How to eat more vegetables (even if you truly hate them)

GOING DAYS—OR EVEN, YIKES, WEEKS—WITHOUT A SINGLE GREEN? THIS ONE’S FOR YOU.

- KATHLEEN O’NEILL

I don't just hate vegetables: I completely *despise* them. Like, to the point where I physically gag if I try to eat a baby carrot.

Fruit, I'm fine with (in fact, I love it), but ever since I was a kid, getting my greens has been a big struggle. Salad? Can't stand it, even with loads of cheese and croutons. Colorful veggie trays? The worst, no matter how much ranch I dunk my celery sticks into.

Tbh, I can't even eat a turkey sandwich if there's a slice of tomato on it.

Alas, as much as I loathe lettuce and cringe at cucumbers, I know that vegetables are a v. important part of a healthy diet. They're packed with vitamins, minerals and fiber, and eating them as part of a daily diet lowers your risk of cancer, diabetes and heart disease.

But maybe even more crucial than setting yourself up for a healthy future? The impact those beets and broccoli can make now: A recent study found that teens who eat more vegetables benefit from improved mental health. (And the scary part? The CDC reports that only 2% of high school students get the recommended 2.5 to 3 cups per day.)

That's why this past year I made it my mission to *finally* find a veggie or two I could tolerate. I talked to a nutritionist, ventured to the farmers market and taste-tested more than my fair share of Pinterest recipes.

What I found is that, while I'll never be the girl who orders a side salad with her burger, there are some steps you can take to make vegetables more palatable. And through much trial and error, I've discovered a handful of recipes I can stand to stomach.