Fruits and Vegetables--What is best>

MamaPigon

Okay, so... I know you need to eat lots of fruits and vegetables (pregnant or not). And I have NO qualms with the vegetable part. But I literally hate fruit. I have been forcing myself to eat grapes, bananas, and apples (if I am willing, a strawberry here or there) but I just cannot bring myself to eat other fruits even though I know I need to.

Am I the only one with this problem? lol If not, how did you manage to squeeze these necessities into your diet?

PurplePumpernickel

Do you like yogurt? Smoothies? Do you like fruit in its dried form?

My mom hates fruit. Hates it with the fire of a thousand suns. She forces herself to have a granny smith apple because it is tart enough for her to tolerate. She's always been healthy as a horse, and gets the fiber she needs from veggies and whole grains.

MamaPigon

I do like yogurt and can handle a smoothie. I like dried fruit in my special K? haha! I guess I should just try to be more creative. I'm just concerned I am not getting a "variety" of fruits.

Twinkiedoll

@MamaPigon I am the bizarro version of you.  I HATE dried fruit, but can consume regular fruit by the bucket-
loads.

What is it about fruit that you do not like?  That would be a helpful start to suggest fruits you may like/tolerate.

MamaPigon

Well, it's weird. Maybe I don't like whole, raw fruit? I mean, I can eat an apple pie all day I usually just don't like the texture, sometimes it is the taste, but texture is really weird for me. Like, I will not eat an orange. No way. But I like orange juice..

cielaw89

I'm the opposite! I absolutely LOVE fruit, I have a hard time with veggies. The easiest way for me to get veggies is within a salad. Unfortunately, the texture of a lot of cooked veggies is creating problems for me, so I tend to stick to raw veggies...and the only raw veggies I like are carrots, broccoli, celery, snap peas....all dipped in some kind of dressing.

Fruits are pretty versatile. Smoothies, in cereals, in yogurt, chia pudding, raw, dried, in fruit salad...

berries, melons, oranges, and apples are definitely my favorites!

longhairdntcare

juice? as long as it's actually 100% juice (not sugar water with some flavoring lol)

ginger1228

I'm with you on this. I like veggies way more than fruits. Do you like melon? Like cantaloupe? It's one of the few I really like. I do like apples and grapes. I can usually tolerate bananas and strawberries, but only on occasion. 

What about mixing the fruit with something else, such as apple slices and peanut butter? Bananas and honey, maybe? 
I like a good fruit dip (which I know is sugary, but I don't smother it). I mix strawberry cream cheese with marshmallow fluff. 

AnnaKaie

Be careful with the amount of dried fruit. It has a lot of sugar in it. Try a different type of apple. I love apples that are crisp and tart. I hate the ones that are sweet and mealy. You can also dip fruit in dips and pair apples with nut butters and peanut butter. Walk around the produce section and try something new. Oranges are top of my list right now. I love a good cantaloupe and pineapple.   

ginger1228

^what she said about apples. My favorites are pink ladies and honey crisp. They're crunchy and sweet. 

acstec1

What about frozen fruit? I feel like I could eat bowls and bowls of frozen fruit, lately.

Twinkiedoll

Frozen mangoes are amazing.  Maybe try acai bowls (though they tend to have a ton of sugar). 

Do you like fresh pineapple or watermelon?  If you want something that is kind of benign, maybe try dragonfruit.  It tastes like a watered down kiwi.  Cut them in half horizontally and eat the center with a spoon.   

plumpous

What don't you like about fruit? I am asking so we can choose fruits that you might like. 
For example I don't like tart fruit so I add a tiny bit of sugar or sometimes I eat berries with whipped cream (the diet kind lol). 

As far as vitamins and stuff you can get potassium from coconut water. You can get vitamin C in potatoes. If you get everything from other resources you may be OK without fruit. There are guides for pregnant women on what to eat and what is a good resource and for a lot of things you can go with fruit or something else like almonds or something. 

virginiaunicorn11

Wonder if fruit baked with meats would work. Like pineapple and ham pizza, or a ham with apples baked into it. Not sure what else, but that's about as non-fruit as I can think of.

Also, you may want to look into Juice Plus. It's a nutritional supplement that uses freeze dried fruits and veggies - so the theory is that your body processes the nutrients more like a whole food rather than a vitamin.

Personally, I have taken it on and off for many years. I genuinely feel better when I am on it, but that may be because those are periods when I am generally healthier. That said, they sell through distributors, and those types of companies somehow don't always feel good to me. But the German Olympic teams take Juice Plus and it is endorsed by all kinds of other legit institutions.

I sound like a salesperson. I don't sell it or have any affiliation - just wanted to be transparent.

It comes in pills, powder for shakes, or gummies. I've tried them all. I like the pills least, personally, but if you're not into flavor, the pills may be best for you. 

SPurp13

I'm about to start drinking V8, because the idea of eating any vegetables other than potatoes or plain salads, I can't. I CANNOT. I used to eat carrots and hummus every day. HATE it now. I tried a tomato/cucumber salad. HATE it. Tried Celery/cream cheese. CANNOT. I just CAN't.

tuxielove93

Two pieces of advice: 
1) There are gajillions of ways to eat fruit other than straight up. 100% fruit juice, fruit in yogurt or ice cream, fruit sorbets, fruit smoothies, fruit baked goods (muffins are healthier, but pie works too, you can reduce the sugar in it, use whole wheat crust, alternative sugars, etc. etc.) or dried fruit (btw you can get dried fruit that has no added sugar, but do be careful with how much you eat, they are HIGH in fiber and can cause gastrointestinal issues if you start eating tons all at once). Fruit is fruit, if you can't eat it straight, get it however you can. 
2) Don't beat yourself up about food. I just drove myself absolutely nuts for the last week trying to eat stuff that didn't sound great to me because of the "vitamin content" and worried myself sick over getting enough calories to gain enough weight. I finally gave up today, and I'm feeling better. Just eat as healthy as you can, eat as much variety as you are comfortable with, and don't overkill on fruit. You only need about 2 servings a day. Whatever variety you don't get with them, get it with vegetables. When it comes to variety, try to focus on colors if you're really worried about it. For example, if you eat a red apple and a yellow banana, balance that with some orange carrots, purple cabbage, and green leafies. 

MrsN092714

@SPurp13 I'm kinda with you on the not handling veggies well.  I've been doing smoothies with spinach, avocado and kale along with fruit to cover the taste! Lol

babydance-2

I have such aversions to vegetables right now too @SPurp and I loved veggies before this pregnancy.  I can do potatoes, but only roasted or baked not mashed.  And honestly I have to force myself to eat a salad which is just so unlike me.  Cooked spinach with pine nuts and feta cheese is one of the veggies I'll eat.  Not for everyone I'm sure, but I'm Greek so it works for me.  Raw carrots and peanut butter is another one of my go-to's lately.  

OP - you mentioned that you liked apple pie.  Maybe try crumbles - apple or berries? Or just a baked apple.  You can scoop out the center of an apple and put some cinnamon, brown sugar, you can even add oatmeal or raisins and a little bit of butter, then bake it. 

clio

I also could eat fruit all day but have the hardest time with veggies. Smoothies work well to cover up the taste of spinach, etc- I wonder if that could work for fruit as well??

SaphireSweetie88

I am in a similar situation. I like very limited fruit but it is all seasonal so I'm kind of out of luck since the fruits I like - watermelon, strawberries, and pears - are not very good in the winter  I try to increase the amount of yogurt smoothies I drink (granted I get the ones from the store so it may not be the best but it's better than nothing IMO and I try to eat more carrots too).

glitterfish-2

SaphireSweetie88 said:

I am in a similar situation. I like very limited fruit but it is all seasonal so I'm kind of out of luck since the fruits I like - watermelon, strawberries, and pears - are not very good in the winter  I try to increase the amount of yogurt smoothies I drink (granted I get the ones from the store so it may not be the best but it's better than nothing IMO and I try to eat more carrots too).

I've had fantastic strawberries the last 2 weeks from the supermarket!

SaphireSweetie88

GlitterFish said:

SaphireSweetie88 said:

I am in a similar situation. I like very limited fruit but it is all seasonal so I'm kind of out of luck since the fruits I like - watermelon, strawberries, and pears - are not very good in the winter  I try to increase the amount of yogurt smoothies I drink (granted I get the ones from the store so it may not be the best but it's better than nothing IMO and I try to eat more carrots too).

I've had fantastic strawberries the last 2 weeks from the supermarket!

@GlitterFish

Lucky! I have had ones that weren't good  I tried a few different stores and all bad 

glitterfish-2

Mine were Driscolls brand, so maybe keep an eye out! Says they are from Mexico, but I live in NY. 

SaphireSweetie88

Thanks! I will definitely keep an eye out @GlitterFish

lamphele

I love fruit, but I especially love baked fruit. Baked peaches are my favorite.  I cut a peach in half and remove the seed then place them cut side down in a baking dish and put about a half of inch of water with a vanilla bean in the bottom.  Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes.  The skin will lift right off.  If you cook them with a bit of cinnamon it tastes just like the inside of a peach cobbler.

SaphireSweetie88

lamphele said:

I love fruit, but I especially love baked fruit. Baked peaches are my favorite.  I cut a peach in half and remove the seed then place them cut side down in a baking dish and put about a half of inch of water with a vanilla bean in the bottom.  Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes.  The skin will lift right off.  If you cook them with a bit of cinnamon it tastes just like the inside of a peach cobbler.

@lamphele  - Thanks for making my mouth water.

lamphele

@SaphireSweetie88 I know,  I made myself hungry.  I think it will be one of the first things I make as soon as I'm allowed out of bed.

SaphireSweetie88

@lamphele  I may have to make it after work tomorrow

Xath

What is best (fruit) in life?

To crush your oranges
To see-d them driven before you
And to hear the lemon-tation of the women.

caribbeanmama-2

Ooooh so many good suggestions here.  Nice ideas to mix things up!  I love fruit though and our house always has 6-8 options around for a quick nibble or snack.  

My husband doesn't seem to gravitate toward a lot of fruit but he will eat banana, strawberries, and blueberries submerged in his cereal.

LoveLee85

Omg I could live off fruit. Give me it all!!! Now the thought of a veggie in ANY form makes me gag. Might have to start V8. Good idea. 

oheliza44

lamphele said:

I love fruit, but I especially love baked fruit. Baked peaches are my favorite.  I cut a peach in half and remove the seed then place them cut side down in a baking dish and put about a half of inch of water with a vanilla bean in the bottom.  Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes.  The skin will lift right off.  If you cook them with a bit of cinnamon it tastes just like the inside of a peach cobbler.

I am also a huge fruit fan and I've been craving peaches for the last couple days so this sounds amazing. I've bought the most amazing peaches from Costco- they are sweet and fleshy even if it isn't prime peach season. Adding a Costco trip on my list of errands today because my mouth is watering.

Also to comment on OP's post, I second everyone who said to try to blend fruit into things such as smoothies or oatmeal, or sauces.  I have a Vitamix and absolutely love it doe this reason. I use it to make just about everything including fruit BBQ sauce, toppings for pancakes, etc. Maybe worth a try? Any blender or food processor should do the trick. 

PurplePoppy424

GlitterFish said:

Mine were Driscolls brand, so maybe keep an eye out! Says they are from Mexico, but I live in NY. 

Driscolls strawberries are awesome!!

glitterfish-2

Twinkiedoll

*drool*

PurplePoppy424

@GlitterFish We went to Costco today and they got a large shipment of Driscolls strawberries. Thanks to your picture, I bought a 2lb clamshell of the things. I can't stop eating them. Lol!!

SPurp13

So, people are talking about smoothies. And my husband brought up the idea of a juicer or something similar this weekend to try to get some veggies in both me and my daughter. Does anyone have one they recommend?

glitterfish-2

@SPurp13 We have a vitamix but I think the Ninja would be fine! 

zara4k

I make myself a big batch of smoothies (6 days worth) - and freeze them. I defrost them overnight. That way if I have no inclination of eating any fruit or veggie I get some kind of dose. 
I had a huge craving for kiwis pineapple blueberries and raspberries one day and that's all I had for dinner it was glorious! 
You could make veggie medleys with quinoa ( add corn, chickpeas to make it easier to eat and add cauliflower carrots (optional) and peas. Just fry them I some garlic and olive oil and add some crushed chillies. If eating raw veggies is hard just cook them. 
Today I plan to cook radishes and spinach until they are wilted It actually tastes quite good. 

glitterfish-2

@zara4k What do you put them in to freeze them? Do you defrost in the fridge? 

morgarita

@zara4k yes I'm very interested in your general recipe. I was just saying I hate running the blender everyday. If I could make a big batch I would be more willing to make smoothies.