Why the Texture of Food Matters – and How to Still Eat More Fruits and Vegetables

It’s Not Just About the Flavor!

Let’s do a fun little exercise. Think about some of the foods that you dislike. Surely, flavor plays a role in that but there are times where texture is what is the big turn off..

Take for example mushy avocados versus crunchy apples. You may like one but not the other due to their texture. As you can see this can have a huge impact on your diet, especially during the start of your journey.

A negative experience can easily occur if you are not aware of your texture preferences.

Understanding Your Texture Preferences

One of the biggest issues when a person changes their diet is not liking the food they eat. I’ve learned that people rarely took the time to identify their texture preferences. This resulted in people not being able to match their preference to the new recipes they were trying. That went on to cause an unpleasant experience leaving them to feel not satisfied with their attempt to change their diet.

Not understanding your texture preference when trying new foods can significantly lower the percentage of finding a recipe you will enjoy. This feeling of failure can be so discouraging that it results in you quitting all together.

I have found that my family and friend’s successes with eating more fruits and vegetable came from them identifying their texture preferences before looking for new recipes.

Here are some textures used to describe food. See which ones you like and note the ones you dislike.

• Crunchy: potato chips, crackers, cereal,
• Crispy: thin crust pizza, bacon, french fries (thin cut)
• Chewy: bagels, gummy candy, jerky
• Soft/Tender: white sandwich bread, pancakes, macaroni & cheese
• Creamy: ice cream, cream cheese, ranch dressing
• Smooth: yogurt, milkshakes, applesauce
• Velvety: alfredo sauce, sour cream, frosting
• Flaky: pop tarts, puff pastry, croissants
• Slimy/Slippery: jello, sliced deli turkey, okra
• Grainy/Gritty: protein shakes, natural peanut butter, instant oatmeal packets
• Gelatinous/Jiggly: tapioca pudding, canned cranberry sauce, mochi
• Sticky: caramel, marshmallow, taffy

Adjusting Foods to Fit Your Texture Preferences

Ok so what if you don’t like eating mushy bananas? Or maybe you find raw carrots too hard to bite? Not to worry. Many fruits and vegetables can be manipulated into different textures with a few adjustments.

Let’s go back to those mushy bananas and hard carrots. For a firmer banana you can freeze your bananas and make a delicious creamy smoothie. Raw carrots to hard to chew try steaming them so they become soften. As you can see a simple tweak can help you enjoy these foods even if you may like the texture at first.

Sneaky Ways to Add Fruits & Vegetables Without Texture Issues

Half of the people I helped had no issue with the textures of fruits and vegetables but for the other half it took some time to adjust.

And that’s ok, this is a judgement free zone. Don’t be hard on yourself. We are trying to make this an enjoyable journey.

So here are 2 ways to sneak in those fruits and vegetables without any issues.

• Try blending a hand full of leafy greens with a fruit smoothie. It’s a great way to up your leafy green intake all while hiding the flavor with delicious fruits.
• Use different vegetables and herbs to make purees, sauces, or dips. You can server them over pasta, pair them with potatoes, or even eat them with some cucumber or celery sticks.

Action Step

Now it’s time to explore a bit. Go back through each texture listed above and write down your experience or reaction to each one. Also make note of foods that you like to eat, next to each texture. You can use this list as a starting point when looking for recipes. This should make it a bit easier to find meals that you will actually enjoy.

But before you go on a hunt for recipes, try getting creative and think of ways to add fruits or vegetables to the meals you eat regularly. For example, try adding fruit to your breakfast by making a smoothie. Or maybe add 2-3 vegetables to your lunch or dinner by pairing it with steamed broccoli, carrot sticks, or a leafy green salad.

Seeing how something like texture can impact your diet, check out how these others factors play role too.

Knowing the Right Questions to Ask About Your Eating Habits
Healthy Eating & Heritage: How to Respect Tradition While Eating More Fruits & Vegetables
Healthy Eating for Busy People: Easy Ways to Add Fruits and Veggies Every Day
Effortless Nutrition: How to Eat More Fruits and Veggies Without Breaking the Bank