that we would eat and she could afford. She went straight from her second job as an administrative assistant to her night classes at the community college, so she didn’t really have the time force us to sit there until we ate our peas. But, as a result, I really didn’t have much of a taste for vegetables. Most veggies are like a fine wine or a stout beer: you need to develop a taste for them. Generally, people aren't just born loving spinach, but over time, it grows on them.

That’s one reason why it’s important to include vegetables with every meal. The other reason is because it’s essential for good health. Vegetables are extremely rich in all of the essential vitamins and minerals (except B12 and D), so if you aren’t getting enough veggies, you might be causing a deficiency in your body. When the body is starving for a nutrient, the starvation doesn’t always present itself as hunger. You could experience thinning or dull hair, nails that chip or poor circulation: symptoms that could also come as a result of a myriad of problems. So, many people suffer from vitamin deficiencies and don’t know it. They end up on one prescription drug or another that may or may not alleviate their worst symptoms. Trust me, getting to know and like vegetables is a lot easier than stressing out because you don’t know why you’re losing so much hair or getting acne.

Some vegetables, like spinach, Brussels sprouts and kale, are extra-specially good for you – but they can be a little bitter, especially for those who aren’t used to them. What I suggest in these cases is for you to work your way up to those vegetables. Start with a sweet potato. A sweet potato is so yummy that you won’t even realize you’re eating a vegetable. The next day, commit to eating a carrot. After that, try snacking on some edamame or celery. Once you get the hang of some sweet vegetables, add a salad to your daily food repertoire and load it up with carrots, celery and broccoli. After you top that salad with your favorite dressing, eating veggies won’t feel like such a chore. Have no fear; eventually, you’ll make your way to the spinach, Brussels sprouts and kale.