There are some foods that you either love or hate and there is rarely any middle ground. You might find certain vegetables to be too bitter. Or a particular fish is, well, too fishy. But there’s never been a better opportunity to give some of these much-disliked foods another try. Not only are they nutritious, but when paired with the right foods or prepared in a certain way, you might find that you love it! Here are 10 foods you should keep an open mind about.
Fresh green broccoli, closeup
10. Broccoli
There might not be a vegetable more universally hated than broccoli, especially when you’re a kid. But why? They look like cute little trees after all! A part of the reason is because the first few years of your life is when your taste buds are most sensitive, and therefore broccoli tastes really, really bitter. But it’s one of the healthiest foods on the planet, so you ought to make it part of your routine. Steam it and add a bit of butter, soy sauce or top it off with some roasted garlic and make it a side dish. Or add it to a stew or bake it into a ham casserole.
Hands in blue gloves are holding homegrown fresh organic onion, with green garden on a background, close up
9. Onions
Onions are also divisive for a variety of reasons. They have a really sharp taste, and if you have a sensitive stomach, eating them raw can cause discomfort. But the truth is, virtually all savory dishes contain onions as a key ingredient. Onions are very nutritious and full of cancer-fighting antioxidants. You don’t have to eat them raw. If you put a bit of olive oil in a pan and saute sliced onions until they are soft and caramelized, and add them to a chicken or beef dish you might just fall in love.
Brussels sprouts with focus only on the vegetables above
8. Brussels Sprouts
There is very little reason to dislike Belgium. This small European country is full of quaint villages and well-preserved cities that date back for centuries. They also make a pretty meat waffle. However, they are also to blame for introducing brussels sprouts, the bitter, sour vegetable that resembles a tiny cabbage, to the world. On the other hand, if you roast them with bacon or sprinkle some pine nuts on top, you have yourself a healthy, highly satisfying dish that is packed with fiber.
Farm fresh okra on wooden board, whole and sliced
7. Okra
Imagine a blob of slime meeting an attractive green bean at a nightclub, they both have a bit too much to drink, go back to her place, and 9 months later you’ve got this weird green alien vegetable baby. In spite of the appearance, they actually taste mighty fine if done the right way. The key is to fry or grill them in high (not medium!) heat and toss it into a bed of rice, black beans, and spicy cajun sausage.
White Turnips.
6. Turnips
If given a choice between potatoes or turnips, the vast majority of people are bound to choose the former. Let’s face it: turnips don’t cook to a golden brown and aren’t as soft as the deliciously reliable potato. But in terms of their health benefits, turnips run laps around their popular cousin. For example, turnips contain half as many calories but even more vitamins. Nobody says you have to eat a plate of turnips; toss them into a pot of stew or soup and you’ll find that it’s the missing ingredient that makes your meal epic.
5. Buckwheat groats
A staple in Eastern Europe, a lot of people don’t like buckwheat groats because they have such an earthy, bitter taste. But much like other foods on this list, it’s all about how you prepare it. Adding mushroom sauce, some lean pork, and even the aforementioned onions makes it a real treat! It’s also very filling, nutritious, and has a lot of the “good” carbs that make it a better alternative to rice.
4. Blue Cheese
Blue cheese is yet another food that is an acquired taste. Super tangy and moldy, some people might be hesitant to put it into their mouths. But relative to other cheeses it’s lower in fat but with all of the protein and calcium. It actually compliments roasted chicken really well.
3. Green Olives
The bitter, acidic taste of green olives is something a lot of people find downright repugnant. But when added to a Greek salad with onions, fresh tomatoes, vinaigrette and feta cheese, you’ll find that it perfectly balances everything out. It’s also among the healthiest fruits (yes, olives are a fruit), with lots of good omega-3 fats and cancer-fighting properties.
2. Tofu
Soybean curd, otherwise known as tofu, is a food that a lot of people find downright repulsive. The texture tends to be slimy and tofu doesn’t really taste like anything by itself. But when added to a pan and cooked with vegetables and spices, you have a healthy meat alternative that is full of protein.
1. Anchovies
Anchovies are without a doubt the most controversial food on this list. It doesn’t help that these steel gray fish stare right back at you with their dead fish eyes. But aside from being a staple as a pizza topping, they are also good in broths, sauces, and salads.
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