Living Wheat-Free For Dummies
Book image
Explore Book Buy On Amazon

One of the tenants of a healthy diet, besides being wheat-free, is a heavy emphasis on non-starchy vegetables such as the ones mentioned throughout this book. People sometimes associate a grain-free, sugar-free lifestyle with a diet heavy in meat. That is a mistaken belief.

In fact, you’ll probably find yourself eating more vegetables than you did before you made the switch. For some, this thought is very unappetizing. If you or a family member feels this way, don’t fret. You can overcome your distaste of vegetables.

Several factors are at play when making vegetables desirable:

  • Quality: Choose fresh, organic vegetables whenever possible. You’ll be amazed at the taste difference between a typical head of broccoli sold at mass grocers, for example, and a locally grown, organic one. Even the most veggie-averse individual will admit the difference and start including them in their meals.

    Unfortunately, many of us grew up thinking vegetables were soggy, mushy substances that came from cans. Understandably, the memory of that taste can be hard to shed. So even if you can’t purchase locally grown organic vegetables, fresh one are usually better tasting than canned or frozen varieties. (In Mom’s defense, fresh produce was not as readily available in the “olden” days as it is today.)

  • Changes in taste buds: As grains and sugar are removed from your diet, you’ll notice a subtle change in how food tastes. The most obvious will be how sweet foods seem. Fruit takes on a whole new dimension, for instance. But, surprisingly, all other foods will make a slide to the sweet side, so to speak. Foods that previously tasted bitter aren’t so bitter anymore, including veggies.

  • Preparation: What’s old is new again in grain-free, sugar-free eating. Vilified fats like grass-fed butter and bacon grease can and should be part of your kitchen inventory. Adults and kids alike will be more inclined to chow down when veggies are cooked with these tasty and satisfying fats. Many grain-free recipes use these fats and oils so the whole family can eat together.

The bottom line: if the people you’re cooking for are willing to try a new or “yucky” vegetable, don’t be surprised when they’re satisfied with the taste. You can change the quality of the food you buy and how you prepare it today. However, allow more time for the taste buds to change. It won’t happen overnight, but it will happen.

About This Article

This article is from the book:

About the book authors:

Rusty Gregory has a master’s degree in kinesiology and runs a personal training studio. He is an active contributor to dailyRX.com, an emerging leader in publishing health news for consumers, and is the author of Self-Care Reform: How to Discover Your Own Path to Good Health. Alan Chasen has a degree in kinesiology and has run a personal training studio since 1989. He advises his clients on exercise, proper nutrition, and general well-being.

This article can be found in the category: