Garden? But I hate vegetables…

How many times have you heard someone mention that they don’t like vegetables? I certainly have, even grown adults who refuse to eat anything but corn, green beans, and potatoes. Apparently Jim Gaffigan doesn’t really like kale.  He is not alone in his feelings I am sure.

garden goodness

What do you do if you or your family is not a huge fan of vegetables? Well, I would first suggest forgetting what you think you know about them. Many of us have aversions to some vegetables because we tried it as a kid and hated it, every time. Perhaps dear ol’ Mom just didn’t know how to prepare Brussel sprouts a better way. Or maybe she fixed green beans the way Dad liked them.  For example, my husband loves his green beans cooked to the point of mush, while I like mine a lot of different ways including crispy. Try them grilled or roasted for something different.

Grilled

roasted

I also find that once I started growing my own vegetables, some of which I have never actually eaten, I “needed” to taste them. How could I sell something I grew but had never tasted?  So tatsoi, arugula, and various other items were put on my plate, including kale. I find that online recipe sites are very helpful as is Pinterest, for learning news ways to cook my vegetables.

Spinach Lasagna

Another great tip is to add them to something you already love. Adding spinach to lasagna is one example. I also find adding  vegetables to soups offers another way to sample different vegetables. I have found that while I don’t love kale cooked by itself, I do like it in soups. Pizza is another place to try some new garden grown produce. Peppers, tomatoes, onions, arugula, basil, or other vegetables can easily be added for a variety of flavors.

smoothies

There is of course the on-the-go version of fruits and vegetables… the smoothie. I have seen many smoothie recipes that include kale, cucumbers, lettuce, and carrots among the an array of garden delights. There are recipes that range from all vegetables (like a V-8 style) to all fruit. Some have yogurt, some have milk, ice cream, or other ingredients to make them smooth and creamy.  I have learned that it is all about balance. Half a cucumber in my fruit juice is good, more than that….. no so much. My husband is out on the entire cucumber in his fruit juice idea. To each his own.

So, there are many ways to enjoy vegetables. Don’t be afraid to try something new, again. Not only do we change as we mature, but vegetables from the store often do not taste the same as homegrown. When planning next years garden, keep this in mind and plant something you normally don’t eat. You can always sell it if you decide this particular vegetable is just not for you.