Learn to Love Eating Plants

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EatingMoreVegetables
You might be thinking, “there’s no way I’d ever prefer eating vegetables over a hamburger or a grilled cheese.” And you might be totally right.

But I do think there’s room in everyone’s lives for more planty goodness. The keys to actually begin to like eating plants are:

  • Trying new foods
  • Trying new cooking techniques
  • Trying stuff you thought you didn’t like prepared in a new way

 
It’s about starting a relationship with vegetables and whole foods that’s more about experimentation than obligation.

While I strongly believe that we should enjoy pizza, ice cream and wine when we truly want it, I’m also a die hard plant eater. I’m proof that the two don’t have to be mutually exclusive, but you do have to cultivate a love of vegetables somewhere along the way.

We’re trained from a young age to think of vegetables as a chore and something we “have to” eat. We’re set up to resist them from the get-go.

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t always eat my vegetables, my mom did a lot of work and cooking to instill this in me. But today I more than eat them — I truly love them, crave them and express gratitude for them every day.

In order to find your love of eating plants you’ve got to experiment, season, taste and try again. It takes a little bit of work, but change will start to take hold after a while. You might even surprise yourself.

Today, I eat plants because:

  1. I love the way they taste when prepared well. I think it’s far more interesting when a chef can cook a vegetable amazingly than a piece of meat. Anyone can grill a cut of steak to medium rare. Not everyone has a magic touch with zucchini.
  2. They make me feel great — I have noticeably more energy and, ahem, regularity when I eat a lot of plants. This is a big deal for me.
  3. Sweet potatoes. Mashed sweet potatoes, baked sweet potatoes, sweet potato fries, sweet potato burgers…all crave-worthy.
  4. They fully nourish me for the times when I want to branch out. So when pizza night roles around, I’m eating for pure pleasure.
  5. I’m cheap and I love experimenting with flavor combinations. It’s less expensive to try (and potentially fail at) something new with vegetables than with meat or seafood. (Think trying out a new vegetable curry.)
  6. I like surprising people by cooking them satisfying plant-based meals.
  7. I love a colorful plate — I’m a sucker for good aesthetics.

 

Some of my favorite online recipe resources to spark some inspiration:
The New Vegetarian by Yotam Ottolenghi
The First Mess
Jessica Murnane
Naturally Ella
Sprouted Kitchen
Minimalist Baker
101 Cookbooks
The Kitchn
Food52
Mind Body Green

 

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2 comments

  1. Jasmine07/02/2015 | Reply

    Ditto Leah! I think well prepared veggies are some of the most savory mouth-watering creations that can ever make it's way onto a plate. Ever since opening my mind to the versatility of a single vegetable, my palate has expanded enormously! I put a lot of effort into teaching my clients how to look at food in the same manner. I truly believe that once we put in the effort to train our taste palate, foods can be sweet and savory without the added junk.

    • Leah07/02/2015 | Reply

      So glad to hear that! Vegetables forever!

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