Going plant-based or just eating more veggies is daunting if you don’t like vegetables, but there are ways to learn to love them. Start by putting aside bad vegetable experiences of your past, like having to clean your plate of overcooked broccoli. Vegetables do not have to be bland or boring. Try these 3 ways to enjoy veggies:
- Add diced carrots, bell peppers or butternut squash to chili. The vegetables will take on the flavor of the chili spices and add more texture and nutrition to your dish. Add towards the beginning of cooking if you prefer them soft; add towards the end of cooking if you prefer them more crunchy.
- Try one vegetable in a variety of ways to find your favorite preparation. Broccoli, for instance, tastes different raw than it does cooked, and cooking methods will change the flavor too. Try an experiment of tasting raw broccoli with dip, steamed broccoli with soy sauce and roasted broccoli with parmesan cheese and pick your favorite.
- Go to a vegetarian restaurant or one that offers a variety of plant-based options and taste how the pros prepare them. When you find something you like, ask questions about how it was prepared and with what seasonings. You can try mimicking the flavors at home.
In St. Louis, Revel Kitchen and Rootbound have a variety of plant-based and vegan options.
If eating enough vegetables seems challenging, try 1 or 2 meatless meals per week. To learn more about vegetarian cooking, try meal delivery services like Green Chef (plant powered), Sunbasket, or Daily Harvest.
Learn more about diabetes prevention and vegan diets. Talk to a registered dietitian to see if it’s the right fit for you.
Diabetes Meal Ideas 