I inquired about getting to like veggies to Heather Flemming, Jon Gabriel's Nutritionist for The Gabriel Method support group. I told her what I told you. This is what she wrote back: "I am in awe of your courage and determination. If you can tolerate slightly cooked veggies either in stir-frys or soups, that is a great way to introduce veggies to your system to help your body become alkaline. Then make small juices with more carrot, lemon, celery and cucumber so you like the taste and work your way up. There is no starting or finishing line. If you feel you are not ready for the cleanse you can listen and learn and then implement when you are ready. The goal is the big picture, and that is loving your body where it is. Making gentle changes is ideal."
I've just made up Chicken Bone broth-so I'll try adding some veggies to it. Heading to check out stir frying as well-never have done that before. "gentle changes" yep-I like that. So veggie lovers out there. What would you put in chicken broth or stir fry? ;)

I think I just saw those piggies fly by as well! ;)

FairyGaia, thanks for your support and that really sounds like an interesting program! I hope it works, I may give it a go!

Thank you all for taking the time to write and respond. I appreciate it :)

The veggie issue will always be a struggle. But I will continue to try. One problem is that I don't cook very well, so attempting to change the way they are prepared is difficult. :) Not to mention I work about 60 hours a week and often times cooking - or attempting to cook, is last on my list.

I do like cooked carrots, peas, corn and salad. I also like spinach in salad. I'm going to try and introduce one veggie a week and see how it goes.

It's definitely not a maturity thing... It's a psychological thing. :)

Whatever it is you can get past it. No doubt it's a psychological thing because there is no logical explanation for disliking an entire food group that contains literally hundreds of varieties.

I think Fairygaia is on to something with the constant reinforcement of positive association even though it is extreme - she must really want it and if there is anything to want then this is a good choice! Vegetables are life giving, I strongly believe that. I don't feel "right" if I haven't eaten some raw and some cooked vegetables every day. Every meal contains veggies and some snacks too over here.

Maybe you didn't grow up with veggies it at least not well prepared veggies. I don't like all vegetables in all ways but I like every vegetable in some way. I don't like raw tomatoes but I'll eat them roasted, sautéed or in soups and sauces. I don't like sautéed eggplant but I like it roasted. I don't like boiled carrots but I like them raw and lightly toasted. I don't like peas over cooked but I like them raw. I don't like kale raw or cooked but I'll drink it in a smoothie. There are ways, find them.

Reading your post.... I forgot I like eggplant! And tomatoes! (Do they count?)

My mother loves veggies in all forms, but I inherited her lack of cooking skills... And my father did all the cooking when I was growing up. He hates veggie. ;)

Great, just great, got the worst out of both of them. lol

Thanks, again!

Tomatoes are a fruit, technically.

There are so many awesome veggies. Beets, green and wax beans, eggplant, most varieties of squash (huge favorite) and cauliflower/broccoli are the best. (To me) There are tons of ways to cook them, and since you clearly have internet, the instructions on how to do so are at your fingertips.

FWIW, I grew up with a mother that didn't cook...occasionally a roasted chicken from the grocery store was dinner, no veggies...dad did cook but all veggies were out of a can...the man still doesn't eat veggies....

I became a vegetarian in my early 20s (stopped mid 20s)and that helped a lot. I also worked at a grocery store as a teen and got to see all those fresh veggie I've never even seen let alone eaten.

Other than corn and tomatoes my parents NEVER bought fresh veggies, ever...personally I think that should be considered child abuse, but that's another topic...I was given canned asparagus which is oh god...a soggy mess....I wouldn't go near asparagus until I was much older and a friend roasted it (fresh) for me...omg what a difference!!!

Anyway, I don't know how old you are, but you can't spend your adult life saying you don't eat veggie because of parents habits...trust me, my parents could not have exampled a more sedentary and poor health lifestyle, I was given soda from my bottle, and my whole childhood for example...if I didn't switch gears in my 20s which was hard) I'd easily be 300 lbs or more by now...you can do this :)

Well that's already a good start!

For quick salads - I like to have two containers in my fridge: one has washed salad / shredded summer cabbage, and the other has the "good stuff". The "good stuff" container at the moment has a mix of cherry tomatoes, cucumber, steamed brusel sprouts, good boiled pasta, kidney beans, chopped celery and a bit of sundried tomato. When I want a salad, I throw some of the salad/cabbage on a plate from the other container, and a bit of "good stuff" on top of it. Voilá, ultra fast salad meal with minimal effort. Whichever runs out faster, I'll replace.

Just something I have found very useful. :)

My boyfriend hates vegetables and used to live on chicken and chips… but since living with him I've introduced spinach, broccoli, carrots, sweet potato, and peas to his diet and he now has half chips/half vege with his chicken for dinner. He doesn't have a weight problem and won't give up his chips so we settled on that compromise. He actually really enjoys the sweet potato and broccoli (I par boil and roast them) and looks forward to eating them now. He also has spinach leaves and rocket in a wrap for his lunch with chicken teriyaki and says they add a nice crunch without changing the way it tastes.

I love all veges (except eggplant!) but from living with someone who has never eaten them and basically had a fear of them, its great to see that over time he is now enjoying them!

What I'm trying to say is never say never, just give things a go!

Hi Spangled,

You mention that you tried therapy and it didn't work, but it is certainly worth trying again. Sometimes it's about finding the right therapist, and sometimes it's about being at a different point in your life, but either way you may get more out of it a second (or third) time around.

Something else occurred to me -- there are multiple thread right now where people just don't like vegetables, and I've been of the mindset "put on your big girl panties and just eat your darn veggies!" However, my daughter has sensory food aversion -- you can google it -- but basically she has generalized a dislike for some specific foods to a broad range of foods. In her case, it's meat. Tell people you don't eat meat and they think you're earthy and wholesome, tell people you don't eat veggies and, well, you've seen. If you do some research there are steps you can take to introduce new foods in a way that will increase your chances of success. HTH.

I just want to pipe in, cuz I too do not like EATING my veggies, however, I will and DO drink them.....I am not a maniac juicer, but i do try and get one in a day with fresh veggies....My 10 yr old boy also prefers to drink them. I dont like the texture or the taste of pretty much all veggies, however, when you juice them, its quick easy and painless and you can actually get more in that way...you would be surprised how many veggies it takes to make 1 8 oz glass..( mine are usually 16 0z) but throw an apple, or some blueberries in with it to sweeten it up and your good to go. Can I tell you that it tastes AMAZING....absolutely not, but it is very tolerable and i have actually made some that I do enjoy. Not to mention, when you juice them, they help "cleanse the system" faster if you get my drift ;)

The healthiest and most nutritious and beneficial part of vegetables and fruits is the fiber. And juicing gets rid of that. I don't care if you drink a gallon of juice a day, you're still not getting the best part of the vegetable.

Kids will eat what you eat. If you don't eat your veggies your son will not eat veggies either. Plain and simple. So not only are you doing a disservice to yourself, you're robbing your son of the benefits of vegetables. He'll grow up hating veggies and wish he liked them.

Sorry, the truth is the truth.

Thanks for writing! Yes, I was told I have a food sensory aversion years ago. I do think I've gotten it under control to some degree. (When I was a child I would only eat pbj sandwiches, very few meats, no veggies, very few fruits etc) As an adult I've been slowly adding and accepting new foods.

I do think the "it's healthy for you, get over it" mentality doesn't work for many people. I KNOW it's healthy... It's NOT healthy to puke up the food you just ate either. (IE: When I force veggies, I puke.) :^:

Thank you everyone for your support. :) Since I've started my latest journey I'm eating salad, spinach, peas, corn and just started adding in carrots every day. Am I moving forward as quickly as I'd like? No, but I'm losing weight and I'm challenging myself daily. And that's what is important. ;)

Eating should be pleasurable. Life is too short to eat things you don't like. Find some go to healthier recipes that you do like and start with them. Also, I would look into EFT to help you heal. No amount of diet change will matter if you have not discovered the root cause.

Smoothies? All fiber intact