How I Will Eat More Vegetables in 2024 (I Hate Them)

Since I was little, I’ve hated leafy greens. I still do, though I’ve been told to eat more of them, so here’s my plan.

I’ve always felt I was the only kid who never grew out of a hatred for vegetables.

It just stuck with me. But this year, I’m giving vegetables a shot.

Why I’ve Hated Them

According to Google, someone who doesn’t eat vegetables is called a ‘picky eater’. So, here’s why I’ve been a picky eater.

The Texture

Oddly, I find vegetables both too crunchy and too soft horrible. I’ve stayed far away from carrots, broccoli and tomatoes(technically a fruit).

Plus, the bitterness of some, like kale and lettuce is unbearable.

This is my personal preference.

In second grade, I remember my teacher making us finish everything on our plate. Unfortunately, that included broccoli.

Without any exaggeration, I gagged on that broccoli and spit it back out. To the absolute horror of my teachers, of course.

Something about the hard stem, and the leafy top makes this vegetable especially despicable to me. Sorry to all the broccoli lovers reading this!

The Exceptions

My vegetable intake is probably miles below the recommended amount, which is three servings.

But, there are the rare occasions when I eat them:

• In a burger or dumplings
• Spinach & potatoes (the only ones I willingly eat)
• If I were forced to at gunpoint

The first one is mainly because the taste of vegetables is masked by the other ingredients, so I taste nothing.

Why We Should Eat Them

Our parents and teachers weren’t preaching about the importance of eating vegetables for no reason.

For The Brain

One of the most important parts of our body needs vegetables.

The antioxidants in them are key nutrients and have been shown to decrease the risks of dementia as we grow older.

A recent study showed that individuals who consumed 18 ounces of vegetables (about 3 cups) a day had roughly a 30% lower risk of heart disease and stroke when compared to those who ate little or none.

For The Eyes

Of all our five senses, sight is one of the most important, with most of our sensations coming from it.

The vitamins and nutrients in vegetables were shown to decrease the chances of cataracts. These vegetables were shown to be best for the eyes:

• Spinach
• Sweet potatoes
• Bell Peppers
• Avocados
• Carrots

For The Immune System

Vitamin C is a key nutrient that’s found in lots of vegetables that helps keep our immune system strong.

Surprisingly, broccoli has more Vitamin C than oranges!

I used to always think I could get away with avoiding vegetables by eating fruits, but it turns out this isn’t always the case. A good mixture of both would be ideal.

How I Will Eat More Vegetables (Promise!)

I have to admit, I’ve been missing out on a lot of the benefits of leafy greens. Hopefully, this year will turn that around!

Of course, there’s not much I can do to change the fact that I hate the taste of vegetables. But there are still ways I can eat more of them.

Hiding Them In Plain Sight

I’m hoping I will start eating more of them, by disguising their taste among many others. This would include:

• Smoothies
• Soups
• Omelettes
• Cauliflower rice

By disguising my vegetables, I might eat more of them! I’ve never really tried this strategy before, but I’m excited to start cooking healthier food.

Sticking To A Goal

At first, I’ll give myself a small goal, of one serving per day. That would be one green smoothie or one bowl of vegetable soup.

This will make eating vegetables less overwhelming.

Over time, I can increase my vegetable intake, hopefully to the recommended amount, which is three servings.

I might even find out that I like some of them!

An Accountability Buddy

This would be a friend who will make sure I stick to my goal and don’t secretly slack one day.

I will be putting some money on the line, maybe $20 bucks, to make the stakes higher.

I’ve found this strategy especially helpful when learning new habits, like exercising. So hopefully it works for vegetables as well!

Conclusion

This year will be the year where I eat more vegetables! I’ve made that promise to myself.

Hopefully, I’ll join the ranks of vegetable lovers by 2025, and nobody will nag for me to eat more of them ever again.

All the best in achieving your goals this year!

I hope you found this article insightful. Thanks for reading!

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