Veggie Hater Seeking Help

[EMA]

I am TOTALLY new to this raw food thing so I'm just trying for a goal of 50% raw (right now), to ease myself into it. I've been able to do this and have been doing so (rather painlessly) for the past month. However, I have a huge problem that I have been trying to rectify -- I HATE vegetables. Pretty much ALL vegetables. The few I can tolerate, I have been putting in a salad (baby spinach, cucumbers, and carrots) but I am already SO sick of having the same veggies EVERYDAY. I can also tolerate onions and celery and the occasional inclusion of romaine lettuce. And while I love cooked peppers (except green), I can't stomach them raw.
So I'm looking for some tips or advice on how to get me eating more veggies. If I juice enough, can I completely eliminate the need to actually CHEW veggies? I DO use veggies in my raw recipes, but I know that that's not enough. Is there anyone out there that's a reformed veggie hater themself that can offer some advice from personal experience? Or someone that can give me some tips on how to overcome my dislike for them? I am desperate; I REALLY want to do this raw thing 100%.
Thank you!

[Frugal Raw]

My first suggestion for you would be to make green smoothies. That's about 60% fruit, and 40% greens...so add a couple of handfuls of spinach to a whole bunch of fruit in your blender! Depending on what type of blender you have, you can also use things like celery, kale, and tomatoes or cukes.

How do you feel about fruits? How about avocados?

Your tastebuds/texture preferences will likely change the more you get into raw. Give it time and get creative:)

[DavidZaneMason]

You can try other varieties...and types. Otherwise, you can focus on more fruit...if that's what right for you. There are 1000's of varieties of fruits and vegetables. Focus on the ones you LOVE. That and your dreams are the only things that carry you through. :)

-David Z. Mason

[Aleesha Sattva]

of course you can juice them! you can make them into a green smoothie like mattye suggested...

eat what you love and slowly you'll notice you begin to like others.

and don't eat green peppers... cooked or raw. they are unripened peppers and NOT good for ya!

[zig_zag]

Recycling goddess- red and yellow peppers are okay, than?

[carolg]

zig_zag,

Yup, any pepper other than green is considered ripe and can be eaten. I love red peppers as my favorite; so sweet; yellow and orange are next for me.

carolg

[Aleesha Sattva]

carol is totally right! orange, red or yellow are GREAT!!!

[Carlsbad]

I'm definitely a former veggie hater, and I still don't eat a lot of veggies. Instead, I drink a lot of green smoothies, and over time I've increased the amount of greens in them so that I'm getting a lot of good greens (and I switch the kind of greens each day). I do like celery, especially dipped in raw hummus or almond butter. One good way to get in some veggies is the zucchini pasta with marinara sauce. If it weren't for that, I'd never eat tomatoes! Also, Alissa's recipe for potato salad is really good, and has lots of veggies in it. I like guacamole, especially when I add fresh corn, and I dip jicama in it. It's yummy.

Play around with things and figure out what you like and what you don't. And keep trying things as you go along; raw changes your tastebuds.

[tanishamarshall]

I have to say I was just like you, I couldn't stand veggies. Before raw when I would get a salad at a restaurant I would eat it until all of the croutons were gone and that was it, the end of veggies for me. I have changed completely since then, I love veggies to death.. I would suggest taking it slow don't force yourself, do some reading, really digg into raw. In the beginning I made a ton of dehydrated foods. Like others have said, incorporate green smoothies. I don't see a problem with you drinking your veggies but when you use a juicer you will lose the fiber so if you blend them you will include fiber.

Take it easy, it can get easier. One thing that has helped me is having a mindset that I can do anything and never giving up. If one method doesn't work look for another one, keep on doing this until you find what works.

One last suggestion is to marinate your veggies, this will soften them.

[rubyhair]

i have to say that i dont like most veggies either, but i LOOOOVE my greens. i like them in green smoothies (the best way to get them all in) and i love them as the majority of my salads and also used as wraps. i looooove collard and turnip greens. who knew? i had never tried them until i was raw. when i cut a collard green, the smell of it just makes my mouth water!
so....try lots of different things! dont be afraid to try veggies and greens you've never seen or heard of or havent eaten before, who knows? you might like them. also, like someone else said, your tastebuds change so much. you pick up more subtle flavors and things definatly taste different.