Freakin' Vegetables. How do they work?

[annaconda]

I am late in the first tri and I don't have m/s -for that I am grateful.

I used to be a really healthy eater. It's not that I can't eat vegetables - I'm not having strong food aversions... it's just that I am pretty un-tempted by them. Of course show me some noodles... or other white foods... yum. But I'm overweight to begin with and am trying to keep those things to treats rather than staples.

Also, I seem to be turning into a 2yo because I don't want my veggies mixed in with other foods. Like... I can stomach roasted asparagus, but I don't want it cooked with other stuff (we used to love this dish with white beans, ground turkey, and asparagus and green peppers). I like it separate.

Can you guys chime in on some ways you were able to enjoy veggies while pregnant?

I want to be eating veggies but I'm trying to figure out how. Tips appreciated.

[wholewheatchick]

I am vegetarian, and could hardly stomach veggies in my first trimester. Even now, a salad doesn't "call" to me like it used to. I hope that changes when this little one is born!

Anyway, I had to a) allow myself to believe that steamed, mashed, baked, and grilled potaotes and sweet potatoes count as vegetables! Also, I found raw veggies and salads to be much more palatable with a dip, dressing, or hummus on them. I just had a hard time eating raw veggies plain. Now that is gone, fortuneately. Also, I found that I could handle cooked veggies better; so we had more peas, green beans, mixed veggies, etc., than salads for those first few months.

I've talked with quite a few pregnant women who have had this same experience, and we all agree that it gets better.

[MaerynPearl]

I could not possibly eat plain veggies this pregnancy... I had to eat things like a strawberry fields salad (lettuce and spinach greens, pecans, strawberries, tomatoes, blue cheese, grilled chicken... with raspberry vinaigrette)... cherry tomatoes dipped in ranch, carrots dipped in ranch, celery with peanut butter... or really cheat and drink V8.

[javilu]

I know it's not what you asked exactly, but maybe if you switched some of your "white" foods like noodles to whole grain versions, you might make up for some of what you're missing (by which I mostly mean fiber), and see if juiced vegetables sit well with you for the vitamins?

[annaconda]

Thanks guys... I have been treating the white foods as treats... subbing whole grains just doesn't do it for me. (But have also been eating whole grains like wasa and brown rice.) There's something about white pasta that's just divine right now.

Yesterday I had some salad stuff and some broccoli with melted low fat american cheese on it and I loved both.

Dinner was baked tofu, broc with chs, and buttery white noodles. I think I balanced the good with the treat.

Green beans sound good.
I may cheat and get those pre-chopped veggie platters... those go down easy.

I also am going to get some cauliflower and brussels sprouts and roast them. That's a favorite I haven't had in a while. With the right fixins (cajun spice) and xvoo they do taste like candy to me. Well... they used to. We shall see.

[jensb]

If you like smoothies, they're a great way to get veggies without "knowing" you're getting them (esp when you're pg and don't really want them). Google "green smoothies" and you'll find a lot. I've been making chocolate-banana-avocado smoothies the last several mornings, and spinach hides quite nicely in there.

1 banana, 1/2 avocado, maybe 1 Tbsp cocoa powder, a little honey, crushed ice, and enough milk (or milk substitute) to make it thin enough. Then maybe a handful of spinach leaves.

DD1 and I will eat almost anything in smoothie form, but DD2 is a little more discerning, and this has been the most successful smoothie with her so far.

Also, as far as I'm concerned, sweet potato in almost any form definitely counts! We also really like butternut squash soup - not too hard in a crockpot, and really nice comfort food.

[ibusymomto5]

I usually love veggies, but they haven't been sounding as good to me lately either. I can tolerate a few things, but I've been relying on V-8 juice for now which oddly enough has tasted pretty good. I normally think it's pretty disgusting.

[EnchantedMamma]

Oooh! I adore squash!

Acorn with maple syrup (baked), butternut with a little butter and/or cream, salt and pepper... yum!

My chiro just suggested what some of these ladies mentioned: that maybe I should not focus on cooking my veggies and eat them in salad form. Ie, spinach, zucchini, cucumber, etc. Add a little dressing and/or cheese and you're set.

I loved cold asparagus by itself. But I agree that I did not like a lot of mixed things. I think it's because our taste buds are all wacko and the 'melding' affect isn't the same

Eat what you like the way you like it and don't stress!!

And def. go with a prepared tray. I had to do that to get enough fruit. Bought fruit cups or had hubby make me one.

ETA: How about spaghetti squash, since you like pasta? Also, you can puree squash and google for some squash-pasta-sauce recipes!

[Lauren82]

I don't have any suggestions but I just wanted to say that I have the same veggie aversion. I really miss eating yummy salads and stuff. Right now I just want meat and potatoes.