We both want to eat better, but he hates vegetables

[vickalamode]

My boyfriend and I both want to eat better to be healthier and lose weight, but the biggest roadblock is that he HATES vegetables. The only veggies he will eat are potatoes, corn on the cob (loaded w/ butter ), and green beans (but only if they are boiled with a bunch of bacon or something in the water...mmm absorb all the FAT!)

This is really hindering my ability to cook healthy food for us. I love veggies and am open to cooking new healthy dishes that incorporate veggies and all of the stuff which he hates...but thats the problem, he hates it. I don't know what to do, because, unfortunately, buying separate groceries and cooking separate dishes isn't an option. I've had a really hard time trying to find healthy recipes that don't call for a ton of vegetables. Does anyone have any suggestions on things I can cook or how I can try to make him like the veggies? I've even come to the point where I've thought about just buying the stuff that I want to make and telling him he eats it or doesn't eat at all, but I know there has got to be a more tactful way of doing this that will at least be a compromise.

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

Sorry to hear this. I don't have a real answer. I know it is difficult.

We have differing tastes here too. The way it goes here now that we are all able to cook meals is if you don't like what is made, you don't have to eat it and you are not allowed to complain about it. We all can cook.

My SIL said that she and her DH make similar meals, she chooses healthy, he is like your BF. They both are involved in the cooking process. He sets aside what she will eat of the meal and she prepares it as she sees fit. She will make extra meals on the weekends and freezes portions for herself when he makes something totally intolerable for her eating. She swears this works with no argument. She is looking quite healthy and is happy although not happy about what she cannot change--her DH's eating choices.

I don't think you can force the food on someone and you should not be forced to eat something that is totally wrong for you as well.

Best WISHes for a solution that works for you.

 

[disneygirlinnj]

At least veggies are mainly side dishes so it might not be as hard to prepare two separate side dishes for you guys? What about tomatoes? There are recipes for grilled tomatoes (broiled in the oven or on the grill) that are fabulous!

Hopefully DBF can find other veggies he likes but please don't suffer just because he wont eat what you eat! Thats how I gained all my weight in my last relationship! lol

 

[FireDancer]

Changing eating habits is hard but takes time. I also used to hate vegetables but decided I was going to figure out a way to eat them. Sometimes it isn't the taste but the texture that people don't like, and that can be changed. As an example I used to hate tomatoes because I didn't like the texture of the inside. I started purchasing diced tomatoes and adding them to couscous or quinoa to get them into my diet. I still won't bite into a tomato but now when I make pasta I use some olive oil (in moderation of course), oregano, and diced tomoatos instead of the sugary sauces out there.

There are so many vegitables out there that he probably hasn't tried yet. If he likes potatoes try celery root. It has the texture of potato without all the starch. Toppings are also important. I'll eat a baked potato with pepper but won't add butter or sour cream. It is still starchy but doesn't have all the added fat. The same goes with salad. I don't like any dressing at all but you can easily make a salad worse than a Big Mac if you add the wrong dressing.

It definitly takes time to change habits but once you become more comfortable with the new lifestyle you will feel better and your body will not even crave the bad foods after a while. I used to get a bacon cheeseburger every day for lunch from Burger King, just the tought of eating that now disgusts me. The same goes with soda. I used to drink it at every meal, now it has been 2 years since I have had a sip (well, other than a rum and coke or two but I don't count those).

 

[pjlla]

Well.... first of all, don't let his dislike of veggies be an excuse for YOU to not eat healthy. Just a few simple ideas...

You won't be able to make any kind of "casserole" type things because he won't be able to "pick out" the veggies, so you will have to keep your different courses separated.

I would lean towards lots of grilled chicken and fish with brown rice or whole wheat pasta as a starch. Then the additional side(s) will be the veggie. You can load your plate with the veggie and he can make his own decision about whether or not to try it and how much to eat. I will often make a small green salad to accompany my meal with the family when they are having a main course of which I can only eat a limited portion. Or I will reheat a small portion of a leftover veggie to have along with that night's veggies and main dish. I often don't have any starch with my meals, but most people do and your DBF will probably be looking for a starchy side since he doesn't eat veggies.

You can make veggie sauces and stuff for the meats and starch, but keep them separate and let him add his own (if he so desires).

Sometimes I will make a grilled chicken or lean pork for the family and serve it to them with brown rice and a veggie. But I will have that same grilled meat over a full plate of salad greens, skipping the brown rice and hot veggie. I haven't really made an additional full meal, but I have accomodated my healthy eating plan (no "d" word here any more!).

Grilled veggies are yummy and may hold more appeal than regular steamed veggies. Try starting with something sort of "plain" in taste, like grilled zucchini. It doesn't have an overwhelming taste of any sort, but it is great on the grill (sliced and brushed with EVOO).

Try adding additional veggies to things that already have them, like chili. I always add extra canned diced tomatoes to chili (both homemade and canned). You can add some additional diced tomatoes and other diced veggies to spaghetti sauce as well (red peppers, sauteed mushrooms).

How is he with fruit? I have found a few yummy fruit salsas that are very low calorie and taste great on things like grilled chicken. And we often have natural apple sauce as a side with dinner... especially if we are having something particularly spicey... the sweet apple sauce is a nice complement to it.

He is a big boy and you can't MAKE him eat his veggies.... but you can set an excellent example for him! Good luck................P

 

[FireDancer]

It is funny but last night I watched the June 8th Good Eats that I DVR'd and it is pretty much your post. Alton's niece won't eat any vegetables except potatoes so he tricks her into eating parsnips by cooking them into muffins and making parsnip potato chips. Check out the episode if you can find it on reruns or online. It's season 13 episode and is named "Undercover Veggies".

 

[fofinia]

My husband doesn't really like veggies either. He'll eat certain ones. So I do a lot of the same things pjilla does. I will make a meat, starch and veggie. Serve the meat and starch and a small portion of the veggies to everyone. Then I'll have mostly meat and veggies. And sometimes I will pile that on a bed of lettuce. When I make a baked pasta dish, I add extra veggies to the sauce. And I've been grating up a zucchini or summer squash and mixing it into the cheese and pasta part of the dish. That way my kids and hubby are getting extra veggies but they are hidden- kind of. You can't really taste them and I grate them pretty small.

But everyone will eat broccoli. And I have to say- I pretty much serve broccoli most nights of the week cuz of it!

 

[choirchic]

I feel your pain, but luckily, my hubby gave in and started eating veggies with me. He used to only be a corn guy, but now I've got him eating asparagus, spinach, and all kinds of stuff.

If it's REALLY and issue, just sneak them in!
I heard this book is great!
http://www.deceptivelydelicious.com/site/

 

[MonkeyPants]

My boyfriend and I both want to eat better to be healthier and lose weight, but the biggest roadblock is that he HATES vegetables. The only veggies he will eat are potatoes, corn on the cob (loaded w/ butter ), and green beans (but only if they are boiled with a bunch of bacon or something in the water...mmm absorb all the FAT!)

well he eats two more veggies that I do!


Firedancer thanks for the tip, I will see if I can find that Good Eats...of course I wont be tricked into eating the veggies since I will be the one making them, but perhaps adding them into other things will at least get me to eat them. And indeed, its a texture thing for many things I wont eat.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

I have the same problem.

I will eat corn and potatoes, but will also eat lettuce, radishes, cucumbers, raw spinich certain types of rice, garlic and onions.

I will reluctantly eat tomatoes, zucinni, green peppers, and broccolli. I've been known to eat squash puppies too.

I've found that fajitas are a Godsend, but dh won't eat it anymore because he's a diabetic.

My new iPhone has a fantastic app called nutrition. It is wonderful to go to a restaurant and have calorie info at your finger tips. As well as appetite and price...I now use calories as a criteria. All things equal, I'll get the fewer calories item.

 

[John VN]

If he likes MUSTARD, just put some Spicy Mustard on those veggies and have him try it. I have done this with kids and adults and they go crazy eating the stuff. Also a little Crystal Hot Sauce, that really isn't too hot, works good.